Published inCellar DoorThe Surprising Origins of Some Very Famous Pen NamesOr, why Lewis Carroll was almost called Edgar Cuthwellis.3h ago13h ago1
Published inCellar DoorThis Is What the Meaning of “Is Is” IsThe strange and fascinating conundrum of Is-Is-ification.Oct 217Oct 217
Published inCellar DoorThree Common Names That Were Just Made Up By AuthorsPlus, the heartbreaking origin of “Wendy.”Sep 2023Sep 2023
Published inCellar DoorA Few Thoughts on the Salad Salad SituationOr, how to win someone over with your cheeky opinions about “reduplication.”Sep 1128Sep 1128
Published inCellar DoorOK, ok, O.K., okay, Ok! Which is it?And what does it even mean?! A brief celebration of the most common word no one knows how to spell.Jun 1416Jun 1416
Published inCellar DoorWordle Starter Words for Dangerous TroublemakersLet’s see if we can make Wordlebot cry.Apr 326Apr 326
Published inCellar DoorThe Bewitching Magic of the “Ass” IntensifierAn ode to the anal emphatic.Mar 1420Mar 1420
Published inCellar DoorWhat to Do When You’ve “Got the Morbs”“Got the morbs” shows up to delight us every couple of years, but the dictionary where it comes from is a treasure trove.Mar 613Mar 613
Published inCellar DoorThese Common Words Are the Result of a Hilarious MisunderstandingI’m calling them “Splittybits.” Arrest me if you want to.Feb 1521Feb 1521
Published inCellar DoorThese Lovely “Fossil Words” Are Hiding in Plain SightWend, kith, vim … shebang!Feb 538Feb 538