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Thursday, 6 November 2025

While it’s sometimes tricky to know how to properly use a semicolon, and English majors love to debate Oxford commas, we’d be lost without punctuation marks. But written language existed long before em dashes and exclamation points. Who invented punctuation marks?

Stewart Edelstein

A period, question and exclamation mark post it notes

CANYOUREADTHISIBETITSHARDWITHOUTPUNCTUATIONITSHARDTOREADEVENSHORTSENTENCES

Can you read this? I bet it’s hard. Without punctuation it’s hard to read even short sentences. Initially, ancient Greek was written in all caps with no punctuation or spacing. We even find inscriptions from ancient Rome written in all caps with only small dots breaking up the words. Speech, especially the eloquent and persuasive speech of politicians and elected officials, was valued more highly than the written word. But now punctuation makes all the difference. For example, the versatile “OK” can be a question (“OK?”), an agreement (“OK.”), or an exasperated exclamation (“OK!”). So, where did these punctuation marks come from?

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EMOJI DECODED

Grinning Face with One Large and One Small Eye

Meaning: Shows a face with different-sized eyes and a big grin, suggesting silliness or wild energy.

Evolution: This emoji with a goofy, zany expression quickly became popular after its 2018 introduction for representing silly feelings or intentionally strange behavior, particularly among younger users.

Usage: [Caption on a photo representing a late-night study session:] Me after my 5th coffee today

HAVE YOU READ?

Her Dark Lies

Pair a destination wedding with a gripping murder mystery, and you have my favorite kind of novel. This binge-worthy thriller pulled me in from the moment Claire arrived on the Italian island of Isola for her dream wedding. What could go wrong? Everything. As a storm brews over the eerie cliffside mansion, things begin to unravel, and everyone — the bride, the groom, and their guests — seems to be hiding a secret. If you love topsy-turvy plot twists, this one's for you.

Rachel Gresh, Word Smarts Writer

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When Do You Use ‘May’ vs. ‘Might’?

Mastering the use of “may” is crucial for polite conversation, but throwing “might” into the mix makes everything more complicated. When and where do you use each?

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John Tyler was the first U.S. president who wasn’t elected.

U.S. HISTORY

John Tyler became president on April 4, 1841, upon the death of William Henry Harrison, earning him the unflattering nickname “His Accidency.” He was the first of eight vice presidents who have been elevated to the nation’s highest office due to a presidential death, as per an interpretation of the vague wording of Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the U.S. Constitution. Given the fact that this act of succession had never been tested before Tyler took office, several Whig Party members referred to the new POTUS as “acting president.” Tyler, however, insisted that his new role as president was full and unqualified, and refused to open any mail that was addressed to the more temporary title.

Some members of Congress disagreed with Tyler, including former President John Quincy Adams, who argued that Tyler’s ascension to the office of president was “in direct violation both of the grammar and context of the Constitution.” On May 31, 1841, Congress held a special session to resolve the issue. A joint resolution was proposed in order to affirm Tyler’s role as president of the United States without any conditions, and both the House and the Senate approved the measure the next day. The vice presidency remained vacant throughout Tyler’s term, until he was succeeded by James K. Polk in 1845. Though the Tyler administration was the first of several to leave the VP office vacant, that changed with ratification of the 25th Amendment in 1967, which created a constitutional process for replacing the vice president and clarified the rules of presidential succession, establishing what’s now known as the “Tyler Precedent.”

37 Awesome Gadgets

The best gadgets aren’t just cool — they also solve real everyday problems. From clutter-busting tools to clever tech upgrades, these picks are making waves for their usefulness and ingenuity. Consumer Gift Guide rounded up the most talked-about items that people can’t stop adding to their carts. Each one combines practical function with a touch of genius, making them perfect for your home, office, or as gifts. But be warned: Demand is skyrocketing, and these top gadgets are already selling out faster than expected.

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By the Numbers

Words in William Henry Harrison’s inaugural address

8,445

Children fathered by John Tyler, the most of any U.S. president

States admitted to the U.S. during Tyler’s presidency (Florida)

Year Tyler was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives

1861

DID YOU KNOW?

The Harrison-Tyler ticket featured the first official campaign slogan.

“Tippecanoe and Tyler Too,” the first official presidential campaign slogan, was used by William Henry Harrison and running mate John Tyler during the 1840 election. Harrison had earned the nickname “Old Tippecanoe” for his victory during the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Whig Party strategists turned the nickname into a catchy rhyme to attract voters, and even commissioned a song based on the slogan. Ohioan jeweler Alexander Coffman Ross wrote the lyrics to the song, titled “Tip and Ty,” which included the line “We’ll beat little Van” — a reference to opponent Martin Van Buren. The incumbent president fought back with a campaign song of his own, set to the tune of “Rock-a-bye Baby” and featuring the lyrics, “Rock-a-bye Baby, Daddy’s a Whig / When he comes home, hard cider he’ll swig.” In the end, Harrison’s campaign won the hearts of voters, as Old Tippecanoe and Tyler, too, were elected.

Your Cutting Board May Be a Major Health Risk

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