Will the real # please stand up and explain itself?
Until about 20 years ago, the only meaning of which I was aware for the symbol "#" was "number." I took tests using a #2 pencil, and yelled "We're #1!" at sporting events.
More recently, as electronic and other technical devices became commonplace, I learned that "#" was also called the "pound" sign. What the heck is that supposed to mean? Does # refer to the British pound sterling? Is # something that one does to a nail with a hammer?
In its most popular current (re)incarnation, the # sign has become a "hashtag." I've made a hash of things by making a mistake or getting something mixed up. Where does the "tag" part come in? Alternatively, can you make a hashtag on the stove, as you can with hash browns and corned beef hash?
I don't use Twitter and have mostly managed to avoid getting hooked on Facebook, but I guess a little education can't hurt. Here's The Beginner's Guide to the Hashtag.
And here's one explanation for the origin of the hashtag that answers some of my questions:
"Typewriters made in the UK had the monetary symbol for pound (£) sharing the same key as the number 3. If you look at your modern day keyboard, you will see that our friend the hashtag also shares a key as the number 3. Coincidence?"
. . .
"As I mentioned before, a pound in the UK means something different than a pound in the United States. So if the symbol for pound in the UK is £, then what did they call #? They called it a hash."
Can I get scrambled eggs with that?
I have a B.A. in French and I edit 200-page documents for a living. So, of course, talking about language(s) is one of my pet interests. Let me see whether I can link some of my language discussions under a new label:
More recently, as electronic and other technical devices became commonplace, I learned that "#" was also called the "pound" sign. What the heck is that supposed to mean? Does # refer to the British pound sterling? Is # something that one does to a nail with a hammer?
In its most popular current (re)incarnation, the # sign has become a "hashtag." I've made a hash of things by making a mistake or getting something mixed up. Where does the "tag" part come in? Alternatively, can you make a hashtag on the stove, as you can with hash browns and corned beef hash?
I don't use Twitter and have mostly managed to avoid getting hooked on Facebook, but I guess a little education can't hurt. Here's The Beginner's Guide to the Hashtag.
And here's one explanation for the origin of the hashtag that answers some of my questions:
"Typewriters made in the UK had the monetary symbol for pound (£) sharing the same key as the number 3. If you look at your modern day keyboard, you will see that our friend the hashtag also shares a key as the number 3. Coincidence?"
. . .
"As I mentioned before, a pound in the UK means something different than a pound in the United States. So if the symbol for pound in the UK is £, then what did they call #? They called it a hash."
Can I get scrambled eggs with that?
I have a B.A. in French and I edit 200-page documents for a living. So, of course, talking about language(s) is one of my pet interests. Let me see whether I can link some of my language discussions under a new label:
Labels: Talkin' about language(s)
posted by Shira Salamone at 11:42 PM
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