X

To Be Unique?

by Aaron Rice (a.rice@ukonline.co.uk)
written 20 Jun 1996

This article is classified "Real"


"X", on the whole, is a fairly unpopular letter of the alphabet in the
English language, as many words and names suspiciously avoid it, preferring
a nicely rounded "O" or the versatility of an "S".  It is because of this
that the designated section of an English dictionary, containing words
beginning with "X" usually amasses no more than one page [1].

Lately it has become more fashionable to use the letter "X" in many names
and words because its "uniqueness" is thought to expand from the confines
of one letter to encompass the entire sentence.  Also, it has been used to
replace a "cs", which some have described as "dated", but many others have
pointed out that these people are just lazy, or ignorant, or both.

If somebody names a company, or themselves, a name beginning with "X", it is
more than likely that they are attempting to become the first people on that
particular page in the telephone directory.  It is therefore necessary, when
meeting these people, to concede all arguments to them because they are
obviously on some sort of ego-trip [2].

Unfortunately, due to the nature of language, this article would be almost
totally invalid if translated into any language in which X is a popular, if
there is such a language.  In those instances, substitute "X" for the
relevant rarely-used letter, if one exists [3].

[1] Of course, in a dictionary of typographical errors, you'd be looking at
    half the book.
[2] Okay, maybe not.
[3] If not, just invent one.

See also:
  • Ignorance
  • Typographical Errors
  • A
  • Avoiding Items By Convention
  • Y

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