Friday, January 2, 2026

Why is ‘Z’ the last letter in the alphabet?

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Why is 'Z' the last letter in the alphabet?

The letter "Z" has roots in the Greek letter "zeta," the sixth letter of that alphabet. What happened to put "Z" at the tail end of our alphabet?

Close-up of the alphabet letter Z

T here are many ways to organize a list of terms. You could arrange them from shortest to longest, or vice versa. You could also list the terms alphabetically (the adjective for that is "abecedarian"), or you could arrange them in order of frequency. If the letters of the alphabet were arranged in order from most frequently used to least frequently used in the English language, it would look like this:   ETAOINSRHDLCUMFPGWYBVKXJQZ

But that's not why "Z" comes in last place in the alphabet. The real explanation is historical, based on the relative superfluousness of the letter.

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Couch and lamp emoji

Couch and Lamp

Meaning: Indicates a couch with a floor lamp, representing furniture, interior design, or relaxation at home.


Evolution: The only other furniture emojis are bed icons, so this can stand for home decor, but it's mostly used as a symbol for cozy home comforts and binge-watching culture.


Usage: [Text to mom:] after that week at work all I want this weekend is ๐Ÿท๐Ÿง€๐Ÿ“บ ๐Ÿ›‹️ See you sunday?

Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-reum

Every Day I Read

This is more than just a how-to guide for improving habits. "Every Day I Read" is a collection of essays designed to inspire readers to reflect on their own reading rituals and motivations. It includes advice like how (and why) to explore unfamiliar genres, as well as how to decide when to give up on an unfulfilling book. If your New Year's resolution includes a goal of reading more, this will help you find the time and the inspiration to deepen your relationship with the written word.

Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer

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7 Literary References That Make You Sound Smarter

Some of our sharpest turns of phrase come with a literary pedigree. Here are classic references that add wit, depth, and a hint of erudition to everyday conversation — if you know how to use them.

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