Paul Anthony Jones
Joined: Jun 20, 2014
Paul Anthony Jones is a writer and musician from Newcastle upon Tyne. He is the author of word origins guide Haggard Hawks and Paltry Poltroons, and runs its tie-in Twitter account @HaggardHawks.
What Exactly Are Your P’s and Q’s?
18 Words to Welcome Spring
28 Weird and Wonderful Irish Words
10 Bizarre Royal Conspiracy Theories
From secret love children to political assassinations to accusations of vampirism, the British royal family has been the subject of many bizarre conspiracy theories over the course of its history.
10 Incredible Things That Were Invented By Accident
Not every great invention was created according to plan. From penicillin to breakfast cereal to popsicles, these everyday items were all invented entirely by accident.
15 Alternative Lyrics From Old Versions of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
Liven up your singing of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" by subbing in these old—and occasionally strange—lyrics.
19 Old Cold Weather Words to Get You Through Winter
There are only so many ways to say “it’s cold outside,” which is why it’s time to supplement your vocabulary with these vintage words and phrases related to winter.
10 Common Words With Spooky Etymologies
Ghosts, ghouls, and monsters turn up everywhere at Halloween—including in our language, and sometimes where you least expect.
16 Cryptids That Might (Or Might Not) Exist
Almost every country has its own cryptid, from giant bats in Java to enormous water hounds in Ireland.
50 Words That Sound Dirty But Actually Aren’t
To paraphrase Krusty the Clown, comedy isn’t dirty words—it’s words that sound dirty. Here are 50 of them.
15 Obscure Words for Everyday Feelings and Emotions
There are plenty of obscure English words you can turn to when the current dictionary just isn't cutting it.
39 Colors You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
A vast vocabulary of words have been invented, borrowed, and accumulated over the centuries to describe almost every color and shade imaginable.
25 Words That Are Actually Acronyms
Here are the stories and meanings behind 25 words, names, and titles that you might not have realized actually stand for something.
13 Mnemonic Sentences To Boost Your General Knowledge
“A Big Secret Conceals Her Past” will help you remember the names (and order) of Henry VIII's wives.
25 Words That Don’t Mean What You Think They Do
You can flout these rules, but you can't flaunt them.