Countless readers have written us, demanding answers. Well, scores of readers, actually. Probably closer to a dozen… OK, fine. My wife has been asking me, “When are you going to write another […]
We Return From Our Unscheduled Sabbatical
Taft’s Advice on How to Write
“Don’t write so that you can be understood, write so that you can’t be misunderstood.” — William Howard Taft
Study Finds Poor Writing, Not Legalese, Makes Legal Documents Difficult
According to the Commonplace Fun Facts Legal Department, one of the first things they teach in law school is, “Never use one word where ten will suffice.” Actually, what they told us […]
Quoth the Parrot, “Pretty Boy… Nevermore… Polly Got a Cracker? Nevermore…”
One of the most famous poems in American literature started as something quite different. The eponymous talking bird who is featured in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” was originally cast as a […]
Writing By the Seat of Your Pants
“The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.” — Mary Heaton Vorse
Thanks to All Our Readers
There may be a lot of things about the year 2020 we all want to forget, but those of us at Commonplace Fun Facts look back at the year with fond appreciation […]
When Churchill Got His Foot Caught on a Dangling Preposition
Few people have ever commanded such a mastery of the English language as Winston Churchill. He labored over his speeches and writing, carefully selecting just the right words in just the right […]
Sharpen Up Your Knowledge of the Pencil
As summer ends and students return to school, it is appropriate to take a moment and reflect on one of the things that is as indispensable to studies as notebooks and backpacks: […]
The Volcano That Triggered a Year Without Summer, Defeated an Empire, and Gave Birth to a Monster
In terms of volcano celebrity status, Mount Tambora’s name is rarely mentioned. If someone asks you to name a dramatic volcanic eruption, more than likely, it is Mount Vesuvius, Krakatoa, or Mount […]
Wordiness Is a Defense Against Popularity
Sir Winston Churchill was a master of the English language and greatly appreciated the effectiveness of a carefully-edited work. He was famous for emphasizing the need for brevity in all of his […]
Iceland Has the Most Authors and Readers Per Capita of Any Country
For book lovers, when it is cold and snowy outside, nothing can compare to staying inside and diving into a good book. Perhaps it is because of the perpetual wintery weather that […]
Andy Rooney on the Usefulness of Computers
Andy Rooney (1919-2011) had a career as a writer for over 60 years, but he insisted upon using a manual typewriter, even into the 21st century. In explaining his reticence in switching […]
Five Years of Blogging — What Do People Find Interesting?
When I started Commonplace on September 9, 2014, it was a way for my sons and me to document and share things that grab our interest. The first post was a minor […]
20 Quirks and Strange Habits — The Weird Side of Famous Writers
Readers of this site will not be surprised that famous writers have their own niche in the realm of eccentricity. Whether it be their unusual jobs, their acerbic wit, or creepy predictions, […]
Unusual Jobs of Famous Writers [Infographic]
I love reading about people’s lives before they became famous because it reminds me they used to be in the same boring boat as the rest of us. While the infographic is […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 