WTF, It’s Official - Dictionary Dilemma
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It’s official. WTF is in the dictionary.
English seems on the surface to be a language that is ever expanding. Last year, more than 1,900 words were added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. A few days ago, it was announced online that more than 1,700 new words, 3,200 examples to update contextual information, and more than 200 words that were updated and added to the Merriam-Webster's unabridged dictionary .
Some of the newly added words or abbreviations could prove to be valuable to know such as NSFW. NSFW is an abbreviation for "not safe for work or not suitable for work, used to warn someone that a website, e-mail attachment is not safe for viewing at most places of employment. Knowing what NSFW means could just possibly save your job.
Photobomb was added to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, reflecting more modern ideas in social behavior by intentionally moving "into the frame of a photograph as it is being taken as a joke or prank." As the photograph on the right can attest to, prank photobombers seem to be born to this generation. So cute!
Clickbait was another new word: "something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink especially where the link leads to dubious value or interest". From Merriam-Webster the synonyms for dubious is: suspicious, suspect, untrustworthy, unreliable, and questionable.
Clickbait may be a new word, but looking back at some vintage advertising clearly the modus operandi for Clickbaiting has been around for quite some time. For example, the Scotch tape advertisement really made me laugh. My Mom swallowed that hook, line and sinker. She used to cut "bangs" for my hair using the tape method, only she always cut below the tape for a "straight cut". When she pulled off the tape it really smarted.
via humortrain.com on pinterest
via all-that-is-interesting.com
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via all-that-is-interesting.com
via all-that-is-interesting.com
These poisonous wafers were Clickbait by Sears Roebuck and Company, advertised as "simply magical". Eating arsenic wafers were said to improve your complexion.
via Pinterest mentalfloss.com
via cracked.com
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If there were ever any men, manly enough, to actually buy a mustache trainer, I am happy for them it was Kaiser and not Scotch tape who developed the design. I am also thankful in behalf of all of us who received Scotch tape hair cuts in our day, that the toothache drops and asthma treatments fazed out, before we came along. Or was it died out? Hmmm? As for Sears Roebuck and Company, I cannot comprehend anyone caring all that that much about their complexion in a coffin.
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Merriam-Webster's has now added WTF to their dictionary as an abbreviation short for "what the --" under the pretense to avoid swearing and used informally to "express or describe outraged surprise, recklessness, confusion, or bemusement."
At Western Timber Frame, WTF has always been the initials or an abbreviation for Western Timber Frame. The people at Western Timber Frame are passionate about their amazing architectural DIY timber frame pergola kits and therefore really liked the name of Western Timber Frame. I get the irony, though. It is like naming your beautiful baby a great name without giving much thought or care to what the initials might spell but then again, way back then, WTF was not a "word".
In business, do initials really matter?
Maybe. For some their initials have become their official business name:
- The American Telephone and Telegraph is now legally AT&T.
- The Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing business, a conglomerate of the Post-It Notes had its name shortened to 3M.
- H&R Block, founded by two brothers Henry and Richard Bloch, pronounced "block" were concerned that people might mispronounce their name last name as "blotch" which would not be good for a tax preparation firm. They changed the business name to Block.
- The employer of a silly gecko lizard used to be called the Government Employees Insurance Company reflecting its original direction, selling insurance to people employed by the federal government. Now they go by: GEICO.
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Does the length of a business name really matter?
3M is the shortest name I have come across. The longest business name I uncovered that is written in the English language is “Locus International Center for Entrepreneurship Development and Incubation Services Limited”. Wow! I am almost out of breath type and I could not repeat it back without reading it again!
Locus International etc., etc., etc,... has convinced me a name can be too-oo-oo long. As for initials or abbreviations representing a name in the case of WTF, I am still old schooled and give credence to proper etiquette. "What the" used consecutively in this context cannot be grammatically proper or grammatically improper because it does not make any sense in the logic of language; therefore I must conclude it is an indication of artificial intelligence.
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So, when all is said and done, why all the rhetoric around "WTF" becoming an "official word"?
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In a Nutshell:
WTF has been making the headlines for being placed officially in the dictionary. Hyrum, the owner of Western Timber Frame is energizing, full of fun and thoroughly enjoys playful jesting with the people who work with him. He sent me an e-mail yesterday kidding me that Western Timber Frame was now officially in the dictionary and suggested that maybe I should write an article about it. I am savoring thoughts of his moment of shock and surprise, come Monday morning when this post is scheduled to go up and he sees that I took him up on his suggestion. I wrote this article. I sincerely hope as was the original intent of this author it has been with good propriety.
As an independent writer, I have written many blog posts for various businesses. Western Timber Frame has been a delight to do business with. It is not only the caliber of people who work there that I highly recommend but I am sold on the quality of their products. So much so, that I am in the process of installing my own DIY timber frame pergola kit as soon as I can get a monster of an old shed moved out of my way. It is going to transform our whole backyard. I will be posting it up soon if I am still writing articles after this one.
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As for Western Timber Frame's name, Western Timber Frame is a little longer than the recommended standard limit of 15 character for a good business name but they have no plans to follow suit after AT&T, 3M, H&R Block, or GEICO. And unlike, "Locus International Center for Entrepreneurship Development and Incubation Services Limited", Western Timber Frame isn't long enough to take one's breath away, though their timber frame architectural backyard outdoor living resort style structures are breathtaking. It is however, the people who make a name by their commitment to their clients and building quality products.
Western Timber Frame builds massive beautiful architectural masterpieces combing modern technology and old world craftsmanship, built to last for generations. Check out Western Timber Frame's patent pending unique Dovetail Difference™ award winning design. The Dovetail Difference™ with old world timber frame craftsmanship without the use of glue or nails, is stronger than conventional timber frame. These timber frame outdoor living structures are resistant to powerful coastal storms, high winds, heavy snows of high mountainous regions and seismic shifting, maintaining structural integrity phenomenal 160+ wind ratings! Click here if you would like to see how to turn your own backyard into a resort style extension of your home.
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