How many writing systems does Japanese use?
Written Japanese mixes three scripts: kanji (characters borrowed from Chinese), hiragana, and katakana.
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Writing Facts
Writing facts and facts about writings, from the Random Facts shelf.
24 facts on this shelf
How did the printing press help the Protestant Reformation?
The printing press helped Martin Luther's ideas spread rapidly after 1517, as printed copies of his writings reached readers across Europe within weeks, fueling the Protestant Reformation.
Why did Leonardo da Vinci write backward?
Leonardo da Vinci filled his notebooks with mirror writing that reads right to left, along with sketches of flying machines, anatomy, and inventions far ahead of his time.
Who bought a Leonardo da Vinci notebook?
Bill Gates bought Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Leicester, a notebook of scientific writings, for about $30.8 million in 1994.
Where does the word "pizza" first appear in writing?
The word "pizza" appears in a Latin document from Gaeta, Italy, in 997 AD, though the food it referred to was very different from modern pizza.
Where did the word "paper" come from?
The word "paper" comes from "papyrus," the writing material ancient Egyptians made from reeds.
What was the "no hugging, no learning" rule?
The "Seinfeld" writers followed a rule called "no hugging, no learning," meaning the characters never grew or learned lessons.
How similar was "The Office" pilot to the British version?
The pilot episode of the American "The Office" was nearly a word-for-word remake of the British pilot.
Which actors from "The Office" were also writers?
Several "The Office" cast members were also writers on the show, including B.J. Novak, Mindy Kaling, and Paul Lieberstein.
Who were the "How I Met Your Mother" characters based on?
The characters on "How I Met Your Mother" were based on creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas and their friends.
What Emmys did Alan Alda win for "M*A*S*H"?
Alan Alda won Emmys for acting, writing, and directing "M*A*S*H."
What is Hemingway's iceberg theory?
Ernest Hemingway's "iceberg theory" means leaving most of a story's meaning beneath the surface.
Did Hemingway write standing up?
Ernest Hemingway often wrote standing up.
What is the Orwell Prize?
The Orwell Prize is a British award for political writing.
What are the Edgar Awards?
The Edgar Awards for mystery writing are named after Edgar Allan Poe.
What is written on Tolkien's gravestone?
J.R.R. Tolkien's gravestone includes the names "Beren" and "Lúthien," characters from his writings.
How many of Aristotle's works survive?
Most of Aristotle's writings are lost, and many of the surviving works are believed to be his lecture notes.
What was ostracism?
Ancient Athenians could vote to banish a citizen for 10 years by writing names on pottery shards, a practice called ostracism.
What was the first writing system?
Cuneiform, developed in Mesopotamia around 3200 BC, is one of the earliest writing systems.
What is the earliest Chinese writing?
The earliest known Chinese writing appears on oracle bones from the Shang dynasty.
What did China's first emperor standardize?
China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, standardized writing, coins, and even cart axle widths.
Has the Indus script been deciphered?
The Indus Valley script has never been deciphered.
How many Maya books survive?
Only four Maya books, called codices, are known to survive.
How did the Inca keep records without writing?
The Inca kept records using quipu, knotted strings.