In today’s sterling example of entirely fake and stupid news, a whole bunch of people online are now convinced that the word ‘news’ is actually an acronym which stands for “notable events, weather and sport”on the basis of a meme.
Originally posted on Twitter and garnering an absurd number of retweets, the meme soon spread across the internet as memes do, hitting Facebook and Instagram via screenshots.
It took me 19 years to figure out NEWS stands for “notable events, weather, and sports” ??
— Austin Steinmetz (@asteinmetz_21) June 5, 2017
As you can see, the comments are packed with people who are absolutely floored by this extremely convenient revelation.
Some of the retweets of the original retweet have gone even more insanely viral. Meaning that this is literally just a fact now. Enough people believe it that it is just a fact.
Of course, ‘news’ is not an acronym. It has been in use for far longer than people have regularly used acronyms, and this etymology just doesn’t hold up for how words actually work and enter the language. Hot tip: 99% of the time you hear a word origin involving it being a SECRET ACRONYM it’s probably not true.
The word ‘news’ developed in the 14th century as a special use of the plural form of the word ‘new’. Which is pretty logical. You didn’t have a bunch of 14th century nobles sitting around working out the perfect acronym for things, because they were too busy trying not to get the plague and die.
But don’t take my word for it. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary is on the case.
Now: back to the world’s regularly scheduled programming of believing literally anything as long as it is conveyed via a pixelated Instagram meme.
Source: Twitter.
Photo: Instagram.
