A to Z Challenge: X is for X

All the things you know or wish you knew (or never cared about) the letter 'X.'

• X (named ex /ˈɛks/, plural exes) is the twenty-fourth letter in the ISO basic Latin alphabet.
• In Ancient Greek, ⟨Χ⟩ and ⟨Ψ⟩ were among several variants of the same letter, used originally for /kʰ/ and later, in western areas such as Arcadia, as a simplification of the digraph ⟨ΧΣ⟩ for /ks/.
• In Latin, X stood for [ks].
• In Vietnamese, X is pronounced like English s (at the beginning of a word, e.g. "sing").
• In mathematics, x is commonly used as the name for an independent variable or unknown value.
• As a result of its use in math, X is often used to represent unknowns in other circumstances (e.g. Person X, Place X, etc.; see also Malcolm X).
• X-rays are so called because their discoverer did not know what they were.
• X is also used for referring to 'the end of conversation'.
• In cartoons, Xs are drawn instead of eyes to indicate the death of a character.
• X is commonly used as a generic mark (selecting an item on a form, indicating a location on a map, etc.).

Yeah, so this post is just an excuse for a double-post today and the result of my impending writing deadlines.  I plan to post the last part of this month's sci-fi stories this evening.  Come back for an Xtra post then!  ;)


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Today is the last day to enter your suggestions for the last Saturday challenge! I write the story and you get the fame (no fortune, sorry). The letter is Y.  Rules are HERE.

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