Hashtag, #, aka the symbol formerly know as the number sign, much like The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, who in fact gave up his lettered name for that of a symbol.

So, the hashtag phenomenon has spread. I am so uninformed that I’m not even sure if you can write out the word hashtag or must you always use the symbol formerly known as the number sign to represent the hashtag. And, do you even say “the hashtag”. My husband, who is more up on things, says it is like a tag. I know about tags, but what’s up with the hash piece. What does the hash add, how does the hash make it different?

The hashtag is everywhere, in advertisements, in common popular culture, various places. My youngest son has even been known to let me know his opinion by modifying it with the hashtag (example: “hashtag: boring” as he rolls his eyes at me…..or is it “#boring”?).

Yes, I know I could look this up in any manner of ways, including Wikipedia or a basic Google search, but, sometimes I just want to understand things the way I do. I am, however, curious about the birth and development of the hashtag movement. Perhaps I will research that part of it a bit more. But, until then, I will keep using the hashtag as I see fit.