ETAOIN SHRDLU

(Are you looking for the fanzine by Stephen Taller?)

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

The first two rows of letters on a linotype machine, used in many connections, e.g., to designate a small printing press owned by Wollheim and Michel, at one time.

From Fancyclopedia 2 Supplement, ca. 1960

A meaning left unmentioned: this was the title of a subzine/SAPSzine which burst without warning onto the Fifth Fandom scene and in a few issues established quite a reputation. Only after the abrupt total disappearance of magazine, editors, publishers and contributors was it learned that the whole thing had been an English class project of the Bronx High School of Science, and the people involved not eager neofen in search of egoboo, but eager students in search of passing grades.

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944

Etaoin Shrdlu Press – A small printing press owned by Michel-Wollheim. The combination of letters is from a row of keys on the standard linotype keyboard, and has been used in other connections. Widner once conducted an investigation of how different fen pronounced it.

"ETAOIN SHRDLU" were chosen for the top row because they were the twelve most commonly used letters in English). A typewriter's keyboard arrangement is called QWERTYUIOP, chosen to make typing as slow as possible.

Also the title of a 1942 short story by Fredric Brown.

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Publishing