Phonetic alphabets, also known as spelling alphabets, came to prominence on the global stage in the mid-20th century, as world wars made urgent the need for clear, quick and secretive communication among Allied forces. The NATO Alphabet we know today (which begins with Alfa, Bravo, Charlie) was adopted officially in 1956 by the International Civil Aviation Organization, after earlier iterations such as the Able Baker alphabet proved inadequate. In a version used briefly by the British Royal Army, the spelling alphabet begins with Ack, Beer, which is what I say when I realize I’ve shown up empty-handed to a party. The NATO alphabet remains ubiquitous in ceremony — it comes up often in The New York Times’s crossword entries — but in practice, it’s somewhat niche. When was the last time you clarified the letter “Y” by saying “Yankee” instead of something like “yellow” or “yes”?

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Persons: “, Charlie, Able Baker Organizations: Allied, NATO, Alfa, Bravo, International Civil Aviation Organization, British Royal Army Locations: Babel, Beer, New