Why is blue abbreviated as U?
General forum
Posted on Dec. 3, 2013, 11:20 a.m. by RussischerZar
I've always wondered:
Does anyone have a definite explanation for this despite from the obvious "black already took B" and "U is the vocal sound that the word blue makes"?
Also, does anyone know why black took precedent over blue in the abbreviation letter?
Rhadamanthus says... #3
This is how I remember Mark Rosewater explaining it a few different times:
Black got the B because alphabetically, "black" comes before "blue". The next available letter for Blue would have been L, but that's used for Lands so that wasn't an option. U was simply the next letter in line for consideration.
December 3, 2013 11:24 a.m.
Nigeltastic says... #5
http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/mm/21 about half way down it is explained as best it will ever be
December 3, 2013 11:29 a.m.
good question. i wondered this too. and thanks Nigeltastic, that was an interesting read
December 3, 2013 11:52 a.m.
DeckBuilder345 says... #7
Because blue players are
Uncooperative
Uncouth
Uninteresting
and
Unfun to play with.
December 3, 2013 11:57 a.m.
DeckBuilder345 says... #8
That is unless they play blue for the artifacts... and then it is ok
December 3, 2013 11:58 a.m.
Also, U is used to define the color blue in things outside of magic (for example, if you sell a widget and one of the color options is blue, you would mark U on the order form).
December 3, 2013 1:01 p.m.
KrosanTusker says... #11
On some forums, blue sometimes used to be B and black would be K but that died out pretty quickly.
December 3, 2013 1:35 p.m.
Gorgosaurusrex says... #12
I always thought it was because Black took "B" so they chose "U" because it kinda looks the the blue mana symbol (water droplet).
erabel says... #2
Black comes before blue alphabetically, so it gets B. L is for land. U is next.
December 3, 2013 11:24 a.m.