What term will historians use for the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol?

Immediately following the events, a hot debate ignited over what to call the actions of the mob: a revolt? uprising? insurrection? rebellion?

During ensuing weeks, journalists regularly began inserting the date of the event into references to it, e.g., "the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol," "the Jan. 6 attacks." By February, many media outlets were using the date alone. On Feb. 10, for instance, CNN's website headlined an opinion piece by S.E. Cupp "January 6 was the crime of the century."

Shortly thereafter, many outlets were compressing the date to its numerical signifier "1/6," e.g., a Feb. 23 piece that appeared on Daily Kos titled, "1/6 was an insurrection because Trump truly hoped Pence would overturn the election."

Based on this general trend, it now appears that journalists, the public and historians will eventually settle on the term "1/6" (spoken as "one-six") for the events of that day.

This trail of linguistic compression mirrors the process that led to "9/11" as the agreed-upon term for the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

As you might recall, in the immediate aftermath of that tragedy, several terms were floated to designate it, including "The Terrorist Attacks," "The Towers" and "World Trade." But partly because the horrors of that day included events in Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, as well as New York City, the media and public soon began using the simple numerical term.

Americans, in fact, have a long and rich history of naming events after dates. I've always believed we call our nation's birthday "the Fourth of July," for instance, because the stand-alone date connotes the wide range of activities, emotions and ideals associated with that celebration — from frankfurters to fireworks to freedom. The straightforward "Independence Day" simply doesn't capture that polychromatic spirit.

By being intentionally nondescript, the date itself becomes a passcode that opens the treasure chest of that day's meanings, both prosaic and profound.

Similarly, our observances of the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865, as "Juneteenth," and of the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944, as "D-Day" encompass the mixture of anxiety, tears, triumph and hope Americans experienced on those momentous dates.

Because the shorthand term "1/6" evokes the complexity, intensity and trauma of that day, it may soon join Sept. 11, and Dec. 7, as a date, in the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, "which will live in infamy."

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

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