H is for "How Come"

My 7th-grade science teacher
who wondered about "how come"

Did you ever wonder why we say "how come," meaning "why?" I certainly never had until my 7th-grade science teacher posed the question to us. He didn't answer—he just moved on to how a car engine works. But many times when I say "how come," I think of him. And in all the years since then, I never looked up how the expression evolved—until now. 

Ward's latest puzzle. How come he is so
much better than I am at working them?

Like most discussions on the origins of a phrase or word, the beginnings of "how come" are complex, and scholars argue about its origins. Part of the reason for that is that language is continually evolving. Rarely does a new word or phrase become part of the common language overnight.  

Most agree that the use of "how come" in modern language started in the mid-1800s. However, Shakespeare used the phrase over 200 years earlier. Today, we use it interchangeably with "why," but usually in a more informal way. 

Have you ever noticed whether you use "how come" or "why" more often? Do you use one in some circumstances but not in others?

Until next time...