I’m thinking about the valence and implications of various canonical choices for variable names in physics.

There are certain unwritten rules for naming variables and I’m not sure I can fully articulate them.

x,y,z: good, solid, meat and potatoes variable names. Can serve for nearly anything, but unless there are no other options, not going to use for angles.

Capital versions mean you’re serious, but also not going to be writing it as much.

V,v: velocities, obviously. If not a velocity, something on the move and going places.

u,w: getting a little wilder. Probably a name for something that’s maybe a velocity or you want to give the impression it’s velocity-ish? Again, capital versions means you’re not fucking around.

a,b,c: the antipodal versions of x,y,z. Good names for a constant, but not, you know, a flashy one. Pick the capital versions if you really mean it.

F,f: a function, obviously.

G,g: another function.

E,e: never a variable name unless you’re trying to be an asshole. Looking at you, eccentricity.

i,j,k: if you have all of these, they’re integers. Probably starting indexing at 1, unless you’re getting saucy. If just one of these variables, it’s either a momentum (k) or someone’s taking a square root.

m,n: also integers, because why not.

l: either an integer or an angular thing. Probably both. Capital L is either a spinning thing or a deep fact about the Universe. Probably both.

o: the person picking the names hates you or you hate your readers.

P,p: the person picking the names hates you and also has no imagination.

q: either a momentum or an integer. Have fun figuring out which!

alpha, beta, gamma: now we’re getting serious. Versatile names for variables, could be anything: a power law index, an integer counter starting at 0, or a fundamental parameter of the Universe. Probably not all at the same time.

theta,phi: angles. Or fields. Or a field that is an angle.

Capital Theta: this is going to be both technical and important and you’re going to hate it.

Capital Phi: less intimidating than Theta for some reason.

Varphi: I’m here to write angles/fields and chew bubble gum and I’ve already defined too many angles/fields.

zeta and xi: pick these if you want to show off.

lambda: either a wavelength or I’ve run out of names for angles again.

epsilon and delta: whatever it is, it is tiny.

eta: either yet another angle or whatever it is describing is going to blow your mind.

kappa: a parameter that’s going to show up a lot but you sort of hate it so it’s not getting a good name.

mu, nu: either an index, an angle, or a particle.

Capital mu: what are you, an asshole?

Aleph: madness awaits.

I’m thinking about this because I’m about to start teaching General Relativity again and god help you if you stray from the path with your variable names.

Oh, forgot two important one:

omega: a frequency or frequency-ish thing
Omega: damned important.
varpi: well la de fucking da aren’t you fancy.