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What Makes “No-Maj” Better Than “Muggle”?

by Dean Miller · April 1, 2017

With our switch from MuggleNet.com to NoMajNet.com starting today, an explanation is sorely needed. However, this is not that explanation. Instead, we will be helping you through this transition by explaining how “No-Maj” has forever replaced “Muggle” in our hearts. We have grown up with “Muggle” being the common term for something we didn’t want to be. So why the change?

First off, “No-Maj” actually has some meaning behind it. It is not a big leap to get from “no magic” to “No-Maj.” On the other hand, the inspiration behind “Muggle” was the word “mug,” which is an English word for someone who is easily fooled. J.K. Rowling apparently decided this wasn’t much of a leap to make. Luckily for us, she came up with something better!

Now let’s look at the characters we know from both categories.  Over on the “Muggle” side, we have the Dursleys, a family determined to pretend magic doesn’t exist. Then when they get stuck with Harry, they are determined to keep him ignorant of his magical abilities. When Hagrid exposes their lies, Vernon decides to interject by saying more beatings would have stopped the magic from developing with young Harry.

Then on the other side of the Atlantic, we have Jacob Kowalski, possibly one of the best characters in the wizarding world, whose facial expressions are beaten only by Ron Weasley. Not only is he exposed to magic and forced to follow Newt Scamander from one wizarding establishment to the next, but he also does so with a curious and fearless attitude.  He forms everlasting friendships (hopefully!?!), and even if he remembers nothing else, he remembers the creatures!

 

 

In trying to form a legitimate opinion in what word is best to use when describing non-magical people, I tried to come up with a list of why “Muggle” is the superior term. I came up with one thing, which is also the number one argument I ever hear. This is the fact that we have had “Muggle” since the beginning. It is hard to argue against this because it is true. But eventually, we have to move past the nostalgia factor. “No-Maj” is here to stay, while “Muggle” is on the road to end up like most spells. It may become popular again in the future, but for now, it is losing ground.

While we have greatly enjoyed our time under the name MuggleNet.com, we can’t wait to see where the future brings us under NoMajNet.com! We are adapting with the changing times and will continue to do so in order to remain Frank’s favorite fansite!

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MuggleNet Archive

Important Dates

September 2025

Wed, Sep 3

Harry buries Alastor Moody's magical eye
Recurs yearly
Harry's first detention with Professor Umbridge
Recurs yearly
Lockhart lets Cornish pixies loose in class
Recurs yearly

1992

Thu, Sep 4

Ellie Darcey-Alden's birthday
Recurs yearly

Young Lily Evans

Hermione forms SPEW
Recurs yearly

1994

Moody's first DADA lesson
Recurs yearly

1994

Fri, Sep 5

Harry hears the Basilisk in the walls for the first time
Recurs yearly

1992

Ron's wand backfires as he tries to curse Malfoy; Eat Slugs!
Recurs yearly

1992

Sat, Sep 6

Harry's first potions class, where he loses 5 points for Gryffindor
Recurs yearly

1991

Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide, Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies, & Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists (short stories; e-book) released - 2016
Recurs yearly

2016

MuggleNet receives JKR Fansite Award
Recurs yearly

2004

It’s high time I paid homage to the mighty MuggleNet. Where to start? I love the design, (I currently favour the ‘Dementor’ layout), the polls (I actually voted in the ‘Who’s the Half-Blood Prince?’ one), the pretty-much-exhaustive information on all books and films, the wonderful editorials (more insight there than in several companion volumes I shall not name), 101 Ways to Annoy Lord Voldemort (made me laugh aloud), the Wall of Shame (nearly as funny as some of the stuff I get)… pretty much everything. Webmaster Emerson, Eric, Jamie, Damon, Ben, Matthew, Rachel, Jaymz and Sharon, I salute you.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040907101729/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/fansite_view.cfm?id=15

Sun, Sep 7

Dumbledore shows Harry his first Tom Riddle-related memory: Bob Ogden's visit to the Gaunts
Recurs yearly

1996

Hugh Mitchell's birthday
Recurs yearly

Colin Creevey

Toby Jones's birthday
Recurs yearly

Voice of Dobby

Mon, Sep 8

Educational Decree No. 23 is passed
Recurs yearly

1995

Ginny Weasley opens the Chamber of Secrets under the influence of Tom Riddle's diary
Recurs yearly

1992

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban book (US)
Recurs yearly

1999

Tue, Sep 9

Lupin teaches boggarts in DADA
Recurs yearly

1993

MuggleNet podcasts are sponsored in part by Secretlab.

Thanks to its research-backed ergonomic design, including a proprietary 4-way adaptive lumbar support system, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Harry Potter Edition will comfortably support you even when you’re up to no good.

Did You Know

Minerva McGonagall’s mother kept her own magical heritage a secret from her Muggle husband for years, which made her life very sad and difficult.

Potter History

October 23, 2010 – The running time for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is revealed to be 147 minutes.

Potter Quote

“You’ve gone middle head!”

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