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Words Matter

The True Story of the Backward Index

These people needed a computer


There it sits, hidden in plain view on a set of shelves in the basement of the Merriam-Webster offices: the Backward Index. But why would anyone type out 315,000 words spelled in reverse?

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play backward index mystery
The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

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Hopefully

 

We believe the popular usage of this word is correct

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How Do You Pronounce 'Vase'?

 

And is one way more correct than the others?

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How to Read a French Menu

 

How to 'amuse-bouche' without begging pardon for your French

play video ending a sentence with a preposition
Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

 

An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with.

play videos pictures in the dictionary
Pictures in the Dictionary

 

The story of those iconic illustrations.

play is none singular or plural video
Is 'None' Singular or Plural?

 

Or both? Or neither?