play backward index mystery
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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Fun, Funner, Funnest

 

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'

play merriam-webster eggcorns title page
What Is an Eggcorn?

 

And how did it get that name?

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Pictures in the Dictionary

 

The story of those iconic illustrations.

play serial comma
The Serial Comma Explained

 

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

play video affect vs effect
Affect vs. Effect

 

Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.