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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Comedian ISMO on what separates a boot from a trunk

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What about Day Tomorrow?

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How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

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Good news for those who feel stuffy saying 'whom.'

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i.e. vs. e.g.

 

Often used, often confused. Here's some guidance and insight.