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?

Up next

play backward index mystery
The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

play video mischievous nulcear library mispronunciations
'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine

 

'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.

play video his or her
Is singular 'they' a better choice?

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'

play onomatopoeia video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

 

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

play is none singular or plural video
Is 'none' singular or plural?

 

Or both? Or neither?

play video literally
Literally

 

A word that (literally) drives people nuts

play serial comma
The Serial Comma Explained

 

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