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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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The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

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The Serial Comma Explained

 

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

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The Schwa

 

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.

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Sneaked vs. Snuck

 

How the irregular 'snuck' sneaked into the dictionary

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

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We'll tell you all the perpendiculars

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How to Remember 'Affect' and 'Effect'

 

A simple way to keep them apart. (Most of the time.)