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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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Pictures in the Dictionary

 

The story of those iconic illustrations.

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Who vs. Whom

 

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

play video how a word gets into the dicionary
How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

What our editors are looking for when they enter words in Merriam-Webster.

play fun funner funnest
Fun, Funner, Funnest

 

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

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How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

 

An imaginary word that snuck into the dictionary

play video lay vs lie
Lay vs. Lie

 

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.