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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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'One in the same' or 'One and the same'?

 

Is it all the same anyway?

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A linguistic analysis of a notorious pronunciation

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Webster's Dictionary of 1864

 

The landmark edition that transformed the way dictionaries are made.

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Hopefully

 

We believe the popular usage of this word is correct

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Why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?

 

Thawing one of the mysteries of English

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Affect vs. Effect

 

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