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

play video its vs its
Its vs. It's

 

Some practical guidance, and interesting history, about a common mistake.

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

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'

play sneaked vs snuck video
Sneaked vs. Snuck

 

How the irregular 'snuck' sneaked into the dictionary

play video lay vs lie
Lay vs. Lie

 

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

play merriam-webster eggcorns title page
What Is an Eggcorn?

 

And how did it get that name?

play video soup vs soop
An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

 

Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut