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 further vs farther video
Further vs. Farther

 

They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

play video cynic
The History of 'Cynic'

 

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

play how to use a dictionary
How to Use a Dictionary

 

The best way to find information in the dictionary

play contractions
On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these

play there theyre their video
There, They're, Their

 

There, there. We'll sort it out.

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

 

Or both? Or neither?