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 sneaked vs snuck video
Sneaked vs. Snuck

 

How the irregular 'snuck' sneaked into the dictionary

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Is It 'Hanger' or 'Hangar'?

 

How to remember which is which

play video its vs its
Its vs. It's

 

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

play video title words of the year 1066
Words of the Year: 1066

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

play video hopefully
Hopefully

 

We believe the popular usage of this word is correct

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings