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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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Healthy vs. Healthful

 

Why both words are equally good for you.

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Who vs. Whom

 

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

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Literally

 

A word that (literally) drives people nuts

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What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'?

 

How 'literally' can mean "figuratively"

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'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

 

We're gonna stop you right there

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Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings