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

 

We're gonna stop you right there

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Old-School Grammar

 

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.

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

 

Is it all the same anyway?

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How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

What our editors are looking for when they enter words in Merriam-Webster.

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Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

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Is It 'day today' or 'day-to-day'?

 

What about Day Tomorrow?