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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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Video: Why is there a 'c' in 'indict'?

 

And who put it there, anyway?

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Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

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How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

 

An imaginary word that snuck into the dictionary

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The Schwa

 

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.

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I vs. Me

 

'Between you and __'? Simple guidance for a tricky pronoun.