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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

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Alright vs. All Right

 

Is 'alright' all right?

play video his or her
Is singular 'they' a better choice?

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'

play video its vs its
Its vs. It's

 

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

play video who vs whom
Who vs. Whom

 

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

play video schwa
The Schwa

 

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

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

 

We're gonna stop you right there

Games & Quizzes

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Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
girl-playing-trumpet
Sound Check: A Musical Word Quiz Tune-up your vocabulary
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