Download Article
Download Article
We all know the importance of exercising our bodies, but what about exercising our minds? Reading words backwards helps to keep your mind active and improve your reading skills. As English readers and writers, we are accustomed to reading left to right. To challenge your brain, try reading from right to left, instead.
-
1
Write down a short phrase on a piece of paper. It typically helps to start with shorter, easier words and work your way up to a longer phrase. Two to three words will be sufficient.
-
2
Rewrite the phrase backwards. Begin with the last letter of the last word and end with the first letter of the first word. Leave spaces between words just as you normally would. Practice writing the phrase several times; it will help clue your brain to the right-to-left movement.
- Because you are accustomed to reading left-to-right, your brain naturally prefers this direction; essentially what you are doing is re-teaching it how to track from right to left (called «directional tracking»).[1]
Advertisement
- Because you are accustomed to reading left-to-right, your brain naturally prefers this direction; essentially what you are doing is re-teaching it how to track from right to left (called «directional tracking»).[1]
-
3
Practice reading the phrase. Start with the letter on the right and work towards the left (the opposite of how you normally read). Identify each letter individually and try to sound it out as you go. Over time, your brain will begin to recognize the shape of the word, and you will no longer need to sound it out.[2]
- Practice reading several times over the next few days. Spacing out your practice over time helps you feel more comfortable reading and recognizing words from the opposite direction, from right to left rather than left to right.
-
4
Move on to longer phrases. Pick a random sentence from a book and practice reading it backwards. If it is difficult to isolate the sentence in the book, rewrite the sentence on a piece of paper, then rewrite the phrase from right to left. It might help, at least initially, to use your finger under each word to help your eyes keep track of where you are.
- Practice makes perfect! Here’s an example. Try to figure out what it says.
- snoitalutargnoC .sdrawkcab gnidaer era uoy siht daer nac uoy fI
Advertisement
-
1
Visualize a word in your mind. It can be any word, though it is easier to start with shorter (two to four letter) words. Mentally write the word in your mind as you would on a piece of paper, drawing each letter.
-
2
Flip the word from right to left mentally. Beginning first with two-letter words (oh, ah, no, on, etc.) practice flipping the letters in your mind. As you move to longer words, it might help to mentally write each letter one at a time, beginning with the last letter, rather than trying to flip the entire word. As you gain confidence it will become easier to flip an entire word.
-
3
Practice. Because this is a mental exercise, you can picture any word backward. Next time you are stuck in traffic, waiting in line at the grocery store, or waiting for a friend at a restaurant, pick a word you see and practice flipping it in your mind.
-
4
String words together. For an extra challenge, practice flipping whole phrases in your mind. It is often challenging enough to visualize a backward word in your mind, so be patient with yourself. Flip single words in your mind before flipping an entire phrase.
Advertisement
-
1
Hold the backwards text up to a mirror. If you’re trying to decipher text that has been written backward in mirror image, there’s an easy way to make it legible. The mirror image of the text, or the image of the text that you’ll see in the mirror, will look as though it was written normally.
- Mirror image writing is different from right to left backwards writing. In mirror image writing, each individual letter appears backwards, but the letters are still in left to right order.
- You can see the effect if you hold up regular text to a mirror.
-
2
Read the text from left to right. Just as you normally would, you should be able to clearly read the text now. No brain boggling is required to decipher the code. The letters will appear in their normal position.
-
3
Use a mirror to write backwards. The next time you want to make your writing slightly more difficult to understand, you can use a mirror to translate your text into mirror image writing. Here’s what to do:
- Write your text on a piece of paper in normal writing.
- Have a friend hold it in front of a mirror.
- Use a piece of tracing paper to trace over the mirror image of your text.
- The text on the tracing paper will be your message, in mirror image backwards writing.
Advertisement
Add New Question
-
Question
Why would I want to know how to read backwards?
Wanting to read backwards or being able to read backwards is actually just something our brains can do, sometimes we don’t even know were doing it. In terms of helpfulness, it can be useful for reading documents held by another party that aren’t in the right direction, where you need to see what they’re reading or writing without asking for the document. Or, it’s really just for fun, something cool to know how to do.
-
Question
Can everybody read backwards?
Most people can read backwards. It just involves taking indivual letters and forming them in your head. If you can form them the right way then you can read the word.
-
Question
I heard that if you have something written backward, you can face a mirror and it will look regular. Is this true?
Riley Meredith
Community Answer
Yes. A mirror reflects things backward, so if it’s already written backward, it will appear to be written forward.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
-
Also practice reading in a mirror and reading upside-down. Both activities are good practice at reversing the order of letters. Reading a word through a piece of paper by holding it up to the light is the same as holding it up to a mirror [3]
-
When you know lots of words backwards, test your friends and family!
-
Try writing something backwards and leave it for a target to get confused.
Show More Tips
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 64,027 times.
Reader Success Stories
-
«I can read backward by re picturing the word or sentence in my head, this still helped me, thank you!»
Did this article help you?
Can everyone read backwards?
Can you read backwards with ease? Reading backward quickly requires a certain amount of talent and practice. It’s very hard for anyone to read at the same speed as when they read a normal, correctly oriented text. We are actually able to train our brains — over time — to read backwards easily!
What is reverse reading?
A: When it’s actually a reading lesson with some discussion questions tacked on for the last ten minutes. It makes for a lesson with more structure than just trying to chat for an hour, which is a challenge for long term classes, and provides a source of new vocabulary.
What is it called when you can read words backwards?
A palindrome is a word, number, phrase, or other sequence of characters which reads the same backward as forward, such as madam or racecar.
Is reading backwards a sign of intelligence?
People who have a lot of practice recognizing words will naturally be better at reading them in different orientations, even backward. That may be why it’s partially correlated with intelligence – people who read a lot are likely to be more intelligent and thus better at reading from different orientations.
What is mirror reading?
By analogy, mirror reading refers to the preference to read mirror reversed over normally written words. These phenomena appear rarely after brain damage and offer insight into the nervous system’s organization of visual-spatial and visual-motor representations.
How do you say Burgundy sauce backwards?
Is reading upside down a sign of dyslexia?
Dyslexia makes reading difficult; those with this disorder might see words as backwards, upside down, or without spaces in between. This disorder can cause an individual to become frustrated with learning, especially when they aren’t yet aware of their disability.
Does reading Upside Down help dyslexia?
It’s not unusual for young kids to reverse letters when they read and write. But when they still frequently write backwards or upside down beyond age 7, it could signal trouble with reading or language. People often think writing letters backwards is a sign of dyslexia , but that’s often not the case.
What is an ambigram word?
An ambigram is a word or design that retains meaning when viewed from a different direction or perspective. Specifically, a rotational ambigram reads the same when viewed upside down, while a mirror or bilateral ambigram is one that reads the same backward and forward.
What are the 4 types of dyslexia?
Why do I mix up my B’s and D’s?
Are There Different Kinds of Dyslexia?
- dysphonetic dyslexia.
- auditory dyslexia.
- dyseidetic dyslexia.
- visual dyslexia.
- double deficit dyslexia.
- attentional dyslexia.
Can dyslexia be cured?
If you’ve seen your child flip her “b” and “d”, you’ve probably worried that it’s a sign of dyslexia or future reading issues. Many of these children flip both letters and words when they begin working with us. However, we routinely see these same children become good readers and good spellers.
How do I know if I’m dyslexic?
Dyslexia is a disorder present at birth and cannot be prevented or cured, but it can be managed with special instruction and support. Early intervention to address reading problems is important.
Is dyslexia a form of autism?
reading slowly or making errors when reading aloud. visual disturbances when reading (for example, a child may describe letters and words as seeming to move around or appear blurred) answering questions well orally, but having difficulty writing the answer down. difficulty carrying out a sequence of directions.
What are three signs of dyslexia?
Dyslexia and autism are two different types of disorders. No. Dyslexia and autism are two different types of disorders. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty interpreting words, pronunciations, and spellings.
What age should you test for dyslexia?
Symptoms
- Late talking.
- Learning new words slowly.
- Problems forming words correctly, such as reversing sounds in words or confusing words that sound alike.
- Problems remembering or naming letters, numbers and colors.
- Difficulty learning nursery rhymes or playing rhyming games.
How do you tell if you’re dyslexic adults?
Around age 5 or 6 years, when kids begin learning to read, dyslexia symptoms become more apparent. Children who are at risk of reading disabilities can be identified in kindergarten. There is no standardized test for dyslexia, so your child’s doctor will work with you to evaluate their symptoms.
Can you grow out of dyslexia?
Can ADHD look like dyslexia?
For example, a person may be diagnosed with dyslexia, but also have:
- Dyscalculia, or difficulty with math.
- Dysgraphia, or difficulty writing.
- Left-right disorder, or trouble telling left from right.
What does Hyperlexia mean?
People do not outgrow dyslexia, although the symptoms do tend to vary by age. With appropriate instruction and support, people with dyslexia can succeed in school and the workplace. Keep reading to learn more about how dyslexia can affect people at different ages.
Is dyslexia passed on by mother or father?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 50 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD also have a learning disorder such as dyslexia. In fact, their symptoms at times can be similar, making it hard to figure out what’s causing the behavior you’re seeing.
What do dyslexic people see?
Hyperlexia is when a child starts reading early and surprisingly beyond their expected ability. It’s often accompanied by an obsessive interest in letters and numbers, which develops as an infant. Hyperlexia is often, but not always, part of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Asked by: Brenda Windler
Score: 4.4/5
(54 votes)
A palindrome is a word, sentence, verse, or even number that reads the same backward or forward. It derives from Greek roots that literally mean “running back” (palin is “again, back,” and dromos, “running.”) The word appears to have been created in English based on these roots in the early 1600s.
What words can you spell backwards and forwards?
The most familiar palindromes in English are character-unit palindromes. The characters read the same backward as forward. Some examples of palindromic words are redivider, deified, civic, radar, level, rotor, kayak, reviver, racecar, madam, and refer.
What does spell backwards forward mean?
A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or sequence of words that reads the same backward as forward.
Which vehicle is spelled the same forward and backward?
Racecar. Everyone has heard of the famous palindrome example of “racecar,” which is spelled the same backwards and forwards.
What time is spelled the same forwards and backwards?
Answer: Time which is spelled the same forwards and backwards is a palindrome, the word is NOON. NOON is spelled the same forwards and backwards.
33 related questions found
Who uses it but has no need for it?
Answer to this amazingly interesting Who Makes It, Has No Need Of It. Who Buys It, Has No Use For It. Who Uses It Can Neither See Nor Feel It. Riddle is Coffin.
What word when pronounced wrong is right?
What word is right when pronounced wrong, But is wrong when pronounced right Riddle — FAQ. 1. Where do cows go for their holidays? The answer is Moo York.
Which month do you sleep the least?
During which month do people sleep the least? Scroll down to find the answer: Answer — February (there are usually fewer nights in February).
What is the longest palindrome word?
The longest palindrome in English is often considered tattarrattat, coined by James Joyce in his 1922 Ulysses to imitate the sound of a knock on the door. That’s 12 letters.
What is black when you buy it red?
The answer to What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away? is «Charcoal«.
What does it mean when you say words backwards?
Inversion (also known as anastrophe) is the reversing of word order.
What is Hamilton spelled backwards?
As a cry of anguish, as opposed to joy or excitement, Hamilton apparently came up with the spelling yarooh by reversing the letters of hooray.
What names are the same backwards?
There are lots of palindromic given names, for example ADA, ANNA, BOB, ELLE, EVE, HANNAH and OTTO. More unusual ones include ABBA, AOITOA, ESEESE, LERREL, NEVEN, ODDO and VYV. Palindromic surnames are just as plentiful: CIRIC, EDE, IYAYI, MASSAM, RETTER, SILLIS, YELLEY. I’m sure you can think of others.
Are numbers palindromes?
. The first few palindromic numbers are therefore are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99, 101, 111, 121, … (OEIS A002113).
Can palindromes be even?
@Nick: Rewording: a palindrome can have any length (even 0).
What is a fear of palindromes called?
Aibohphobia is the (unofficial) fear of palindromes, which are words that read the same front and back and, you guessed it, the word itself is a palindrome.
What is a palindrome word?
: a word, verse, or sentence (such as «Able was I ere I saw Elba») or a number (such as 1881) that reads the same backward or forward. Other Words from palindrome Example Sentences Learn More About palindrome.
What is the best palindrome?
List of the best palindrome sentences:
- A dog! A panic in a pagoda.
- A lot not new I saw as I went on to L.A.
- A man, a plan, a canal – Panama.
- A new order began, a more Roman age bred Rowena.
- A Toyota. Race fast, safe car. A Toyota.
- Able was I ere I saw Elba.
- Amore, Roma.
- Animal loots foliated detail of stool lamina.
What can you hear but not touch or see?
Answer to the What Can You Hear But Not Touch or See? Riddle. The Answer to this What Can You Hear But Not Touch or See? Riddle is Your Voice.
What fruit is always sad?
1. I am a fruit that is always sad. What am I? Answer: A blueberry.
What can clap but has no hands?
The answer for I Can Clap Without Hands Riddle is “Thunder.”
What is white when it’s dirty?
The answer to this interesting What Becomes White When It Is Dirty? Riddle is Blackboard.
What word takes 3 hours to say?
That’s called: Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia and it’s one of the longest words in the dictionary.
What has an eye but can’t see?
The needle has an opening at one end which is the eye of it. Despite that eye, the needle cannot see. Therefore, What has one eye but cannot see answer is a needle.
Most people think that dyslexia causes people to reverse letters and numbers and see words backwards. But reversals happen as a normal part of development, and are seen in many kids until first or second grade. Dyslexia is a language processing disorder, so it can affect all forms of language, spoken or written.
What is it called when a sentence can be read two ways?
A double entendre is a phrase or figure of speech that could have two meanings or that could be understood in two different ways.
What is a Semordnilap word?
Palindromes Semordnilap A palindrome is a word or phrase that is the same forwards and backwards, but a semordnilap (“palindromes” backwards) is a word that becomes a different word when read backwards.
What is it called when you can read a word forwards and backwards?
What is a palindrome? According to The Oxford English Dictionary the word is based on Greek root words meaning “back” and “running.” Palindromes are words or phrases that read the same backward and forward, letter for letter, number for number, or word for word. Some palindromes seem philosophical.
What is pragmatic ambiguity?
Pragmatic Ambiguity can be defined as the words which have multiple interpretations. Pragmatic Ambiguity arises when the meaning of words of a sentence is not specific; it concludes different meanings.
What is an example of a Semordnilap?
In a semordnilap the text is likewise reversed but it must turn into something different. For example, if you reverse “diaper” you get “repaid”, and if you invert “desserts” the word “stressed” appears. A more complicated example is “deliver no evil”, but you can probably invent better ones for yourself.
What words make another word backwards?
9 words created by spelling other words backwards
- YENSID. The name of the sorcerer in Fantasia is “Disney” spelled backwards.
- HARPO.
- NACIREMA.
- EREWHON.
- YOB.
- SILOPANNA.
- RETSOF.
- LLAREGGUB.
What words have the same forward and backward?
Words that look the same both forward and backward are called palindromes. Perhaps the most well-known palindromic word is racecar, but there are plenty of others, like wow, mom, radar, solos, reviver, and deified.
What are words spelled the same backwards?
Words spelled the Same Backwards. A palindrome is a word that is spelled the same forward and backward. Some examples of palindromes are noon, dad, wow, and radar.
What word is spelled the same backwards?
A word palindrome is a word that is spelled the same way backwards. If you, for example, spell the word racecar backwards, you will see that it spells racecar. Palindrome comes from Greek where Palin means again and drome means direction.
An emordnilap (palindrome spelled backwards) is a word that can be read differently in reverse – it is read one way forward and another way backwards. They are sometimes referred to as a reverse pair.
Reverse Pairs (Emordnilap Words)
Below please find a list of reverse pairs. If we missed one, please use our comment form to let us know.
am – ma | Noel – Leon |
are – era | not – ton |
avid – diva | now – won |
bad – dab | nuts – stun |
ban – nab | on – no |
bard – drab | pal – lap |
bat – tab | pals – slap |
bats – stab | part – trap |
bonk – knob | parts – strap |
brag – garb | pay – yap |
bud – dub | peek – keep |
buns – snub | peels – sleep |
but – tub | pets – step |
cod – doc | pin – nip |
dab – bad | pins – snip |
dad – bad | pit – tip |
dam – mad | pools – sloop |
decaf – faced | pot – top |
decal – laced | pots – stop |
deer – reed | rail – liar |
deliver – reviled | rat – tar |
denim – mined | rats – star |
Dennis – sinned | raw – war |
desserts – stressed | reed – deer |
devil – lived | regal – lager |
dew – wed | repaid – diaper |
dial – laid | reviled – deliver |
diaper – repaid | reward – drawer |
diva – avid | room – moor |
doc – cod | sag – gas |
dog – God | saw – was |
doom – mood | sinned – Dennis |
dot – Tod | slag – gals |
drab – bard | slap – pals |
draw – ward | sleek – keels |
drawer – reward | sleep – peels |
dub – bud | sloop – pools |
edit – tide | sloop – pools |
eel – Lee | snip – pins |
emit – time | snoops – spoons |
era – are | snub – buns |
evil – live | snug – guns |
faced – decaf | spam – maps |
flog – golf | span – naps |
flow – wolf | spat – taps |
gals – slag | spoons – snoops |
garb – brag | spots – stops |
gas – sag | stab – bats |
gel – leg | star – rats |
gnat – tang | step – pets |
God – dog | stew – wets |
golf – flog | stool – loots |
gum – mug | stop – pots |
guns – snug | stops – spots |
keels – sleek | strap – parts |
keep – peek | stressed – desserts |
knob – bonk | stun – nuts |
laced – decal | tab – bat |
lager – regal | tang – gnat |
laid – dial | tap – pat |
lap – pal | taps – spat |
Lee – eel | tar – rat |
leg – gel | ten – net |
Leon – Noel | tide – edit |
liar – rail | time – emit |
live – evil | tip – pit |
lived – devil | Tod – dot |
loots – stool | ton – not |
ma – am | top – pot |
mad – dam | trap – part |
maps – spam | tub – but |
may – yam | tub – but |
mined – denim | war – raw |
mood – doom | ward – draw |
moor – room | was – saw |
mug – gum | wed – dew |
nab – ban | wets – stew |
naps – span | wolf – flow |
net – ten | won – now |
nip – pin | yam – may |
no – on | yap – pay |
Source Fry, E.B., Ph.D. & Kress, J.E., Ed.D. (2006). The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists 5th Edition. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.
Reader Interactions
Trackbacks
What is it called when you read a word backwards?
Undiagnosed or without special instruction, dyslexia can lead to frustration, school failure, and low self-esteem. The common myths about dyslexia are that dyslexics read backwards and reverse words and letters. Dyslexia is not a disease! The word dyslexia comes from the Greek language and means poor language.
Why is palindrome not a palindrome?
Palindrome is a word that doesn’t change its meaning whether you read it normally or backwards. Palindrome backwards is emordnilap, so therefore it’s not a palindrome itself. Palindrome is a word that doesn’t change its meaning whether you read it normally or backwards.
What is it that no man wants to have Riddle?
Share This Riddle Question: What is it that no man wants, but no man wants to lose? Answer: A lawsuit.
What does everyone have but no one can lose?
Everyone has it but no one can lose it. What is it? Answer: A shadow.
What room can nobody enter?
What’s the only room from which no one can enter or leave? A mushroom.
What runs but have no legs?
Riddle: What can run but has no legs? Answer: An engine.
We all know the importance of exercising our bodies, but what about exercising our minds? Reading words backwards helps to keep your mind active and improve your reading skills. As English readers and writers, we are accustomed to reading left to right. To challenge your brain, try reading from right to left, instead.
1. Reading from Right to Left
Write down a short phrase on a piece of paper. It typically helps to start with shorter, easier words and work your way up to a longer phrase. Two to three words will be sufficient.
Rewrite the phrase backwards. Begin with the last letter of the last word and end with the first letter of the first word. Leave spaces between words just as you normally would. Practice writing the phrase several times; it will help clue your brain to the right-to-left movement.
- Because you are accustomed to reading left-to-right, your brain naturally prefers this direction; essentially what you are doing is re-teaching it how to track from right to left (called «directional tracking»).[1]
Practice reading the phrase. Start with the letter on the right and work towards the left (the opposite of how you normally read). Identify each letter individually and try to sound it out as you go. Over time, your brain will begin to recognize the shape of the word, and you will no longer need to sound it out.[2]
- Practice reading several times over the next few days. Spacing out your practice over time helps you feel more comfortable reading and recognizing words from the opposite direction, from right to left rather than left to right.
Move on to longer phrases. Pick a random sentence from a book and practice reading it backwards. If it is difficult to isolate the sentence in the book, rewrite the sentence on a piece of paper, then rewrite the phrase from right to left. It might help, at least initially, to use your finger under each word to help your eyes keep track of where you are.
- Practice makes perfect! Here’s an example. Try to figure out what it says.
- snoitalutargnoC .sdrawkcab gnidaer era uoy siht daer nac uoy fI
2. Using Visualization
Visualize a word in your mind. It can be any word, though it is easier to start with shorter (two to four letter) words. Mentally write the word in your mind as you would on a piece of paper, drawing each letter.
Flip the word from right to left mentally. Beginning first with two-letter words (oh, ah, no, on, etc.) practice flipping the letters in your mind. As you move to longer words, it might help to mentally write each letter one at a time, beginning with the last letter, rather than trying to flip the entire word. As you gain confidence it will become easier to flip an entire word.
Practice. Because this is a mental exercise, you can picture any word backward. Next time you are stuck in traffic, waiting in line at the grocery store, or waiting for a friend at a restaurant, pick a word you see and practice flipping it in your mind.
String words together. For an extra challenge, practice flipping whole phrases in your mind. It is often challenging enough to visualize a backward word in your mind, so be patient with yourself. Flip single words in your mind before flipping an entire phrase.
3. Reading Mirror Image Text
Hold the backwards text up to a mirror. If you’re trying to decipher text that has been written backward in mirror image, there’s an easy way to make it legible. The mirror image of the text, or the image of the text that you’ll see in the mirror, will look as though it was written normally.
- Mirror image writing is different from right to left backwards writing. In mirror image writing, each individual letter appears backwards, but the letters are still in left to right order.
- You can see the effect if you hold up regular text to a mirror.
Read the text from left to right. Just as you normally would, you should be able to clearly read the text now. No brain boggling is required to decipher the code. The letters will appear in their normal position.
Use a mirror to write backwards. The next time you want to make your writing slightly more difficult to understand, you can use a mirror to translate your text into mirror image writing. Here’s what to do:
- Write your text on a piece of paper in normal writing.
- Have a friend hold it in front of a mirror.
- Use a piece of tracing paper to trace over the mirror image of your text.
- The text on the tracing paper will be your message, in mirror image backwards writing.