Dear Language Lovers,

This week is palindrome week because all the dates between May 10th and May 19th are palindromes: 51015, 51115, 51215, etc. As you well know, palindromes are words, phrases, or numbers that read the same forwards and backwards.

Intrepid writers have discovered palindromes of suprising and dazzling length and complexity: “A man, a plan, a canal: Panama.” “Go hang a salami. I’m a lasagna hog.” It almost convinces me that palindromes reveal secret meanings about the world (or maybe they’re just hilarious).

Palindromes remind us how clever humans are when working with words. Merely getting our meaning across is not enough. We want to do it with style, grace, and beauty.

Sincerely,

Mr. H