Wanna stop people dead in their tracks? Try using a word pair wrong.

These are just harmless little words, but they are pairs that if used backwards just don’t sound
right. Don’t believe me? Try reversing them in a casual conversation.

Salt & Pepper
Up & Down
Back & Forth
In & Out
Good & Bad
Down & Out
Quick & Easy
Do’s & Don’ts

Some word pairs are tradition or come from ceremonies we hear so often the words have become
burned into our memories.

Richer or Poorer
Better or Worse
Husband & Wife
(marriage ceremony)
Army/Navy
Harvard/Yale
 

Others are chronological.

Crime & Punishment
Law & Order
Birth & Death
East & West (think about how our country was settled)
Christmas & New Years

I’m still working on couples. I haven’t figured out the reason or rhyme ( see what I mean?)

Wayne & Di (also good friends)
Dan & Donna
Richard & Wendy
Al & Susan
Randy & Ali
Frank & Leslie
 

but...

Kim & Ty (sister in law and her husband)
Mimi & Buddy (Practically my sister although not by birth)
Jackie & Harvey (good friends of mine)

Like I said I’m still working on this. It seems to follow chronological order at times and at other
times is more a matter of the pure euphony of the English language.
 

Some have been forced on us by male dominant thinking.

Husband & Wife
Boys & Girls
Bothers & Sisters
Men & Women
 
 
 
 
 

Or are we just trying to protect the things we cherish?

Women & Children (first.)
Ladies & Gentlemen
Mother & Father
Grandma & Grandpa
Aunt & Uncle
Nieces & Nephews
 

There are those whose fame comes from songs.

Heart & Soul
Holly & Ivy
Country & Western
Rock & Roll
Star & Stripes
Naughty & Nice
Silver & Gold
 
 

To the victor go the spoils.

North & South (unlike Korea, the North won the civil war in this country)
Don’t think that matters? Try saying South and North Dakota. Doesn’t really work does it?

For some reason these word pairs just sound right.

An Arm & A Leg
Summer & Winter
Spring & Fall
Sick & Tired
Shoes & Socks ( We don’t put them on in that order but that’s what we say.)
Black & White
Sick & Wrong ( Sometimes I say this one backwards on purpose just to freak out my teenage son.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Alphabetical List of Word Pairs