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When written in upper case, some words have “vertical line symmetry,” meaning that they appear the same when seen in the reflection of an upright mirror. MOM is one of these words. Other upper-case words have what’s known as “horizontal line symmetry,” meaning that they look identical when reflected in a still pool of water. COOK is such a word. MOM is not horizontally symmetrical, although it does form a different word (WOW) when viewed that way.
MOM SAYS: Please read ALL of the remainder of this post to ensure contest eligibility!
If you’ll comment to this post with ONE symmetrical English word (horizontal or vertical) of your choice, I’ll enter your email address in our “Mom is Wow” contest. Your comment must be dated May 7, 2009 to be eligible. IMPORTANT: Comments are moderated, so they don’t show up right away, but all entries sent before midnight will be eligible.
Friday morning, I’ll have the computer choose one entry at random, and if you’re lucky, you’ll win matching mental_floss T-shirts for you AND your mom! Don’t worry if you offer a word that someone else has already given, but do try to come up with something original; we don’t call this the Brain Game for nothing!
ONE ENTRY PER PERSON, AND NORTH AMERICAN ENTRIES ONLY, PLEASE. I’ll announce the winner on the blog and notify him/her via email on Friday, and (given the necessary info and your permission) will drop your mom a personal email as well, explaining what a clever and caring person you are, that her Mother’s Day gift is in the mail, and how you always wash behind your ears. Good luck!
Comments (191)
Comment
- Follow mental_floss
BOX
but don’t enter my name into the contest, as I’m from GErmany and not eligible :p
posted by Nessie on 5-7-2009 at 7:50 am
BOOB, because I am immature.
posted by Jon on 5-7-2009 at 7:56 am
CHECKBOOK
posted by Steven on 5-7-2009 at 7:56 am
HIKE
posted by Maggie on 5-7-2009 at 8:10 am
KID
posted by Maggie on 5-7-2009 at 8:15 am
HOOCHIE
posted by brett on 5-7-2009 at 8:15 am
HEX
posted by Grant on 5-7-2009 at 8:16 am
EXCEEDED
posted by Dan on 5-7-2009 at 8:18 am
BOCCE
posted by Marc on 5-7-2009 at 8:21 am
tat
posted by adele on 5-7-2009 at 8:21 am
COOKIE
posted by John on 5-7-2009 at 8:34 am
HAH
posted by Carrie on 5-7-2009 at 8:35 am
Vertical: AH YOUTH, I VOMIT AT HIM
posted by Frank on 5-7-2009 at 8:35 am
CHOICE
posted by Sarah on 5-7-2009 at 8:35 am
VOMIT
posted by Frank on 5-7-2009 at 8:37 am
CODE
posted by Monika on 5-7-2009 at 8:41 am
BOOKED
posted by Mark on 5-7-2009 at 8:47 am
TOOT
posted by Charles Evans on 5-7-2009 at 8:48 am
DICE
posted by Ellen on 5-7-2009 at 8:49 am
BODE
posted by Bryan on 5-7-2009 at 8:49 am
My apologies for posting again, but somehow I managed to make two comments despite not hitting the submit button? Just wanted to draw your attention to my hideous failure so that it wouldn’t go unnoticed and ruin the contest.
posted by Maggie on 5-7-2009 at 8:51 am
CHOKED
posted by Rico on 5-7-2009 at 8:51 am
DICE
posted by Vicki on 5-7-2009 at 8:54 am
Maggie, no worries. Above all, Mom is forgiving.
posted by Sandy Wood on 5-7-2009 at 8:54 am
SEEK
posted by Steve on 5-7-2009 at 8:54 am
DICE
posted by Bryan on 5-7-2009 at 8:55 am
ICEBOX
posted by Ian on 5-7-2009 at 8:57 am
ICEBOX
posted by Garry on 5-7-2009 at 8:57 am
HOOCHIE-COOCHIE
EXCISED
BIBBED
posted by Garrett on 5-7-2009 at 8:58 am
HOBOCIDE -> Meaning the willful murder of a hobo…
Not buying it? I’ll go with BOXED then.
posted by Ben on 5-7-2009 at 8:58 am
BOXED
posted by joanna on 5-7-2009 at 8:58 am
DECIDED
posted by Tim on 5-7-2009 at 8:59 am
BIBCOCK
posted by Hastings on 5-7-2009 at 9:05 am
MYXOMATA
posted by Mark on 5-7-2009 at 9:06 am
MICE
posted by John on 5-7-2009 at 9:06 am
SHOOK
dub
posted by Bekka on 5-7-2009 at 9:08 am
COOKIE – ‘Cuz my mom and I love to bake cookies together!
posted by Kolja on 5-7-2009 at 9:08 am
DIOXIDE
posted by Eric on 5-7-2009 at 9:14 am
OHIO
posted by Craig on 5-7-2009 at 9:14 am
NOON
posted by Elizabeth on 5-7-2009 at 9:15 am
BOOED as in “Yankee fans BOOED Mark Teixera after he failed to drive in Johnny Damon in the 10th inning”
posted by Jon on 5-7-2009 at 9:17 am
TOMATO
posted by Kerry on 5-7-2009 at 9:19 am
CHOKED
posted by Ranjit on 5-7-2009 at 9:19 am
DIOXIDE
posted by joe the teacher on 5-7-2009 at 9:23 am
DOCK
posted by Blog Mallmal on 5-7-2009 at 9:27 am
DECODE
posted by EV on 5-7-2009 at 9:28 am
HEED
posted by C Whalen on 5-7-2009 at 9:28 am
DECIDED
posted by Bill on 5-7-2009 at 9:32 am
DICK
posted by Jim on 5-7-2009 at 9:35 am
DODO
posted by shootingjacket on 5-7-2009 at 9:40 am
TOOT
posted by Nick on 5-7-2009 at 9:41 am
DODO
posted by shootingjacket on 5-7-2009 at 9:41 am
Maxima
posted by Jack on 5-7-2009 at 9:58 am
I
O
T
A
posted by sarah on 5-7-2009 at 9:58 am
I
O
T
A
posted by sarah on 5-7-2009 at 9:59 am
CHECKED
posted by Sue on 5-7-2009 at 9:59 am
H
O
A
X
posted by Reed on 5-7-2009 at 10:12 am
HOOCH
posted by shootingjacket on 5-7-2009 at 10:14 am
OBESE (because that’s what my mom is! ZING)
posted by Lisa on 5-7-2009 at 10:16 am
COOKBOOK, because my mom is a great cook
posted by Eric Y. on 5-7-2009 at 10:22 am
My home state: OHIO
I love the symmetry of words like MOW, which is a combo of vertical and then horizontal symmetry (or 180 deg rotational, same result).
posted by Alex on 5-7-2009 at 10:31 am
DIOXIDE
posted by Clint on 5-7-2009 at 10:34 am
The first symmetrical word that popped into my head was COCK, which made me giggle. The second word I thought of was OUTWIT. So there you go, one horizontal and one vertical.
posted by Keri on 5-7-2009 at 10:34 am
ABOVE
posted by Sandie on 5-7-2009 at 10:36 am
CODE
posted by Witty Nickname on 5-7-2009 at 10:38 am
DOE
posted by Peter M. on 5-7-2009 at 11:54 am
DECODED
posted by Bryan on 5-7-2009 at 11:54 am
OXOBOXO (it’s a river in Connecticut)
Also, the word “SWIMS” has “rotational symmetry” (rotate it 180 degrees and it spells SWIMS!).
posted by Mike on 5-7-2009 at 11:59 am
BENCHED
posted by Cherie on 5-7-2009 at 12:01 pm
COOKED
posted by Jon. on 5-7-2009 at 12:04 pm
TUMMY
posted by mor on 5-7-2009 at 12:05 pm
HATH, BOBBED, DOOBIE, TOOTH, DEED
posted by john on 5-7-2009 at 12:06 pm
DIODE
posted by iamams on 5-7-2009 at 12:07 pm
biked
posted by Kate on 5-7-2009 at 12:07 pm
KICKED
posted by Nicole on 5-7-2009 at 12:10 pm
EBB
posted by Steve on 5-7-2009 at 12:13 pm
OKEECHOBEE
It’s a city in Florida
posted by andy on 5-7-2009 at 12:13 pm
TOOT is vertical.
posted by Jim on 5-7-2009 at 12:13 pm
EBB
posted by Kim on 5-7-2009 at 12:14 pm
CHIDED
posted by Margaret on 5-7-2009 at 12:15 pm
MOUTH-TO-MOUTH
posted by Colene on 5-7-2009 at 12:17 pm
COD
posted by Rey on 5-7-2009 at 12:22 pm
COKE
posted by -J- on 5-7-2009 at 12:25 pm
OOH
posted by ted on 5-7-2009 at 12:28 pm
OBOE
posted by C on 5-7-2009 at 12:28 pm
KICK
posted by D Hue on 5-7-2009 at 12:29 pm
BOB. I’m sort of biased towards it.
posted by Bob on 5-7-2009 at 12:35 pm
HEXED
posted by Mortal Light on 5-7-2009 at 12:47 pm
KICKBOX
Astonishing to me the number of flossers who just don’t seem to understand Sandy’s (very, very clear) instructions.
posted by Betsy on 5-7-2009 at 12:50 pm
CHICK
posted by taylor on 5-7-2009 at 12:53 pm
DICED
posted by Kate Campbell on 5-7-2009 at 12:53 pm
DID
posted by Josh on 5-7-2009 at 12:56 pm
EXCEEDED
posted by bennyylee on 5-7-2009 at 1:12 pm
ODE
Like one you could write for your mom!
posted by Kelsey on 5-7-2009 at 1:12 pm
CHOOCHOO
posted by Jen on 5-7-2009 at 1:17 pm
TIT
posted by Lisa G. on 5-7-2009 at 1:17 pm
BEE
reCaptcha: goddard Wal-Mart . . .huh
THAT’S another one . . . HUH
posted by Nathan on 5-7-2009 at 1:20 pm
HIDE
posted by NateJ on 5-7-2009 at 1:22 pm
COKE
posted by tiffany on 5-7-2009 at 1:25 pm
I
it fits both of them :D
posted by Greg on 5-7-2009 at 1:29 pm
tit
posted by Teresa on 5-7-2009 at 1:29 pm
SWIMS
posted by Gabrielle on 5-7-2009 at 1:30 pm
HOOK
posted by Julie on 5-7-2009 at 1:32 pm
OTTO, which in lower case, is both.
posted by Jane on 5-7-2009 at 1:37 pm
BOD – which can be both top/bottom symmetrical (in caps) and left/right symmetrical (lowercase).
posted by Scott on 5-7-2009 at 1:37 pm
CHECK
posted by kendyl on 5-7-2009 at 1:40 pm
BIDE
posted by Jon on 5-7-2009 at 1:42 pm
COB
posted by Carolyn on 5-7-2009 at 1:46 pm
BEDECKED
posted by Nicole on 5-7-2009 at 1:47 pm
DIED
DONE
posted by Walter on 5-7-2009 at 1:51 pm
KEBOB
posted by chad on 5-7-2009 at 1:51 pm
It may be Mother’s Day coming up, but it’s my dad who has the name with vertical-line symmetry: OTTO
posted by Fred on 5-7-2009 at 1:54 pm
CHOKED
posted by Lesley on 5-7-2009 at 1:54 pm
DEBONED
posted by nikki on 5-7-2009 at 1:55 pm
LOL! Hobocide… But for real:
BEDDED
posted by Chrystani on 5-7-2009 at 2:08 pm
SEX
posted by Sean O. on 5-7-2009 at 2:08 pm
DECODED
posted by Christian on 5-7-2009 at 2:08 pm
BIKE
posted by Alisha on 5-7-2009 at 2:15 pm
DECK
posted by Leslie on 5-7-2009 at 2:18 pm
level
posted by Erika on 5-7-2009 at 2:19 pm
COOKIE
posted by Casey B on 5-7-2009 at 2:20 pm
dad
dad made her a mom.
posted by Linda on 5-7-2009 at 2:20 pm
Box.
posted by Sara in AL on 5-7-2009 at 2:21 pm
DECK
posted by MaryAnn on 5-7-2009 at 2:32 pm
DEEDED
posted by Jonathan on 5-7-2009 at 2:36 pm
KENNA
(seemed a tad obvious to me… hahahaha)
posted by Kenna on 5-7-2009 at 2:38 pm
CHEEK
posted by Beth on 5-7-2009 at 2:39 pm
HIKED
posted by Els on 5-7-2009 at 2:42 pm
IBEX
posted by Steve on 5-7-2009 at 2:42 pm
TOMATO
posted by AmyD on 5-7-2009 at 2:51 pm
DIED
posted by Charlotte on 5-7-2009 at 2:55 pm
DOOBIE
posted by Old Geezer on 5-7-2009 at 3:04 pm
HOOK
BOOK
posted by Mark on 5-7-2009 at 3:08 pm
MOM
posted by Dustin on 5-7-2009 at 3:10 pm
COB
posted by danielle on 5-7-2009 at 3:26 pm
ORANGE…wait…ummm, on second thought, let’s just go with – MAAM.
posted by Cameron on 5-7-2009 at 3:30 pm
tot, pop, mum (for the british mothers)
swims
COOKBOOK
posted by Lisa on 5-7-2009 at 3:35 pm
I can read I just have short-term (VERY short term – call me Dorie) memory. Sorry about the multiple words. My bad.
posted by Lisa on 5-7-2009 at 3:38 pm
TOT
posted by Lynn on 5-7-2009 at 3:38 pm
XI (See? You can learn things playing Scrabble)
posted by Paul on 5-7-2009 at 3:44 pm
EXCITED
posted by Ron on 5-7-2009 at 3:48 pm
SIDE. Cause Mom’s always on mine.
COD, SHED, and EKE also work. All horizontal.
posted by Bert on 5-7-2009 at 4:05 pm
BOOKIE
posted by Cole on 5-7-2009 at 4:07 pm
Just to clarify, only the first one is my entry.
posted by Bert on 5-7-2009 at 4:12 pm
TOOT
posted by Carrie on 5-7-2009 at 4:13 pm
CHIDED
posted by Kristin on 5-7-2009 at 4:18 pm
DE-BOXED
I de-boxed my mental floss shirt (hopefully) and marveled at it.
posted by Brent on 5-7-2009 at 4:33 pm
mahimahi
posted by Di on 5-7-2009 at 4:35 pm
BOOB
posted by CT on 5-7-2009 at 4:39 pm
DOCK
:)
posted by Melanie Feller on 5-7-2009 at 4:41 pm
MA’AM
posted by Amanda on 5-7-2009 at 5:02 pm
HOCKED, as in, “Did you hear? Michelle hocked her mom’s heirlooms for a bit of spare cash!”
(apologies if this is a repeat.. I forgot to do the reCaptcha last time.)
posted by NattAttack on 5-7-2009 at 5:03 pm
BED
posted by Becca on 5-7-2009 at 5:09 pm
BOOK
posted by Julia on 5-7-2009 at 5:11 pm
COOKBOOK
BIllION (but only if the l’s are lower case)
posted by Daphne on 5-7-2009 at 5:12 pm
T
O
M
A
T
O
posted by Nathan on 5-7-2009 at 5:22 pm
If you tattoo M on each CHEEK of you butt, it will say M&M and when you stand on your head it says WOW, of course if you bend over it says MOM.
I like the word DEED since I work in the field of lending.
posted by Jeffrey on 5-7-2009 at 5:25 pm
BID, which has horizontal symmetry.
bid, which has vertical symmetry.
posted by Tony on 5-7-2009 at 5:26 pm
I though the post said these were being moderated, there are several post that do not qualify.
S and N are not symetrical as they read backwards when flipped up side down, or reversed.
DECODED
posted by Jeffrey on 5-7-2009 at 5:40 pm
OUTWAIT is vertical
CHOICE is horizontal
posted by Katrina on 5-7-2009 at 6:05 pm
CHOICE is horizontal
OUTWAIT is vertical
posted by Katrina on 5-7-2009 at 6:12 pm
SEEDED
posted by Zach on 5-7-2009 at 6:12 pm
IODIDE KIDDIE BOO BOO
posted by Dustin on 5-7-2009 at 6:35 pm
COCK
MOW
posted by Mom is Wow on 5-7-2009 at 6:50 pm
COCK
BOOBIE
posted by Bob on 5-7-2009 at 6:53 pm
CHIDE
posted by janeeyre316 on 5-7-2009 at 7:12 pm
radar
posted by mary on 5-7-2009 at 7:12 pm
MOM
Oh, I know… how ‘original’! But, as Sunday is in honor of HER – and since DUSTIN had the same inclination to use it – I will as well!
posted by Amy on 5-7-2009 at 7:17 pm
MAMMOTH
posted by Zach on 5-7-2009 at 7:29 pm
CHOCK as in chock full of nuts or something like that
posted by Caleb on 5-7-2009 at 7:29 pm
KID
BOB
SEED
REDRUM [Just kidding]
posted by Justin Pawlaczyk on 5-7-2009 at 7:33 pm
I DID DECIDE HOODIE + CHOKED + OXIDE + BOOKIE “COOD” DO.
posted by jmb on 5-7-2009 at 7:41 pm
TUT
posted by Jean Butler on 5-7-2009 at 8:05 pm
CINCO
BOB
posted by whiskyouaway on 5-7-2009 at 8:38 pm
COD
posted by Katie on 5-7-2009 at 8:40 pm
OXIDE
posted by Margaret on 5-7-2009 at 9:15 pm
A
H
O
Y
DEEDED
posted by Tina Twito on 5-7-2009 at 9:16 pm
DEEDED
A
H
O
Y
posted by Tina Twito on 5-7-2009 at 9:19 pm
ICEBOX
posted by Jessica on 5-7-2009 at 9:24 pm
DECIDED
posted by Gregg on 5-7-2009 at 9:32 pm
Okay, so don’t count my joke response earlier, because it isn’t actually isn’t symmetrical. My REAL submission is:
CHICK
posted by Lisa on 5-7-2009 at 9:49 pm
DECIDED
As in, I hope you’ve decided to pick me as the winner!
posted by Tim on 5-7-2009 at 10:05 pm
MOM has vertical symmetry
BOB has horizontal
I have both
posted by Steve on 5-7-2009 at 10:33 pm
WHAMMY
posted by Steph on 5-7-2009 at 10:58 pm
BODED
posted by Hilldawg on 5-7-2009 at 11:23 pm
xoxox (appropriate for mother’s day)!
posted by Hilldawg on 5-7-2009 at 11:26 pm
DO
posted by Kittymama on 5-7-2009 at 11:43 pm
OVO, because that’s how I started. Thanks Mom!
posted by Megan on 5-7-2009 at 11:53 pm
TO HIM I HOT
-a horizontal sentence (palindromic?)
posted by Jess K on 5-8-2009 at 12:23 am
DIOXIDE
posted by Antinous on 5-8-2009 at 1:22 am
COKE
posted by Susan on 5-8-2009 at 6:34 pm