Backspacing

/ˈbækˌspeɪsɪŋ/ noun

Definition

The action of pressing the backspace key on a keyboard to delete characters or move the cursor backward.

Etymology

Back + spacing; 'back' from Old English bæc, and 'spacing' from Old French 'space' (distance). The term emerged in the 20th century with the development of typewriters and later computers.

Kelly Says

Before digital keyboards, typists had no 'undo' button—they had to use correction tape or start over! Backspacing is such a modern luxury that it's become automatic; we barely notice we're doing it dozens of times per document.

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