"Spell backwards, forwards" Both "backwards" and "forwards" could be correctly interpreted as the adverb in this one. It could be asking you to "Spell the word

"Spell backwards, forwards" Both "backwards" and "forwards" could be correctly interpreted as the adverb in this one. It could be asking you to "Spell the word backwards, in a forwards manner" or "Spell in a backwards manner, the word forwards". It's ambiguous enough that someone grading the test who wanted the disqualify you could make the case you got it wrong, no matter if you wrote "backwards" or "sdrawrof".