Word Search Tips and Tricks
Simple, satisfying techniques for finding hidden words faster — from scanning for rare letters to sweeping the grid in rows.
Hunt the unusual letters first
The quickest route to a hidden word is its most unusual letter. Looking for KETTLE? Scan for K — there will only be a handful in the whole grid, and one of them starts your word. Q, J, X, Z, K and W are the best signposts; vowels are the worst, because they're everywhere.
Sweep, don't dart
Eyes that dart around a grid see surprisingly little. Instead, sweep methodically: run along each row left to right like reading a page, then, for stubborn words, sweep the columns top to bottom. It feels slower but finds words faster — and it's oddly soothing, which is rather the point.
Use the theme
Our puzzles have a daily theme, and it's a genuine helper. If the theme is Baking Day and you've found FLOUR and SUGAR, your eye already knows the flavour of what's left. Say the remaining words quietly to yourself before hunting — a word you've just said aloud is far easier to spot.
On the website
- Tap the first letter of a word, then the last letter — no dragging needed
- All words read forwards: across, down, or diagonally — never backwards
- Found words tick themselves off the list, so there's no double-hunting