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2 days ago · To solve effectively, begin with the easier clues, typically shorter words or fill-in-the-blanks. This will help build your confidence and provide letter hints for more difficult answers. Keep an eye out for plural clues, which often end in ‘S,’ and be mindful of verb tense clues. Crosswords frequently rely on wordplay, so watch for ...
- Overview
- Tackle fill-in-the-blanks firs
- Fill in 3- and 4-letter words you kno
- Check the tense and number in the clue
- Look for formatting hints in the clue
- Familiarize yourself with common crossword answer
- Check intersecting words when you guess an answe
- Jump around to different parts of the puzzl
- Take a break if you’re strugglin
- Look answers up if you can’t solve them on your ow
Have you ever started a crossword puzzle but struggled to finish some of the words? Crosswords are a challenging way to tickle your brain, and solving them is a skill you can easily improve so you keep getting better. Luckily, you can use the same tricks on any crossword puzzle that you’re working on. Keep reading for all the best strategies to use...
These clues tend to be easier to fill in than others.
Rather than starting with the first clue and going in order, scan through all of the clues and look for some easy “gimmes.” Fill-in-the-blank clues are usually common knowledge, so you should have an idea of what the right answer is. After you get a few of the easy words in, you’ll feel a big boost of confidence going forward. Some example clues could be:
“____ Lisa (famous painting)” for MONA
“Do re mi fa __” for SOL
Short words are usually simpler to solve than the longer answers.
While some short words might be more challenging, you still have a good chance of finding a few that you can answer. Look through the crossword puzzle for shorter words and check the clue to see if you know the answer. Filling in the shorter answers first can give you some extra letters to help you solve longer words. Some clues could be:
“Oak or elm, for example” for TREE
“Chocolate and cream cookie” for OREO
The answers in the puzzle will match the tense and number in the clue.
Even if you don’t know the exact word for the clue, you can make assumptions based on how the clue is written. If a clue is in the past, present, or active tense, or if it’s singular or plural, then you know what the last few letters of the answer might be.
Past tense clues tend to end with -ED, like “Performed on stage” for ACTED.
Present tense clues usually end in S, like “Goes for a walk in nature” for HIKES.
Clues with an -ING verb tend to end the same way, such as “Leaving” for GOING.
Many plural clues end in the letter S, like “Things Santa leaves” for GIFTS.
Punctuation and add-ons in the clues tell you how the answer is formatted.
Since crossword constructors want to give you a challenge, they may try to play a few tricks on you that are easy to catch. Break down the clue and look for these parts to get an idea of how the answer might appear.
Abbreviations in the clue or “abbr.” mean the answer is abbreviated, like “Stat. for a pitcher” for ERA.
Question marks always mean the clue has wordplay or is trying to mislead you. “Flower?” could mean “something that flows” and be a clue for RIVER.
The term “in” followed by a city usually means a foreign word, like “Boy, in Barcelona” for NINO.
Words in brackets mean the answer is a sound, like “ [Hey over here!]” for PSST.
Short words with lots of vowels tend to show up in multiple puzzles.
Since the words on a crossword puzzle need to intersect, constructors rely on some less-common words that contain a lot of vowels. You might not know the definition from the clue, but you can usually work it out from the surrounding words and remember the definition for future puzzles. Common answers (and their possible clues) can be:
BEE, CEE, or DEE (“Common letter grade”)
Puzzles may also use compass directions, like ESE, ENE, NNE, or SSE.
Putting a guess in might help you figure out words that cross through it.
If you’re not positive about a word but have an idea for what an answer might be, write it in the grid lightly in pencil. Check the clues surrounding the word to see if there are any answers that fit with those letters. If you notice that your answer doesn’t work with other answers nearby, you can just erase it and come back to it later.
You’ll fill in more words if you look for sections that are easier to solve.
If you’re caught up in one section of the puzzle, don’t feel like you have to keep working on that spot. Feel free to look through the clues again and find an area where you can start filling in more letters. You can always come back to the other spot later.
You’ll come back with fresh eyes and may catch words you missed.
When you’re tired or have been looking at the puzzle for a while, you may not think through the answers clearly. Rather than getting more frustrated staring at the grid, set it aside and do something else for a little while. Give your brain a chance to rest and pick up where you left off once you’ve cleared your head.
Searching for an answer helps you learn the word for the future.
Look at the answer key or look up the crossword clue online to find the answer you’re missing. You shouldn’t feel bad if you need to look up an answer even if it’s something you think you should already know. Checking the answer actually makes it stick in your mind for longer, so you may be able to remember it for another puzzle.
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Jul 2, 2023 · Whether you’re new to crossword puzzles or you’ve been solving them for years, there are always ways to improve your skills. In this article, we’ll cover everything from basic strategies to advanced techniques that will help you tackle even the most difficult puzzles.
Nov 5, 2018 · At the end of the day, the best game to make you better at crosswords is solving crosswords. Solve a bunch of newspaper-style crossword puzzles to improve your crossword skills. If your goal is to master the New York Times crossword, use this guide to get you started.
Jan 19, 2021 · If you’re struggling to conquer your latest crossword, then don’t give up. Instead, apply these 7 tips and tricks for solving crossword puzzles, IDEAL for giving your brain a much needed workout during the current downtime.
Feb 15, 2019 · The only way to improve at crosswords is to do lots of them, and the best way to do that is to work them into your daily routine. For me, that means tackling a few puzzles from an ancient book...
Dec 6, 2018 · These 10 tips will improve your crossword puzzle solving skills. Whether you're a novice or a puzzle solver wishing to improve, these techniques will have you solving crosswords faster and more efficiently.
