Tips & Strategies
Level up your word-finding skills with these proven strategies from top players.
Beginner Tips
Start Here1. Scan for Common Letters First
Start by identifying common letters like E, A, R, S, T, N. These appear in many words and give you a foundation for building longer words.
2. Look for Word Endings
Search for common endings like -ING, -ED, -ER, -LY, -TION. Once you find one, work backward to discover words that use it.
3. Don't Forget Diagonals
Many beginners only look horizontally and vertically. Diagonal connections unlock many hidden words! Each tile connects to 8 neighbors, not just 4.
4. Use the Rotate Feature
Stuck? Rotate the board 90°. A fresh perspective often reveals words your brain missed. Top players rotate regularly throughout each puzzle.
5. Build on Found Words
Found "PLAY"? Check if PLAYS, PLAYER, or PLAYING are possible. Adding prefixes and suffixes to existing words is an easy way to boost your score.
Advanced Strategies
Level UpPrioritize Long Words
An 8-letter word earns 40+ points — the same as ten 4-letter words! Spend extra time hunting for those 7+ letter words before moving on to shorter ones.
Map High-Value Paths
When you spot a potential long word, trace the entire path before committing. Ensure each letter has an adjacent tile for the next letter in your word.
Learn Unusual Word Families
Words with Q (without U), X, and Z are valuable to know: QI, QOPH, ZA, ZO, AX, EX, OX. These open paths other players miss.
Use the Hints Strategically
Hints show you how many undiscovered words exist for each length. If you see "3 remaining" for 7-letter words, that's a signal to keep hunting!
Common Word Patterns
Memorize these common patterns to find words faster:
Prefixes
UN- unable, undo, unfair
RE- redo, remake, return
PRE- preview, preset
MIS- misread, mistake
DIS- disable, dislike
OVER- overflow, overlook
Suffixes
-ING playing, running
-ED played, walked
-ER player, faster
-LY quickly, slowly
-NESS darkness, kindness
-TION action, nation
Build Your Vocabulary
The best word puzzle players constantly expand their vocabulary. Here's how:
- •Review missed words — After each puzzle, check the hints panel to see words you missed. Learning new words from puzzles builds your vocabulary naturally.
- •Learn 2 and 3-letter extensions — Know words like QI, ZA, AX, OX? They help you build longer words by providing connection points.
- •Practice with Unlimited mode — Use Unlimited puzzles to experiment with new word-finding strategies without pressure.
- •Read widely — Regular reading exposes you to diverse vocabulary that will appear in puzzles.
Maximize Your Score
1Hunt for 8+ letter words first (40+ points each!)
2Then find all 7-letter words (28 points)
3Work down to 6 and 5-letter words
4Finally, sweep for remaining 4-letter words