Word Search Tips & Tricks

Word searches are wonderfully relaxing, but a few tricks make them faster and even more satisfying, especially with a long word list.

Search by shape, not just by word

• Hunt for uncommon letters. Words with Q, X, Z, or J stand out, find the letter, find the word.
• Scan one direction at a time. Sweep left-to-right for across words, then top-to-bottom, then the diagonals.
• Look for double letters in the word list (like the LL in HELLO), they're easy to spot in the grid.

Cross words off as you go

Mark each word the moment you find it so you don't waste time re-reading the list. Circling in the grid and ticking the list keeps you organized on big puzzles.

Make it comfortable

A good large-print grid makes all the difference. Our large print word search books use big, bold letters with one puzzle per page, and our themed editions let you solve around subjects you love, from gardening to travel to cats.