How to Play Word Search

The basic rules

Every puzzle has a grid of letters and a list of words. Your job is to find each word in the grid and mark it. Words can run in a straight line across, down, or diagonally, depending on the difficulty.

When you find a word, select its letters from start to finish. The word is removed from the list and the path is highlighted on the board. Find every word to complete the puzzle.

Selecting a word

On a computer, click and drag across the letters. On a phone or tablet, drag your finger across the grid. You can also tap the first letter and then tap the last letter; the game will select the line between them.

You can select a word from either end. If a word is written right to left or bottom to top, start at the end you can see and drag toward the other end.

Easy, Medium, and Hard

Easy uses a smaller grid and only horizontal and vertical words. Medium adds diagonals. Hard uses a larger grid, longer words, and every direction, including reverse words.

If you are new to word search, start with Easy. If you are playing with a child, Easy is usually the best fit. Choose Hard when you want a longer session and do not mind scanning diagonals.

A quick first strategy

• Read the whole word list before you start scanning.
• Look for unusual letters such as Q, Z, X, J, and K.
• Check the first and last letters of each word; they are often easier to spot.
• Scan one row or column at a time instead of jumping around the grid.

A five-minute practice routine

Set a short timer, read the word list once, and scan the first row from left to right. Then scan it right to left, and repeat for the next row. This sounds slow, but it stops you from checking the same area twice.

When you find a word, mark it and say the word to yourself before moving on. At the end, check the word list, then use the hints only for the words that are still missing. A five-minute routine is enough to build the habit.

Walk through one word

Take a short word such as PAW. Read the first letter, P, and scan the grid for another P. Check the letters immediately around it in the allowed directions. If the next letter matches, follow the line; if not, move to the next P.

This is slower than looking at the whole grid, but it gives you a repeatable method. Once you have found a few words this way, you will start to notice letter patterns without consciously checking every direction.