Word Search Guide

What is Word Search?

Game Rules

1. 1
   Grid: play takes place on a 10x10 letter board.
2. 2
   Words: every word on the list has to be found.
3. 3
   Directions: words can run horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
4. 4
   Orientation: they read forwards or backwards.
5. 5
   Intersections: words can share letters where they cross.
6. 6
   Selection: drag your finger or mouse across the letters to claim a word.

Difficulty Levels

1. 1

   Easy

   Standard mode. Every letter is visible - ideal for relaxed play.
2. 2

   Medium

   Challenge mode. Only the first and last letters of each word are shown; the rest is down to you.
3. 3

   Hard

   Expert mode. No letters in the word list at all - find them by length and guesswork alone.

Search Strategies

1. 1

   Systematic Scanning

   Sweep the grid row by row, hunting for the first letter of each word on the list.
2. 2

   Highlight Letters

   Keep an eye out for less common letters - Z, J, X, Q. If any appear in your words they're far easier to spot first.
3. 3

   Groupings

   Mind the familiar endings (-TION, -ING) and double letters - they show up against the background.
4. 4

   Smart Help

   On Easy and Medium, the Hint button highlights the first cell of a word you have not found. Hints are unavailable on Hard.

What It Sharpens

• Attention

  Improves concentration and an eye for detail.

• Recognition

  Reinforces the knack of recognising visual patterns quickly.

• Vocabulary

  Refreshes the spelling of words you know and introduces a few you don't.

• Relaxation

  A calm, low-stakes way to keep the mind occupied for ten minutes.

More Guides

• Hive Guide

  Hive Rules

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  Help Index

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