How to play the Crossword
Each puzzle has twelve answers on one theme, such as Thanksgiving, the garden or backyard birds, fitted together in a criss-cross grid. Every answer crosses at least one other, so each word you solve gives you letters in the words around it. The clues are plain and friendly: no puns, no trick questions.
Filling in the grid
- Tap a square to choose it. Its answer lights up, and its clue shows under the grid. Tap the same square again to switch between the Across and Down answers through it.
- Type the letters with the big letter keys under the grid, or with your keyboard. After each letter you move on to the next empty square, and when an answer is full, on to the next answer still to solve.
- Delete takes back a letter. The arrows beside the clue go to the previous or next clue, or tap any clue in the lists to jump straight to it.
- The number after each clue is how many letters the answer has. A few answers are two words written together, such as ICECREAM, and their clues say so.
Hints and mistakes
- Hint fills in one letter of the answer you're on: the first square that's empty or wrong. Hinted letters show in blue and stay put.
- When every square is filled, any letters that aren't right are marked in red, so you can fix them. If you'd rather see mistakes as you go, turn on "Show wrong letters in red" in Settings.
- Undo takes back your last letter, and there's no timer: take as long as you like.
Keyboard shortcuts
On a computer, type letters straight in. The arrow keys move around the grid, Backspace erases, the space bar switches between Across and Down, and Enter jumps to the next clue (Shift and Enter for the previous one).
Tips
- Start with the answers you're sure of. Every answer is about the theme, so a few come quickly.
- Use the crossings. Two or three letters already in place often make a hard clue easy.
- Check the letter count. If a word you have in mind is too long or too short, it isn't the answer.
- Skip and come back. Tap the arrow for the next clue. By the time you return, the crossings may have given it away.
Questions
Is there a new crossword every day?
Yes. Today's puzzle is the same for everyone and changes at midnight. It shares the day's theme with the daily word search and word scramble, and finishing it counts towards your streak on the daily puzzles page.
How many puzzles are there?
There are twenty themes, from Christmas and Halloween to musical instruments and the U.S. states, and each theme has hundreds of different puzzles. Choose a theme in Settings, and tap New game for another puzzle on it.
Can I print it?
Yes. Every puzzle has a large-print printable, with the grid on one page, the clues in big type on the next and the answer key last. The link under the game prints the exact puzzle you're playing.
Who writes the clues?
We do. Every clue was written for this site, kept short and plain, and checked so it never gives away its own answer or another answer in the same puzzle.
Does it save my place?
Yes. Your puzzle saves itself in this browser as you go, so you can close the page and pick up where you left off.