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Jul 2, 2023 · Look for patterns in the grid, such as blocks of white squares that might indicate a longer answer. Pay attention to the symmetry of the grid, as well as the placement of black squares. By using these advanced strategies, you can take your crossword puzzle-solving skills to the next level.
Jan 16, 2024 · Do whatever you have to do to clear your mind. This way, you can return to the puzzle later with a clear and open mind. Pro Tip: Some crossword experts like to time themselves while completing a puzzle. If you're a beginner, focus on finishing the puzzle instead of how fast you solve it—it doesn't have to be a race. 8.
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- Fill-in-the-Blank Clues. Fill-in-the-blank (FITB) clues are generally the simplest clues to solve. They are easily spotted in the clue list so go through these first.
- Check the 3-, 4- and 5-Letter Words. Looking at the grid, go over the clues for any 3-, 4- and 5-letter words. There are relatively few acceptable words of this length in the English language and so the same words tend to occur in many puzzles.
- Clues Obey Rules. A clue will always be written in the same part of speech as the answer. Check clues that call for answers ending in S, ED, EST or ING. Often these endings can be penciled in (but not always).
- Guess. Pencil in lightly any guessed answers. (If solving puzzles online, don't be afraid to enter any guessed answers. They're easily erased with the click of a button.)
Step 1: First Pass Fill-In. This is a crossword trick you should use every time because it makes solving every puzzle easier: start with the answers you just know off the top of your head. For your first pass through the list of clues, don’t even think about the puzzle itself. Treat it like a fill-in-the-blank quiz.
- Use a pencil. Ever seen a crossword grid with thick pen marks darkening over a wrong letter? Doing a crossword puzzle in pen means you have confidence in always being right.
- Start with Monday puzzles. You can gauge the difficulty of a crossword puzzle by the weekday when it’s published. Traditionally, Monday puzzles are constructed to be easy and breezy, making them a great entry point for new solvers.
- Thursday puzzles are usually themed. Thursday crossword puzzles usually have a theme that asks a lot of the solver. Quigley explains a crossword puzzle theme as “the linking element that combines all the pieces of the puzzle—all the long answers.”
- Pay attention to the format of the clue. One of the best tips for solving crossword puzzles is to consider the format of the clue. What verb tense is it in?
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Apr 17, 2024 · Look through the crossword puzzle for shorter words and check the clue to see if you know the answer. Filling in the shorter answers first can give you some extra letters to help you solve longer words. Some clues could be: “Primate” for APE. “Pig’s home” for STY. “Oak or elm, for example” for TREE.
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