How to Play Crosswords Online

Understand numbering and direction

A numbered square starts an Across answer when an open square continues to its right, and it starts a Down answer when an open square continues below it. Some squares start both directions. Black squares separate entries and never receive letters.

Select a square to highlight its active entry. Selecting the same starting square again can switch between Across and Down when both are available.

Enter and move through answers

On a keyboard, type letters to fill the active entry and use the arrow keys to move through the grid. Backspace removes a letter and moves to the previous cell when appropriate. On touch devices, select a cell and use the on-screen keyboard.

You do not need to solve clues in numerical order. Starting with short, familiar, or highly specific clues produces crossing letters that make harder entries easier.

Use crossing letters as confirmation

Every shared square must satisfy both an Across and a Down answer. If a candidate fits its own clue but creates several impossible crossings, reconsider it. One conflict may be caused by either entry; multiple conflicts usually identify the weaker guess.

• Fill answers you know with high confidence.
• Review the new letters added to intersecting entries.
• Enter plausible answers provisionally.
• Resolve conflicts before filling the surrounding area.

Check, reveal, and timer controls

The Check control identifies mistakes without supplying the complete solution. Reveal provides the correct letter or entry when you choose to use it. For a more challenging solve, check only after completing a section; for practice, check sooner and study why the original answer failed.

The timer measures elapsed solving time, not puzzle quality. Pause when interrupted so comparisons between attempts remain meaningful.

Print and solve offline

Open the printer-friendly layout from the puzzle page when you prefer pencil and paper. The printable view includes the blank grid and separate Across and Down lists. Mark uncertain letters lightly and use crossings before writing over them permanently.

Finish with a consistency check

Before declaring the puzzle complete, scan every row and column for blank squares, confirm that tense and plurality match their clues, and revisit any answer entered only because it fit the letters. A completed grid should satisfy both directions at every crossing.