Beginner's guide
How to play word search
Everything you need to start: what a word search is, where words hide, and how to mark them.
The basics
A word search is a grid of letters with a list of words printed beside it. Every word in the list is hidden somewhere in the grid. Your goal is to find and mark each one.
Words always appear in a straight, unbroken line. Letters can be shared: one letter may belong to two different words that cross.
The four directions
- Across — left to right, like CALM
- Down — top to bottom, like REST
- Diagonal — corner to corner, like FOCUS
- Backwards — any direction reversed, like PEACE
Step by step
- STEP 1
Read the list
Glance over every word first so your eyes know what to look for.
- STEP 2
Find the first letter
Pick a word and scan the grid for its first letter.
- STEP 3
Check all eight ways
From that letter, look in every direction for the second letter, then follow the line.
- STEP 4
Mark and cross off
Circle or highlight the word in the grid and cross it off the list.
Marking your words
- Loop each word with a long oval — easy to read and easy to erase.
- Highlight with a light marker so letters underneath stay visible.
- Strike through found words in the list so you always know what is left.
Checking your answers
Stuck on the last word, or want to confirm you found them all? Scan the QR code in your puzzle book or enter your book code on the Find answers page to see the solution for each puzzle.