How to Select Crossword Puzzle Solutions

Ever watch someone jot down the solutions to a crossword puzzle in pen? It's a sure sign of confidence. However, there's always the possibility that some or all of the solutions are incorrect. After all, there may be more than 1 word with the same number of letters that fits the clue. That being the case, even the most avid and skilled crossword puzzler can use a little help in finding crossword puzzle solutions now and then.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Figure out as much of the crossword puzzle as you can. If you reach a point where you just can't seem to find the right word, or if some of your letters don't make sense when you're filling in another portion of the puzzle, then it's time to look for more solutions.
2. Open a new browser window and launch the Crossword Clue Search from OneAcross.com (see Resources below).
3. Type in the clue given in the puzzle, as well as the letters of the word that you do know. Use a "?" as a wild card for the letters you don't know or aren't sure of. Then select the "Go!" button to bring up a list of possible solutions for that word.
4. Take a shortcut if you aren't sure of any of the letters of the word you're searching for by simply entering the clue and the number of letters the puzzle spaces allow. For instance, if you know the word is 6 letters, then enter the clue and the number "6" in the 'Length or Pattern' box.
5. Note that if you select a specific word from the list of possible solutions and click on it, you will be directed to a definition of that word.

Tips & Warnings

• You can combine search methods when using the Crossword Clue Search tool. For example, if you're searching for an 8-letter word and know the first and last letter, then you could enter "T6R" to represent 6 unknown letters between the first and last.
• The search tool also weighs your confidence in knowing the letters you enter. If you're positive of any letter in the word, then enter it as a capital letter. If you're not completely sure of it, then you can enter it as a small letter. This helps to narrow the possible solutions.