Things You'll Need:
- A quick wit
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Step 1
Consider what you know immediately upon seeing the puzzle. The category is given. If the category is anything but a "phrase" the puzzle will probably be a noun or a noun phrase. If the category is a "phrase," the puzzle may or may not include a verb or verb phrase. Look at the number of words in the puzzle; you can learn a lot by how words are grouped in phrases. Look at the length of the words in the puzzle. Are they short? long? The length of the words is telling. You can usually figure out the short words quickly. Long words will probably be compound words with prefixes or suffixes such as "un," "con," or "ment," or "ly."
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Step 2
During game play, when it is your turn to choose consonants, start with "r, s, t, l," or "n," unless there is another obvious choice available. When you buy a vowel, start with an "e," unless there is another obvious choice. These are the English language's most common letters and the chances that they will be in the puzzle are high. Pay close attention to the letters chosen by the other players and make certain you don't repeat them. As each letter is eliminated, register it mentally, which will allow you to eliminate certain words immediately from contention for the puzzle's solution. You should try to only select letters that you are certain are in the puzzle, so you do not lose your turn for reasons other than hitting "bankrupt."
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Step 3
You should try to guess the puzzle long before it is obvious to the other players. Base your guess on your knowledge of how words in English are formed. For example, all words in English possess at least one vowel. Certain letters in English typically are found together, such as "qu," or "sh," or "wh." Look for these obvious combinations. Look for similar combinations of common words. Often you will see the following combination of preposition and article, such as "in the," or "from a." Use your school-bred and your innate knowledge of your native language to provide you just a slight advantage, and you can be a winner at "Wheel of Fortune."
