How to Write a Crossword Puzzle
Creating a crossword puzzle is an entertaining way to learn new vocabulary words and can be done around almost any theme. Simple puzzles are fairly easy to create with graph paper and a pencil. To make the more complex versions such as those seen in the newspaper, you'll likely need a computer and special software.
Instructions
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Choose a theme to which all of your words will relate. For example, use a favorite movie, author or holiday (like Halloween) that will lead to lengthy lists of possible words.
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Come up with a list of at least 25 words that fit your theme. The longer the list, the easier it will be to create the puzzle. (Don't plan to use all of the words.) Some of the words should be long and some short; they can include nouns, verbs, adjectives or adverbs. It will be easier if you choose words with more common letters like "E" and "S" as opposed to "Q" and "Z."
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Pick 10 words from the list, selecting words with a variety of lengths and those with more common letters.
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Take the graph paper and write in the first word horizontally. Start with your longest word as it will give you more opportunities to overlay other words vertically. This process can take a while as you may need to move words to find places that are a better fit. If this is your first attempt at a puzzle, it will be much easier if you don't try to put words right next to each other vertically or horizontally.
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Number each square that contains the first letter of a word. On a separate piece of paper, create two lists: words that are "across" and words that are "down." Put the corresponding number next to each word and write a very short clue for each one. For example, if the word is "pumpkin," your clue might be "Became a jack-o'-lantern."
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