Choosing Words to Make a Crossword Puzzle

Video Transcript

"So, now I have chosen one letter a very common letter the T. And, now I want to look at all of the words that will fit into that spot. Back in the old days, when I used dictionaries and word lists. With the computer I can get a list in a matter of seconds. And, then I can go through this. And, if I'm doing a regular crossword I look for one type of word. Just something that I can find an easy definition for. If I'm doing a cryptic crossword, then I need to find something that I can play with the letters of the word. So, I will look for this for example I see the word semitransparent. That would actually work very well for both the regular and a cryptic crossword. Your first straight definition, something like translucent would work. But, for a cryptic what do I notice? I notice we have here inside the word transparent, we have the word parent. So, I will choose semitransparent to put into the grid. And, then I will go on to the next thing. Now, the hardest thing to fill into a grid are the long words. So, and this is why you only see I have four words that have fifteen characters. And, they are very often phrases rather than single words. So, now I'm looking for a word that has fifteen letters and has a T in the fifth spot. So, I go through whether it's my book of words or through a computer program, a dictionary. And, see what I can fit in there. I might use something like blunt instrument. Once you have a number of words into the grid, then it becomes harder to find words that will fit. For example, at one across the word going across has to have a B as the fifth letter. The word going one down has to have an S in the fifth letter. So, it's a matter of coordinating these words so they will all fit. And, the further you go the harder that is to do."