Word Search Rules
A word search asks the solver to match listed words to continuous straight paths in the grid. The active puzzle settings determine which directions count.
Written by Suhas Sunder · Reviewed on
Find listed words in the grid
Use the word bank as the set of targets. A displayed word is complete only when its normalized letters match one placed path in order.
Words must follow a straight line
A valid path cannot turn a corner, skip a cell, or jump between rows. Every selected cell must be adjacent along one constant direction vector.
Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal placement
Depending on the puzzle, words may run along rows, columns, or 45-degree diagonals. The instructions and difficulty indicate which orientations are possible.
Forward and backward placement
Easy puzzles in this batch use forward paths only. Medium and Hard puzzles may begin at either end, so a listed word can appear reversed in the grid.
Overlapping words
Two or more words may share a cell when the required letter is identical. Finding one word does not automatically solve another path that crosses it.
Selecting words online
Start on one endpoint and finish on the other endpoint. The solver resolves the exact straight coordinate path between those cells rather than accepting any loose group of matching letters.
Marking words on paper
Circle, highlight, or draw a line through every letter in one continuous path. Mark the corresponding word in the bank to keep track of completed targets.
When a word counts as solved
Online, the selected coordinates must match a stored placement in either endpoint order. On paper, compare the same complete sequence before crossing the word off.
Using hints or answer keys
A hint can narrow the search, while an answer view shows the recorded paths. Use either deliberately; viewing a solution online should not rewrite the player's progress as though each word was found.
Differences among puzzle settings
Grid size, allowed directions, overlap, alphabet pack, word-bank order, and print size can vary. Read the current puzzle's instructions instead of assuming every word search follows the same preset.