Word Search
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Words to find
Expert is built for people who find most word searches too quick. The grid has 324 letters, the word list is long, and the words cross each other again and again. In our test grids an Expert puzzle averaged 25 shared squares, almost twice as many as Hard.
Why Expert is harder than it looks
On every other level, the gaps between words are filled with random letters weighted like ordinary English. On Expert, a good share of the filler is taken from the letters of the hidden words themselves. That means if you are hunting for SAPPHIRE, you will see plenty of S, A and P sitting together that lead nowhere. The real word is still there exactly once. Every grid is checked in all eight directions before you see it.
How to approach a big grid
- Start with the longest words. They are easiest to spot as a shape, and each one you mark uses up letters that would otherwise distract you.
- Work in strips. Cover a band of four or five rows at a time instead of the whole grid at once.
- Use a rare letter as an anchor. A word with a K, V, W or Y in it is quicker to find from that letter outwards.
- Turn the grid. Press Rotate. After a quarter turn the backwards words in rows become upward words in columns, and your eyes catch different patterns.
More ideas are in the tips and strategy guide.
Questions about Expert
What is the difference between Hard and Expert?
Expert has a bigger grid (18 × 18 instead of 15 × 15), more words (22 instead of 16), more places where words cross, and different filler. On Expert, much of the filler is made from letters in the hidden words, so you see the start of a word far more often than the word itself.
How long does an Expert word search take?
Expect anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes. Your best time without hints is saved in your browser.
Can I make the letters bigger?
The grid grows to fill your screen, so a bigger window or full screen gives bigger letters. On a phone, turning it sideways does not help much because the grid stays square; Hard has fewer, larger letters if Expert feels cramped.