If you have never tried a crossword before, this is a good place to begin. If you are an old hand, it makes a pleasant warm-up before a harder puzzle.
How the easy crossword works
Each puzzle is a small, open grid of 11 by 11 squares holding roughly 8 to 12 answers, picked from a list of everyday words. Instead of the black-and-white block pattern you may know from a newspaper, the answers simply branch off one another wherever they share a letter, so there is plenty of space and it is easy to see where each word goes.
Each answer has a number, and the clues are listed under Across and Down. Across answers read from left to right, and Down answers read from top to bottom. Fill in every square correctly and the puzzle is solved. Press New game at any time for a fresh puzzle.
Controls for first-time solvers
- Tap or click any white square to choose it. The squares of the current answer are highlighted, so you can see where it starts and ends.
- Type the letters on your keyboard, or tap them on the big letter keys under the grid. The cursor moves on by itself after each letter.
- Want to go down instead of across? Tap the same square again, press the Switch key or press the space bar.
- Made a slip? Press Delete or Backspace, or use Undo to take back the last change.
- The clue you are working on is printed in large text above the grid, and tapping a clue in the list takes you straight to its answer. Keyboard users can press Tab, or Shift with Tab, to move between clues.
- Highlight mistakes shows a wrong letter in red, which is very helpful while you learn.
- Hint fills in the correct letter in the chosen square.
- Restart empties the grid, and New game gives you a different puzzle.
- Pause covers the grid and stops the clock. Large makes everything bigger, and Sound switches the little sound effects on or off.
Getting started: a first puzzle step by step
- Switch on Large if you would like bigger squares and text.
- Tick Highlight mistakes, so any wrong letter shows in red straight away.
- Read the Across clues from top to bottom and pick one you are sure of.
- Click the clue in the list, type the answer, and watch the letters appear in the grid.
- Look at the Down answers that cross your word. You now have a letter or two in each one.
- Keep going, one answer at a time, until every square is full.
Tips for beginners
Count the squares
The number of squares tells you how long the answer is. A clue such as young cat could be several words, but if there are six squares, the answer is kitten. Always check the length before you type.
Begin with the short words
Three and four letter answers are usually the quickest to get. Each one you fill in gives you letters for the longer words that cross it, and those letters often make the longer answer obvious.
Skip and come back
There is no need to solve the clues in order. If one has you stuck, move on and return to it later. By then you may have a few of its letters in place, and the answer often comes to you straight away.
Let hints help you learn
Hint reveals the letter in the selected square. Try using it on a square where two answers cross, so one letter helps with two words. There is no shame in a hint or two while you are learning.
Scoring and personal bests
Every easy puzzle begins at 1000 points. The score slips by a point each second, by 25 for every letter Hint fills in and by 10 for each wrong letter typed. Pausing freezes the clock, so a break will not cost you anything. Your grid and best score are kept in this browser, so you can close the page and finish later.
Try not to worry about the score at first. Enjoy solving, and you will find your times improve naturally as you get used to the way clues are written.
Ready for something more?
When the easy puzzles start to feel comfortable, try the daily crossword. It has a larger 13 by 13 grid, more answers and a mix of everyday and slightly harder clues, with one new puzzle each day and a streak counter to keep you coming back.
Further along, you may enjoy themed crosswords, where several answers share a topic, or even cryptic ones, where every clue hides a little word game.
A short history of the crossword
Crosswords are usually traced to an American newspaper puzzle of 1913, and they soon spread around the world. Plenty of keen solvers began with easy puzzles just like these.
Common questions
Are these crosswords really free?
Yes. You can play as many easy crosswords as you like, without paying, downloading or signing up.
I have never done a crossword. Where do I start?
Pick a short clue you are sure of and type the answer. Then look at the words that cross it, because you will already have one of their letters. Ticking Highlight mistakes is a good idea while you learn.
How do I switch between across and down?
Tap the selected square a second time, press the Switch key below the grid or the space bar, or click a clue in the Across or Down list.
Can I play on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Tap a square to select it and use the on-screen letter keyboard below the grid. The Large button makes the squares and text bigger on smaller screens.
How is the score worked out?
You start with 1000 points and lose one for each second, 25 for each letter revealed with Hint and 10 for each wrong letter you type.
Will my puzzle be saved if I close the page?
Yes. Your grid and time are saved in your own browser, so you can come back and finish later. Clearing your site data removes them.