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Crossword Guides

Everything you need to become a sharper solver — from your very first grid to cracking fiendish cryptics. Free, practical, and written by our editors.

SOLVE
BeginnersHow to Solve a CrosswordSkim the easy clues, work the crossings, and learn the patterns that turn a blank grid into a finished puzzle.Read guide →
CRYPTIC
CrypticCryptic Crosswords ExplainedEvery cryptic clue is a definition plus wordplay. Learn the devices and indicators that crack the code.Read guide →
WORDS
VocabularyCommon Crossword AnswersOREO, ERA, ALOE and friends — the words that appear again and again, and why they are everywhere.Read guide →
ABBRS
ConventionsCrossword AbbreviationsAbbreviations, tenses, and question marks: the hidden rulebook every clue quietly follows.Read guide →
SPEED
ImproveHow to Get Faster at CrosswordsTen practical techniques to cut your solving time — without turning your hobby into a stopwatch race.Read guide →
1913
HistoryThe History of the CrosswordFrom a 1913 newspaper experiment to a global daily ritual — how the crossword conquered the world.Read guide →