How to solve a mini crossword faster
Eight habits that cut your solving time, with a practice puzzle right here.
Across
Down
Eight tips
- Start with short clues. A three-letter answer is easier to guess and gives two crossing letters.
- Read the clue type. A word ending in "(verb)" wants an action. A plural clue wants a word ending in S.
- Use crossings. One letter from a crossing answer often turns a guess into a certainty.
- Fill common endings. -ED, -ER, -ING and -S show up everywhere.
- Skip and come back. A stuck clue often becomes easy when two crossing letters are filled.
- Check the letter count. The grid tells you how long each answer is. Use it to rule out guesses.
- Say the clue in your own words. The answer is a short way to say the same thing.
- Reveal a word if you are stuck. Learning the answer helps you with the crossings and the next puzzle.
MINI: daily 5x5 crossword
MINI gives you one 5x5 crossword each day. Solve it in a few minutes.
Play MINIMore puzzles: printable mini crosswords and the crossword solver.
Questions
How do you solve a mini crossword fast?
Start with the clues you are sure about, fill short answers first, and use crossing letters to unlock harder ones. Read each clue for its type: plural, past tense, abbreviation or a verb.
Where should I start in a mini crossword?
Start at the top left and look for the shortest answers. Short answers give crossing letters for the long ones.
What does (verb) in a clue mean?
The answer is an action word. It tells you the part of speech so you can rule out nouns.
Are there tricks for crossword answers?
Yes. Plural clues usually end in S, past tense clues in ED, and clues with a question mark involve wordplay. Common three-letter answers like ERA, ORE and ARE show up a lot.