How to Do a Crossword Puzzle (+ Solve Every Clue)

Crossword puzzle expert A.J. Jacobs shares his top tips for finding answers to tricky clues

Co-authored by A.J. Jacobs and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: April 2, 2026 Fact Checked

Struggling to complete a crossword puzzle? You've come to the right place! In an exclusive interview, we spoke to a crossword puzzle expert to learn the best strategies for solving (and finishing) tricky crosswords. Before long, you'll be solving every puzzle that comes your way, and you might not even need to look up any answers. Let's get started!

How do you finish a crossword puzzle?

Crossword puzzle expert A.J. Jacobs says you'll have an easier time finishing a crossword if you don't get stuck on any one possible answer. Remember that the solution could be a play on words or even a whole phrase. If you're stuck, take a break or move on to another part of the puzzle, then come back.

1

Start with the easiest-to-solve clues.

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Jacobs suggests looking for easy clues, like "fill in the blank" (e.g. "singer, songwriter, ___ Reznor").^{[1]
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Expert Source

A.J. Jacobs
Crossword Puzzle Expert

Expert Interview} This will help you fill in the parts of the puzzle surrounding the hard clues, which may make them easier to solve later.

Meet the wikiHow Expert

A.J. Jacobs is a crossword puzzle expert, as well as a New York Times bestselling author and a journalist. His passion is solving the most complicated puzzles in existence.

2

Solve clues with short answers next.

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Move on to answers with 3 to 5 letters to help fill in the empty spaces. Short answers are typically a little easier to decode than longer ones. With that in mind, focus on clues with 3, 4, or 5 letters next. Remember, the more space you fill up in the puzzle, the easier it'll be to identify harder words and clues.^{[2]
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- Pro Tip: Crossword answers tend to range from 3 to 21 letters.

3

Look for common crossword conventions.

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Notice clues with abbreviations or rebuses. Jacobs suggests memorizing common crossword puzzle conventions to help you solve clues, even if you wouldn't normally know the answer. For example, if a clue is an abbreviation, Jacobs says that chances are, the answer is also an abbreviation.^{[3]
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A.J. Jacobs
Crossword Puzzle Expert

Expert Interview} Below are some other conventions to watch for:
- Rebuses: In rebuses, Jacobs explains, "the answer is clued by the type or arrangement of the letters. For example, G-E-G-S could clue 'scrambled eggs.'"^{[4]
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- Crosswordese: According to Jacobs, "These are words that often appear in crosswords but are rare in normal English (e.g., 'Oona' for actress Chaplain). Learning a few hundred of these will really help."^{[5]
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- Multiple-word answers: "Remember that in American crosswords, the answer can sometimes be more than one word," cautions Jacobs. "Don’t get stuck on the idea of a long, single-word answer."^{[6]
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4

Use the puzzle's theme to solve clues.

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All answers will align with the crossword theme. More often than not, crosswords follow a specific theme. Perhaps you're completing a "holiday," "TV shows," or "90s" puzzle. The puzzle's clues usually revolve around this theme, and knowing the general topic of the clues can help you make an educated guess or jump to an answer.^{[7]
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- For instance, if you're doing a puzzle themed around "games," one clue may be a 5-letter word described as "Black and white set." Knowing that you're focusing on games, you can come to the answer "chess." ^{[8]
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- Pro Tip: Need help figuring out what the theme is? Check out the puzzle's title!

5

Study unsolved clues with missing letters.

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Brainstorm answers that match both the missing and the present letters. As you work your way through the puzzle, you'll start to fill in more of the difficult clues where they cross with the easier ones. Reread these challenging clues and brainstorm possible answers that could fit in the number of squares, and that also contain the letters you've found.^{[9]
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- For example, say you have the clue "Black Halloween animal," and the answer is a 3-letter word. The entry that crosses the second letter of the clue is "A crispy breakfast meat," which you've solved as BACON. Now you know the first letter of the "Black Halloween animal" is "B," so you may jump to the answer BAT.
- Pro Tip: This technique is usually called "using the crossings."

6

Check the clue’s grammar and spelling for hints.

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The grammar and spelling of the clue can contain helpful information. Whether or not the clue ends in a question mark, asks for a proper name, or is singular or plural can help you crack the code.^{[10]
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- Question mark (?): If the clue ends in a question mark, says Jacobs, the solution probably requires an offbeat interpretation (e.g., clue: "Mental block?"; answer: RUBIKSCUBE).^{[11]
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- Tense: If a clue is in a specific tense, the answer must be in the same tense (e.g., clue: "Cooked"; answer: BAKED).
- Plural or singular: If a clue is plural, the answer must also be plural (e.g., clue: "Steps on a scale?"; answer: TONES).^{[12]
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- An answer's part of speech must match the clue's. In other words, if the clue can be a verb and a noun, the answer must be too.

7

Take a break if you’re stuck.

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If you're getting frustrated by the puzzle, do something else for a bit. "Breaks are important," says Jacobs. "If you're stuck, take a break. Leonardo da Vinci, for example, believed that stepping away from a problem could help you see it from a new perspective."^{[13]
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A.J. Jacobs
Crossword Puzzle Expert

Expert Interview}
- Pro Tip: Some crossword experts like to time themselves while completing a puzzle. But if you're a beginner, focus on finishing the puzzle instead of how fast you solve it—you're not competing in a race!

8

When in doubt, guess.

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There's no harm in making a guess here and there. If you think you know an answer, write it down. If it turns out to be wrong later, simply erase it and plug in the correct answer. "Don’t get too attached to a guess until you’ve confirmed it with other clues," Jacobs advises. "Always be ready to reconsider your hypothesis."^{[14]
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9

Look up information when you're stumped.

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It's totally fine to turn to the internet or a dictionary. This can be especially helpful if you're making some guesses along the way—sometimes, even the pros have to fact-check themselves. After all, no one knows everything. Plus, says Jacobs, "looking up the answers is a great way to learn and improve."^{[15]
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Expert Source

A.J. Jacobs
Crossword Puzzle Expert

Expert Interview} Simply look up the clue itself online or type in keywords (such as dates and the puzzle's theme).
- Don't think of it as cheating. Instead, think of it as learning something new!
- Pro Tip: Ask a friend for help. If you're hesitant about using the internet, go for an old-fashioned form of communication: talking. Ask a family member or a friend if they know anything about the clue.

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Question

If I do a puzzle in parts with breaks in between, will it still help improve my memory?

Community Answer

Yes, it should.

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How do I find a good strategy to complete a crossword puzzle?

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Answer the clues you know first, then work from those.

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Tips

Newspapers running crosswords tend to increase the difficulty of the puzzles as the week goes on. Monday's puzzle is usually the easiest, while Saturday's is the hardest.

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Look up difficult clues and answers in a crossword puzzle dictionary.

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Practice makes perfect! Try doing a crossword every day to improve your skills. Opt for the daily puzzle in the morning paper, or download a crossword app on your phone (like New York Times Crossword or CodyCross).

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