To make a word search, pick a list of words on a theme, place each one into a grid running in any of eight directions, then fill the leftover cells with random letters so the words hide among them. The word search maker does the placement and filling for you from a list you type in, and you can play the result on screen or print it. Here is what is happening under the hood, and how to make a good one.
Start with the word list
The word list is the puzzle. A theme gives it shape: a spelling list for the week, animals, capital cities, the names of guests at a party. Keep the words reasonable in length, because a word longer than the grid simply cannot be placed. Eight to fifteen words suits most grids; more than that needs a bigger board.
How words get placed
Each word is dropped into the grid along one of eight directions: left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, and the four diagonals. The maker tries positions until it finds one where the word fits without clashing, allowing it to cross another word only where they share the same letter. Words that overlap on a shared letter make the puzzle harder to scan, which is a good thing.
If a word cannot be placed in the grid you chose, the word search maker tells you which one, so you can shorten it, drop it, or use a larger grid rather than have it silently disappear.
Choosing a grid size
Size the grid to your longest word and how many words you have:
- Each side should be a few cells longer than your longest word, so it has room to sit in any direction.
- The grid needs enough open cells to hold every word with space left for filler.
- A grid that is too tight rejects words; one that is too large is mostly random letters and feels empty.
A 12x12 to 15x15 grid handles a typical themed list comfortably.
Filler letters and difficulty
Once the words are placed, every empty cell is filled with a random letter to camouflage them. You can make a puzzle harder in a few ways:
- Use more directions, especially diagonals and backwards words.
- Choose words that share letters with each other, so the filler blends in.
- Keep the grid tight so there is less obvious blank space pointing at the answers.
For young solvers, do the opposite: fewer directions, no backwards words, and a roomier grid.
Make and print yours
When the grid is ready you can solve it on screen by dragging across each word, or print the puzzle and word list to hand out on paper, which suits a classroom or a party. Open the word search maker, paste your words one per line, and generate a puzzle in seconds. For why puzzles like this are worth the effort, see the benefits of puzzle games.