Word search guide: how to find words faster
Finding words looks like a matter of good eyesight, but fast players follow a method. These techniques work on paper and on screen, and in Vexply they’re enough for the Expert level.
Play Word Search1. Start with the rare letters
Before reading the grid, read the list. Make a mental note of words with an uncommon letter in English: J, K, Q, V, X, Z, or a double letter like OO or LL. In a grid full of Es and As, those letters jump out.
Sweep the grid looking only for that letter. Each time you find it, check its eight neighbours for the next letter of the word.
2. Read by neighbours, not by rows
Once you have the first letter, the word can only continue in eight directions. Look for the second letter around it; if it’s there, carry on in that direction. If the third letter doesn’t match, drop that direction and try another.
This method avoids the most common mistake: reading whole rows left to right and missing vertical and diagonal words.
3. Diagonals and backwards words
Diagonals appear on Normal, and on Hard and Expert words can run in any of the eight directions, right to left or bottom to top included. A backwards word is found the same way: find its last letter and read back.
- Easy: right and down.
- Normal: right, down and both forward diagonals.
- Hard and Expert: all eight directions.
4. Crossings and decoys
On Expert many words share cells. When you find one, its letters stay highlighted: check whether any word on the list starts or ends with those letters, because crossings pile up.
The filler letters aren’t random: some are decoys that repeat the start of a word on the list. If you see TRA and the word is TRAIN, check the next letters before marking.
5. Cutting your times
Start with the longest words: they have fewer possible places and, once found, they free up cells that help with the short ones. Leave three- and four-letter words for last, when there are fewer free letters to confuse you.
A hint marks the first letter of the shortest word you’re missing. Use it if you’re stuck, but the Hard or Expert no-hint achievement needs a finish without any.