Helpful Hints for Solving Crossword Puzzles

Crossword puzzles are just plain fun to solve, not to mention the great mental workout you get. If you're new to working crosswords, keep the following basic tips in mind:

• Keep key resources, such as the following, on hand (whether in electronic or hard-copy form):

  • A dictionary

  • A slang dictionary

  • A thesaurus

  • An atlas

  • An almanac

• Work in pencil. When you're an old pro, you may insist on working in pen to up the challenge.

• The phrasing of the clues determines each puzzle's difficulty, and it may take a while to get familiar with a puzzle's particular phrasing.

• Look for fill-in-the-blank answers first; most people find them among the easiest to solve.