How to make a crossword puzzle

Step 1: Pick your words

Choose 10 to 20 words that belong together: a topic, a unit, a person’s life, a holiday. A mix of long and short words makes the grid interlock better than words of all the same length.

Words with common letters (E, A, R, S, T, N) cross easily. Words made only of rare letters, such as those with Q, X or Z, are harder to fit. If a word shares no letter with the others, the maker flags it.

Step 2: Write a clue for each word

A good clue points to one answer only, and it should not contain the answer or a form of it. Use a short definition, a fill-in-the-blank sentence, or a personal reference.

Keep the clue as short as you can. Vary the style between clues, and check that a clue for a noun is a noun and a clue for a verb is a verb.

Step 3: Type or paste them in

Type each word with its clue, or paste a list from Excel or Word in the form “word – clue”, “word: clue” or with a tab between them. The grid builds itself live while you type.

If the layout is not what you wanted, press Shuffle to see other layouts as small previews and pick one. Undo and redo are there if you change your mind. Umlauts and accents such as Ä, É and Ñ stay in the grid.

Step 4: Add a secret word, then print or share

Optional: mark squares that spell a hidden word that solvers find at the end. Then print in one of four styles, on A4 or Letter, with the answer key on page 2 and an optional word bank. Or share a short link, and anyone can solve it on a phone, tablet or computer.

Keep the edit link you get, so you can change the puzzle later. To let friends solve together, use Together or Race mode.

• Test the puzzle yourself once, or ask someone else to.
• Fix clues that are ambiguous before you share.
• Keep the public collection off if the puzzle has personal names.