How to make a crossword
Choose Straight clues for an ordinary crossword, pick a level and a size, and press Make a crossword. A new puzzle appears straight away. Every press makes a different one, built in your browser from our own list of clues.
Easy puzzles use everyday words with simple, direct clues, which suits children and anyone new to crosswords. Medium clues are a little less obvious, and Hard clues ask you to think sideways. The 9 × 9 and 11 × 11 grids are quick puzzles for a coffee break; 13 × 13 is the usual newspaper size, and 15 × 15 is a bigger challenge.
If you want a puzzle about one subject, such as animals or food, choose a topic. With a British grid the topic words are used wherever they fit; with a free-form grid every answer comes from the topic.
Playing on screen
Tap or click a square and type. The answer you are working on is highlighted in the grid and in the clue list, and its clue is shown above the grid. Tap the same square again to switch between across and down, or tap a clue to jump to it.
Check tells you whether a letter, a word or the whole grid is right so far: wrong letters are crossed out in red. Reveal shows a letter, a word or every answer if you are stuck. The timer is optional; press Hide timer if you would rather not see it. When the last letter is right, you get a well done message.
Your letters are saved on this device, so you can close the page and carry on later. Nothing is sent to us.
Printing a crossword
Press Print to get a clean copy: the numbered grid and the clues on the first page, and the answers with a filled-in grid on the next page. Teachers can hand out the puzzle and keep the answer page, or untick “Print the answers on a separate page” to print the puzzle only.
The puzzle code is printed on both pages. Type it into “Got a puzzle code from a friend?” at any time to bring back exactly the same crossword, so a class or a group of friends can all try the same one, on paper or on screen.
Tips for solving
Start with the short answers and the clues you are sure of: every letter you fill in helps with the answers that cross it. Count the letters, and look at the number in brackets, which tells you the length of each word in the answer, for example (3,5) for a two-word answer.
If a clue seems to make no sense, it may be a cryptic one. Try the cryptic crossword generator on this site, which starts with beginner clues and explains how each one works once you have solved it.
Questions and answers
Is it really free, with no sign-up?
Yes. There is nothing to join and nothing to type in. The puzzle is made in your browser, and the letters you fill in are saved only on your own device so you can carry on later.
How do I share a puzzle with someone?
Press Copy link, or give them the puzzle code printed under the grid (it looks like 13BC2-4F7KQ). Opening the link, or typing the code into “Got a puzzle code from a friend?”, rebuilds exactly the same crossword. Your answers are not shared.
Can I print it with the answers?
Yes. Press Print. The puzzle comes out on the first page with a numbered grid and the clues, and the answers and the filled-in grid on a separate page, so you can hand out the puzzle and keep the answers. Untick “Print the answers on a separate page” to leave them out. It fits A4 and US Letter paper.
Where do the clues come from?
Every clue was written for this site. None are copied from newspapers or other puzzles. Answers are everyday, family-friendly words and phrases, with British spelling.
What is the difference between a British and a free-form grid?
A British grid is the square, symmetrical kind in UK newspapers: black squares make the same pattern if you turn the grid upside down, and about half the letters in each answer are shared with another answer. A free-form grid is a criss-cross of words on an open background. It is the best choice for a whole puzzle on one topic.
Why can’t I choose an American-style grid?
American grids share every letter between an across and a down answer. That needs a word list many times bigger than our hand-written clue list, so for now we offer British blocked grids and free-form grids, which always come out complete and fair.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. All answers and clues are family-friendly. Choose Easy and a 9 × 9 grid for younger solvers, or a free-form grid on a topic they like.