Wordwheel Solving Tips
The random method is probably the more common: here you simply look at the letters in the grid, and allow your eye to wander around randomly, noting down any words you happen to find as you go.
The second method is the systematic method. Generally this works by starting at a particular point in the wheel, finding all words you can that start with that letter (and also contain the central letter, of course, if that isn't the letter you started on), then moving around the wheel letter-by-letter until you have covered every letter in the wheel.
Those who practice the systematic version sometimes go in alphabetical order, starting with the letter that comes first in the alphabet, and progressing from there.
Imagine that the letters for a six-letter wheel are ADERST, with A as the central letter. Then the systematic solver would start with 'A', then note the next letter is 'D', so try words starting 'AD'... eg all ADE___ words, then all ADR___ words then ADS___ then ADT___ and then look at any words starting 'AE' and so on.
The systematic method is considered less 'fun' by some solvers, although it is probably the best way to find all possible words in the grid if that is your target, at it saves you accidentally looking at words and letter combinations you have already tried, possibly several times, earlier in your solving process.
Finally it is worth noting that some people like to copy out the letters on paper, and either put the letters in a different order (such as vowels first and then consonants) to see what pops out at them, or perhaps write the letters in a line rather than the wheel format it is presented in. You might like to try each method and see which works best for you.
Do you have any other solving tips or methods you use when tackling wordwheel puzzles? If so please do post them in the comments section below.
Date written: 09 Apr 2015
Comment on this post
You must be logged in to comment - please Register or Login
Tips On Filling In A Crossword Grid
Writing a crossword is one of those many tasks in life that may seem very easy - until you come to do it! And many don't even think about the grid-filling part, simply the clue writing. Here we look at filling the grid, which must be done before you come...
Added: 03 Apr 2015
New Fun Games Added Today
You told us you wanted more word games, so we listened!
Today and yesterday mark the start of two new fun games in the words section - and as with all the fun games here at Wordy Puzzle, they are completely free to play for all members.
The games...
Added: 29 Jul 2015
Why No Wordsearch At Wordy Puzzle
We have a huge range of word puzzles here at Wordy Puzzle, representing all the major puzzle types. All of them, that is, apart from the wordsearch puzzle. Just in case you've not come across it before, a wordsearch is a simple word puzzle that features...
Added: 21 Jun 2015
Learning To Solve Codewords
Learning to solve codewords takes patience: they are one puzzle type that you definitely get better at over time, and can find extremely difficult the first few puzzles you solve. After that you will find tactics that work for you, and will be able to...
Added: 26 Mar 2015
Introduction To Cryptogram Puzzles
Cryptogram puzzles can look quite intimidating to start with. They present you with what looks like total gobbledegook, but is in fact simply a piece of intelligence English that has been scrambled, in a particular way.
Here is how the scrambling...
Added: 24 Mar 2015
Back to Puzzle Blog
Puzzle Types:
