Look for endings first
A handful of endings turn many short words into longer, more valuable ones: S, ED, ER, ING, LY. When you spot a word, check whether an ending is nearby. In Word Grid, a long word is worth far more than several short ones, so it pays to look for a stem and then an ending.
Learn the short words
Two- and three-letter words are the glue of tile games. Knowing them lets you play tiles side by side, score two words at once and use awkward letters. Many players learn the two-letter words first, then the three-letter words that use J, Q, X and Z.
Scan in patterns, not at random
Instead of staring at the board, give your eyes a routine. Look for common pairs and groups (TH, ER, IN, ST, CH), then look for a vowel that links two of them. In a letter grid, trace paths between neighbouring letters in a clockwise sweep rather than jumping around.
- Look at each consonant pair and ask which vowels could join it.
- Try the common prefixes (RE, UN, IN) and suffixes (ED, ER, ING, S) on every stem.
- When you find a long word, look inside it for the shorter words it contains.
Build on what you have
A word you have just found is a base for others. Add a letter at the front or the end, change the vowel, or swap one consonant. The word TEN leads to TENT, TENS, TEND, and NET, SET. Each small change is quick to test, and the extra words add up.
Do not waste time on a letter you cannot use
A hard letter like Q or Z is only worth chasing if you can see a place for it. In a timed game, move on if a path is not working after a few seconds. In a tile game, if you are stuck with an awkward rack, consider swapping tiles instead of forcing a bad play.
Use hints to learn, not to lean on
A hint that lights up a long word you missed is the best teacher. After you use one, look at why you missed the word. Was it an unusual ending, a path that doubled back, or a word you did not know? Next time you will spot it yourself.
