Codeword
Past dailiesEvery square holds a number from 1 to 26, and each number stands for one letter. Use the given letters and the shapes of the words to crack the whole code.
How to play Codeword
How to play
Tap a square, then type or tap the letter you think its number stands for. The letter appears in every square with that number. Each letter belongs to exactly one number, so a letter used twice is underlined in red.
Getting started
Look for short words that already show a given letter, and for words where the same number repeats. A pattern like _EE_ with a known E only fits a handful of words. Letters that are already used are greyed on the keyboard.
Keys
On a keyboard, type letters directly, use the arrow keys to move, Enter to switch between across and down, and Backspace to clear a number. The key strip shows the code so far; tap a number there to jump to it.
Hints and daily
A hint first clears a wrong letter if you have one. Otherwise it reveals one number and tells you which word gives it away. The daily puzzle is the same for everyone.
Questions
What is a codeword puzzle?
A codeword is a crossword without clues. Every letter in the grid has been replaced by a number from 1 to 26, and the same number always means the same letter. You start with a few letters given and work out the rest from the word shapes.
Does every codeword have only one answer?
Yes. Every puzzle was checked by a solver that only reasons with word patterns, using a list of about 184,000 English words. From the given letters it pins down every number, so there is one solution and you never need to guess.
Are all 26 letters used?
In the medium and large puzzles nearly always, so the alphabet is a useful check: when you have placed 25 letters, the last number must be the last letter. The small 9×9 grids use around 20 to 24 letters.
What words are in the grid?
Everyday English words, including plurals and verb forms, with unusual, offensive and British-or-American spelling words left out. Word lists: SCOWL and ENABLE.
What does a hint do?
If one of your letters is wrong, the hint clears it. Otherwise it reveals one number and explains why it must be that letter, for example that the highlighted word can only be one word with the letters already placed.