Question 1

What is a spangram?

Accepted Answer

The one answer that sums up the day's theme. It can be a single word or a short phrase written without spaces, and it always touches two opposite edges of the grid: left and right, or top and bottom.

Question 2

Do I have to trace a word in order?

Accepted Answer

Yes, from its first letter to its last. The word itself can run in any direction on the grid, so the first letter may be at the bottom or on the right.

Question 3

The same letter is next to my word twice. Which one do I use?

Accepted Answer

Either. If your trace spells a theme word or the spangram, it counts, and the word is highlighted where it belongs.

Question 4

How do hints work?

Accepted Answer

Find three real words of 4 letters or more that aren't answers and you earn a hint. Using it marks the letters of one unfound theme word with a dashed ring. Hints show one word at a time, and the spangram always comes last.

Question 5

Which words count toward a hint?

Accepted Answer

Words of 4 to 8 letters from a large English word list. Each word counts once.

Question 6

Can I play again today?

Accepted Answer

No. Crossroads is one puzzle a day. Until you solve it you can restart as often as you like. Once it's solved, the result is locked in, hints and all, and the page shows a countdown to the next puzzle.

Question 7

What does Perfect mean?

Accepted Answer

You solved the puzzle without using a hint.

Question 8

Do I need to tell colors apart to play?

Accepted Answer

No. Theme words have a solid border, the spangram has a second ring inside each letter, and hinted letters have a dashed ring.

Question 9

Where are my streak and results saved?

Accepted Answer

In your browser's localStorage: today's progress, your daily streak, how many days you've solved, how many of them were Perfect and how many hints you've used. They never leave your device.

Question 10

Can I play with a keyboard?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Focus the grid, move with the arrow keys and press Enter or Space to pick a letter. Press Enter again on the last letter to submit, Backspace to take a letter off and Escape to clear.