Category: Board Games

Scrabble is a classic and timeless game that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for generations. It is a game that requires skill, strategy, and a good vocabulary. If you want to become a master Scrabble player, there are several things you can do to improve your game.

One of the key things you can do to improve your Scrabble game is to expand your vocabulary. The more words you know, the better your chances of scoring high points. You should start by studying the official Scrabble dictionary and learning new words every day. There are also many online resources and mobile apps that can help you improve your vocabularies, such as Merriam-Webster, Dictionary.com, and Word Finder.

Another important aspect of Scrabble is understanding the point values of each letter. Knowing the point values of each letter will help you make better decisions when forming words on the board. For example, letters like Q and Z have higher point values than letters like E and T. By knowing this, you can strategically place these high-value letters to earn more points.

Practicing your Scrabble skills is also crucial to improving your game. The more games you play, the better you will become at forming words quickly and efficiently. You should also try playing against different opponents with varying levels of skill to challenge yourself and learn new strategies.

Board positioning is another important aspect of playing Scrabble. You should always be aware of where your tiles are placed on the board and how they interact with other tiles already on the board. This will help you create longer words and earn more points. Additionally, it’s important to use your blank tiles wisely. Blank tiles can be used as any letter in the alphabet, making them incredibly valuable in Scrabble. However, it’s important to use them strategically to maximize their potential for earning high points.

There are also several other tips and tricks that can help you become a master Scrabble player. For example, learning two-letter words can help you form longer words and score more points. You should also try to use prefixes and suffixes to add letters to words already on the board, as this can earn you additional points. It’s also important to pay attention to your opponent’s moves and plan your strategy accordingly.

In conclusion, becoming a master Scrabble player takes practice, strategy, and a good vocabulary. By expanding your vocabulary, understanding the point values of letters, practicing your skills, focusing on board positioning, and using your blanks wisely, you’ll be well on your way to improving your game. Remember to always have fun while playing and never stop learning new strategies and techniques. Scrabble is a game that can be enjoyed for a lifetime, and the more you play, the better you’ll become!

Crossword puzzles have been a popular pastime for over a century, challenging minds and providing hours of entertainment. But have you ever wondered how these puzzles are made? Who are the people behind the clues and grids that stump us? 

The Basics of Crossword Puzzle Construction 

At its core, a crossword puzzle is a grid of squares filled with words or phrases that intersect at certain points. The goal is to fill in the entire grid with words that fit both horizontally and vertically, based on clues provided for each entry. 

Creating a crossword puzzle involves several key steps: 

• Determine the size and shape of the grid 
• Choose theme entries (if applicable) 
• Fill in the grid with words or phrases 
• Write clues for each entry 

The most common grid size is 15×15 squares, but puzzles can range from mini 5×5 grids to massive 21×21 grids. Theme entries are often used to add an extra layer of challenge or interest to the puzzle, such as using all food-related words or including puns. 

Filling in the grid requires careful consideration of word length, letter placement, and avoiding undesirable crossings (such as two obscure words intersecting). Clues must be clever yet concise, providing enough information for solvers to solve without giving away too much. 

Who Makes Crossword Puzzles? 

Crossword puzzle construction is an art form that requires both creativity and technical skill. While anyone can create a basic puzzle, constructing high-quality crosswords takes practice and expertise. 

Many professional constructors work freelance, selling their puzzles to major publications like The New York Times or Wall Street Journal. Some notable names in crossword construction include Will Shortz (editor of The New York Times crossword), Merl Reagle (creator of Sunday crosswords for many newspapers), and Liz Gorski (known for her visually stunning puzzles).

There are also many amateur constructors who create puzzles solely for personal enjoyment or share them online through blogs or social media platforms. 

The Future of Crossword Puzzles 

As technology continues to advance, so does the world of crossword puzzles. Online platforms like Crossword Nexus allow solvers to search for clues by keyword or answer length, while apps like NYTimes Crossword offer daily digital puzzles that can be solved on the go. However, despite these advancements, there will always be something special about solving a physical newspaper puzzle with a pencil in hand. 

In conclusion, crossword puzzle construction is an intricate art form that combines language skills with technical know-how. Whether created by professionals or amateurs, these brain-teasing games continue to captivate audiences around the world.

Crossword puzzles are a timeless classic that have been enjoyed by people of all ages for generations. There’s something deeply satisfying about filling in those blank squares with the right letters and watching as the puzzle comes to life. But some answers are more satisfying than others, and we’ve compiled a list of the most gratifying crossword puzzle answers you’ll ever fill in.

Eureka!

There’s nothing quite like that “Eureka!” moment when you finally figure out an answer that’s been eluding you for what feels like hours. And there are a few crossword puzzle answers that will give you that feeling every time:

• EUREKA – Of course, the word itself is incredibly satisfying to fill in.
• AHA – Another exclamation of triumph that fits perfectly into those tiny squares.
• REVELATION – When you finally get this one, it feels like a true revelation.

Words That Just Sound Good

Sometimes, it’s not just about the meaning of the word, but how it sounds when you say it out loud. Here are a few crossword puzzle answers that will make your tongue tingle:

• BUBBLY – This word just pops with joy and effervescence.
• QUINTESSENTIAL – A big word with lots of syllables that just rolls off the tongue.
• SYNERGY – It sounds like exactly what it means: a perfect harmony between two things.

Clever Clues

Finally, there are those clever clues that make you smile when you finally figure them out. These answers might not be inherently satisfying on their own, but they’re made all the sweeter by the cleverness of their clues:

• PUN – When a clue involves wordplay or a pun, figuring out the answer is especially rewarding.
• TRICKY – Sometimes, clues can be intentionally misleading or tricky. When you finally crack one of these puzzles, it feels like a real accomplishment.
• PATIENCE – Some clues require patience and persistence to solve. When you finally get there after working at it for so long, it feels incredibly satisfying.

Literal Answers

Sometimes, a crossword puzzle answer is just so literal that it’s satisfying. These answers often involve straightforward clues, and when you finally fill in the blank, it feels like a small triumph:

• SUN – A simple answer that feels like a ray of sunshine when you finally fill it in.
• EYE – A short and sweet answer that always looks good in those tiny squares.
• ONE – A single, simple word that feels like a complete victory when you finally get it.

Puzzles have been a popular pastime for centuries, and with good reason. Whether you’re working on a crossword, Sudoku, or jigsaw puzzle, solving puzzles can be both challenging and rewarding. But what happens in the brain when we solve puzzles, and how can we get better at it? Today we’ll explore the neuroscience of puzzles and share some tips for improving your puzzle-solving skills. 

The Neuroscience of Puzzles 

When we solve puzzles, our brains are engaged in a process known as cognitive control. This involves using working memory to hold information in mind, inhibiting distractions, and selecting the appropriate response. As we work through a puzzle, our brains are constantly evaluating and reevaluating our strategies, adjusting our approach as needed. 

Research has shown that solving puzzles can help to improve cognitive function and may even help to prevent age-related decline in cognitive abilities. In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, older adults who worked on puzzles regularly showed improvements in working memory, attention, and reasoning skills. 

Tips for Improving Your Puzzle-Solving Skills 

Start With the Basics 

If you’re new to puzzles, it’s important to start with the basics. This might mean starting with a simple crossword or Sudoku puzzle, and working your way up to more challenging puzzles as your skills improve. Don’t be afraid to start with easy puzzles – even simple puzzles can help to improve your cognitive abilities. 

Use Visualization 

Visualization is a powerful tool for solving puzzles. By visualizing the puzzle in your mind, you can more easily identify patterns and make connections between different pieces. This can be especially helpful for jigsaw puzzles, where the pieces can be difficult to distinguish from one another. 

Take Breaks 

Puzzle-solving can be mentally exhausting, and it’s important to take breaks as needed. If you find yourself getting frustrated or stuck, take a few minutes to step away from the puzzle and clear your mind. This can help you to approach the puzzle with fresh eyes and a renewed focus. 

Work With a Partner 

Working on a puzzle with a partner can be a fun and effective way to improve your puzzle-solving skills. By working together, you can bounce ideas off of one another and approach the puzzle from different angles. This can help to improve your problem-solving abilities and can make the process more enjoyable. 

Practice Regularly 

Like any skill, puzzle-solving requires practice in order to improve. Make a habit of working on puzzles regularly, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day. Over time, you’ll find that your puzzle-solving abilities improve and you’re able to tackle more challenging puzzles with ease. 

In conclusion, solving puzzles can be a fun and rewarding way to improve cognitive function and prevent age-related decline in cognitive abilities. By understanding the neuroscience of puzzles and using the tips listed above, you can improve your puzzle-solving skills and enjoy the many benefits that come with this engaging pastime. So whether you’re working on a crossword, Sudoku, or jigsaw puzzle, embrace the challenge and keep your brain sharp and engaged with this classic pastime.

Word scramble puzzles are a fun and challenging way to exercise your brain and improve your vocabulary. These puzzles involve rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to create a new word or phrase. However, some people find word scramble puzzles to be difficult and time-consuming. Today, we will provide five tips and tricks to solve word scramble puzzles faster. 

Start With the First and Last Letters

The first and last letters of a word are often the easiest to identify. They can provide clues to the length of the word and the sound of the word. Starting with these letters can help you quickly narrow down the possible options for the remaining letters. Once you have identified the first and last letters, you can try to fill in the gaps in the middle. 

Look For Prefixes and Suffixes

Many words in the English language contain prefixes and suffixes. These are word parts that are added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning. For example, the prefix “un-” can be added to the word “happy” to create the word “unhappy.” Similarly, the suffix “-able” can be added to the word “read” to create the word “readable.” Looking for prefixes and suffixes can help you quickly identify the root word and make it easier to unscramble the rest of the letters. 

Group the Letters by Sound

Another strategy for unscrambling letters is to group them by sound. For example, the letters “h,” “o,” and “w” can be grouped together because they all make the “ow” sound. By identifying these groups of letters, you can start to piece together the word or phrase. This strategy is particularly helpful for longer words or phrases where there are multiple sounds to identify. 

Use Context Clues

Context clues can be a powerful tool for unscrambling words. If the word scramble puzzle is part of a larger puzzle or game, such as a crossword puzzle or word search, the surrounding clues or answers can provide context for the scrambled word. For example, if the clue for a crossword puzzle is “a small, furry animal with a bushy tail,” and the scrambled word is “rsoqiu,” you can use the context clue to unscramble the word as “squirrel.” 

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations of letters. You may not get the word or phrase on your first attempt, but by trying different combinations of letters, you can slowly narrow down the possibilities. If you get stuck, take a break and come back to the puzzle later with fresh eyes. Sometimes, a different perspective can help you see things that you missed before. 

Word scramble puzzles can be a fun and rewarding way to challenge your brain and improve your vocabulary. By using the strategies outlined in this blog post, you can solve these puzzles faster and with greater accuracy. Remember to start with the first and last letters, look for prefixes and suffixes, group the letters by sound, use context clues, and don’t be afraid to experiment. With a little practice, you’ll become a word scramble puzzle master in no time!

Everyone wants to become more intelligent, but many intelligence-boosting methods are quite dull. Luckily, certain games make educational concepts more exciting. Word Collect, for example, is a free smartphone app that claims to train your brain. In this article, we’ll look at Word Collect and determine whether it can make you smarter.

What is Word Collect?

This free smartphone app gives you a series of letters and tasks you with using them to create words. It features over 1200 levels and awards you points each time you complete one. As you progress through the levels, they become more challenging. Still, most reviewers said they enjoyed the challenge.

Can Word Collect improve intelligence?

This game requires knowledge of the English language, but can it make you smarter? To better understand, we’ll look at proven brain-training concepts and determine whether Word Collect incorporates these methods.

Gamification

Gamification involves adding gaming elements to non-gaming tasks. This concept is widely used in the e-learning industry, as it’s seen as an effective way to enhance education. According to a study published in Smart Learning Environments, “[learners using gamification concepts] had a significant improvement in the quality of the submitted solutions.”

Word Collect gamifies traditional language exercises by incorporating points, levels, and rewards. This methodology can improve your overall engagement and retention. Still, it’s important to note your personality type may play a role in this method’s effectiveness. For example, gamification tends to improve introverts’ performance more than extroverts.

Problem-solving

Solving problems is generally good for healthy brains, whether you’re using letters to make words or doing math. According to Jessica Caldwell, Ph.D., neuropsychologist for Cleveland Clinic, “My idea about those types of word games is if you enjoy them and they’re giving you a challenge, so you can’t do it on autopilot, you really need to think about it, then it’s really serving you a good purpose in terms of supporting your brain health for life.”

The important thing is that the game continues to challenge you. Many say Word Collect gets pretty tricky as you advance through the levels, so it’s safe to say it fits the bill. Still, it’s worth mentioning there is competing evidence on whether word games can improve your intelligence.

Penny Pexman, a professor of psychology at the University of Calgary tasked with studying Scrabble players’ brains, says, “Scrabble players recognize words faster, especially in vertical orientation, but we didn’t find that those advantages transferred to non-Scrabble-related tasks.”

What’s the verdict?

Word Collect is an exciting game that challenges players to create words from groupings of random letters. As the game progresses, it becomes more complex, ensuring you stay engaged. Many of the concepts utilized by Word Collect suggest the game could improve cognitive function, but there’s no conclusive evidence on whether this is true. Still, games like word collect are sure to stimulate your brain while you play them, so if you enjoy it, there’s nothing wrong with devoting time to it each day.

Sudoku is an international sensation. Pronounced Sue-Dough-Koo, the logic-based game has developed over 300 years. Learn more about the history of Sudoku as you enjoy the game. 

Swiss Origins of Sudoku

Leonhard Euler, an 18th-century physicist and mathematician, created an original version of Sudoku. He combined “Latin Squares” with “Magic Squares.” In Latin Squares, users filled a matrix or square with the Latin alphabet. In Magic Squares, users followed a mathematical formula as they placed numbers in a matrix with the same sum in each column and row. Euler’s combination functioned as a mathematical system used during statistical analysis. 

The Birth of Modern Sudoku

Over time, Euler’s pragmatic concept expanded into entertainment. Eventually, a French newspaper published some of the first puzzles in 1895. 

However, an early version of the game we play today is typically attributed to Howard Garns, an architect and freelance puzzle inventor from Indiana. He supposedly submitted a puzzle called “Number Place” to the Dell Pencil Puzzles and Word Games magazine. Published in 1979, this version incorporated the nine-by-nine grid and introduced the rules of placing the numbers one through nine in columns and rows without repeating any digits. 

Japanese Adaptation of Sudoku 

The game underwent further revisions in 1984. That’s when the monthly Japanese magazine Nikolist published “Suuji wa dokushin ni kaguru,” which means the numbers must remain single. This game included similar principles to the “Number Place” plus tweaks that affected its difficulty and visual appeal. 

In no time, the puzzle grew in popularity. It even gained a new name that combined the characters for the word number (Su) with the characters for the word single (Doku). The puzzle’s success occurred in part because the Japanese people could solve the numbers-based puzzles during long commutes. And numbers were easier to work into a grid, unlike crossword puzzles that were less compatible with the Japanese language.  

The World Expansion of Sudoku

Sudoku spread from Japan to the world thanks to Wayne Gould. While browsing a Tokyo bookstore in 1997, the retired judge from New Zealand discovered the game. He became a super fan and wrote a computer program that generated puzzles and rated their difficulty. 

Gould convinced The Times of London to publish a puzzle in 2004. Shortly after that, other newspapers, magazines and book publishers followed suit, including the Conway Daily Sun in New Hampshire. 

By 2006, the World Sudoku Championship began. The competition challenged individuals and national teams to complete the most difficult puzzles in the shortest time. 

Today, the game continues to evolve. For example, we can now play Sudoku online or through an app. And puzzle variations include colors, symbols, letters or words, designs like the jigsaw and the samurai, and numerous grid sizes.  

Why People Play Sudoku

From its origins as a mathematical formula, Sudoku has grown into a world phenomenon. It’s accessible to people of all ages, skill levels and nationalities. And the game appeals to our innate sense of order. It might even reduce stress and anxiety. Sudoku also stimulates our minds, which can boost our brain health, concentration and problem-solving skills. 

No matter where, when or why you play Sudoku, the game has come a long way. And its versions will continue to be around for years to come.

Crossword puzzles might be the most popular word game in the world. Doing a crossword puzzle can both stimulate and relax players. But where did the humble crossword originate? Let’s discover the history of this interesting game.  

The Origin of Crossword Puzzles

The first known crossword puzzles appeared in England during the 1800s. Known as word squares, these early puzzles featured basic content and designs. They were included in children’s puzzle books and magazines. 

Crossword Puzzles Evolve

In 1913, leaders at The New York World newspaper in the U.S. asked writer Arthur Wynne to create a new game for the FUN section. Loosely based on word squares, his word-cross creation was published in the December 21, 1913 edition. However, the name was transposed to cross-word a few weeks later. Eventually, the hyphen was dropped. 

Wynne also spent years updating the puzzle’s design. His original rendition incorporated a diamond shape with numbers in certain boxes and no black boxes. Eventually, his tweaks became the modern-day design with a large box, a horizontal and vertical rectangle shape, empty black squares, and numbered white squares. 

Meanwhile, other newspapers in the U.S. began publishing their own puzzles with varied shapes, sizes and accuracy. Front page banners invited readers to skip troubling headline news and proceed directly to the puzzle section. By 1924, crossword puzzle collections were introduced. Likewise, crossword-themed musicals, comic strips and clothing reflected the puzzle’s booming popularity. Librarians also reported an influx of world-be puzzlers searching dictionaries and encyclopedias for clue answers. 

A decade after its U.S. origins, the popular puzzle returned to Europe. The new craze was first published in either Pearson’s Magazine in February 1922 or the Sunday Express in 1925. British puzzle authors also customized the game. For example, D. S. Macnutt took a pen name and wrote governing rules for the Cryptic and Super Cryptic puzzles.

The crossword also continued to mature in the U.S., thanks partly to the New York Times, which published its first crossword on February 15, 1942. This paper’s decision-makers had previously refused to publish the primitive puzzle and assumed the trend would fizzle. Ironically, staff members experienced a change of heart after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They decided that solving puzzles would give readers a reprieve and distraction from tragic world events. However, publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger insisted on offering the best crossword in the nation. He hired veteran crossword editor Margaret Petherbridge Farrar to supervise the puzzle. Farrar instituted standard grids and the Sunday Breakfast Test that requires clues and answers to be appropriate for all players, trends that many future puzzle publishers adopted.  

The Crossword is Here to Stay

The humble crossword has indeed grown immensely over the years. Today, it’s a staple in many homes and provides hours of engaging entertainment. And here are more fun facts. 

*The inaugural American crossword puzzle tournament was held in Connecticut in 1978. Its organizer, 25-year-old puzzle maker Will Shortz, became the future editor of The New York Times puzzle and the unofficial crossword king. 

*The first online crossword was published on January 22, 1996. 

*Published on June 30, 2016, in Japan, the largest crossword puzzle included 66,666 clues. 

*Hugh Stephenson’s book Secrets of the Setters offers clues that help players untangle advanced-level puzzles.  

There are millions of people that play crossword puzzles, with many doing so on a daily basis. Crosswords are a fun way to pass time while also training your brain, after all. Often, though, we don’t think about the people who made the puzzles we enjoy so much. There are some names that are well-known because they’re part of our daily lives, however. Here are the five greatest crossword writers of all time and how they contributed to the world of crosswords.

5. Brendan Emmett Quigley

The first writer on the list is Brendan Emmett Quigley, who started making crosswords professionally while in his early twenties. Quigley was said to be a prodigy at crosswords from a young age and grew up idolizing some of the greats that he now shares this list with. Quigley has had his puzzles used in all of the major publications and helped crosswords become more mainstream with younger people.

After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, Quigley got his big break by having his puzzle featured in the New York Times and has since had his work featured around the world. Quigley runs his own website with crossword puzzles at varying levels of difficulty. Even at big tournaments, Quigley’s puzzles are used quite often.

4. David Steinberg

Some people are just born with the gift of creating great crossword puzzles, and that certainly applies to David Steinberg. The Philadelphia native was just 15 years old when he had a puzzle published in the Los Angeles Times, then went on to become the youngest editor for a major newspaper’s crossword when he joined the Orange County Register.

Steinberg had moved around the country while growing up before settling in California and has constructed crosswords for all of the major news sources in the United States. Steinberg took on the position of Puzzles and Games Editor with Andrews McMeel Universal, and his total crossword count is well into the hundreds.

3. Merl Reagle

Another crossword writer on the list to have developed an interest at a very young age is Merl Reagle, who started making his own at just six years old. Hailing from New Jersey, Reagle was able to get his first puzzle published at only 16 years old with The New York Times. Reagle was one of the biggest names in crosswords throughout the 1980s and 1990s, working for several large companies and organizing tournaments.

On top of that, Reagle was an avid musician and was part of a rock band in his earlier days. Reagle achieved mainstream success and was even featured on an episode of “The Simpsons” due to his popularity. Sadly, Reagle passed away at 65 years old in 2015 but left behind a long-lasting legacy in crosswords.

2. John Halpern

While a lot of the crossword writers that we focus on tend to be very formulaic and straightforward, John Halpern is a cryptic crossword writer. Known for his wittiness and puns, Halpern began making his crosswords while he was still a student who thought that the crossword writers at The Guardian were artificial intelligence. He went to work for the publication to find out they were indeed human.

Halpern has become a legend in England with crossword clues that are talked about at water coolers. After he was able to make his cryptic crossword writing a gig that he could live off of, he was able to put more time into them and they only became better. He became so popular that his crosswords were even given a show on British television.

1. Will Shortz

Of course, you can’t mention crossword writers without talking about the most famous of them all, Will Shortz. Shortz, an Indiana native, is seen as the gold standard in crossword writing, thus earning him the nickname of The Puzzlemaster. In 1993, he took over the crossword section of The New York Times where he became a household name.

Like Reagle, he received a lot of attention in the mainstream and was also on that episode of “The Simpsons” that we mentioned earlier. Shortz has appeared on many other television shows, as well, including “How I Met Your Mother”, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and more. All in all, Shortz has created over 10,000 crosswords with The New York Times.

Among the most popular games in the world, you’ll find crosswords, with an estimated 50 million people worldwide playing on a daily basis. It takes a lot of patience and a large vocabulary to nail a crossword puzzle. Because of this, there are many wondering if doing the daily crossword will make them smarter.

The answer, and the scientific research that goes along with it, may surprise you. Let’s take a look at crossword puzzles and how they’re linked to overall intelligence.

The Intelligence Quotient

When determining IQ (intelligence quotient), there are five scores that are taken into consideration. These are verbal comprehension, visual-spatial, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. Working on a crossword puzzle requires someone to use all of those IQ factors at once.

Research has shown that there are certain aspects of IQ that can be improved when doing crosswords. Working memory and processing speed typically require practice, and crosswords are a perfect way to make sure that you’re brain is staying active.

Crosswords and Aging

Many of the people that do crosswords on a daily basis tend to skew toward the older age bracket. While researchers were hopeful that games like crosswords would be able to slow down mental decline, they were able to find out that these games made it easier to cope with illnesses such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.

James Pickett of the United Kingdom Alzheimer’s Society said that “Although playing ‘brain games’…may not prevent dementia, it has been shown that regularly challenging yourself mentally seems to build up the brain’s ability to cope with (the) disease.” However, there was another study released a few years after Pickett’s that said that there was a link between crosswords and brain age.

What About Intelligence?

Keith Wesnes, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Exter Medical School, said that “We found direct relationships between the frequency of word puzzle use and the speed and accuracy of performance on nine cognitive tasks assessing a range of aspects of function including attention, reasoning, and memory.”

Wesnes added that “Performance was consistently better in those who reported engaging in puzzles, and generally improved incrementally with the frequency of puzzle use.” While he said it would take some time to prove how the crossword puzzles improve these skills, those that played the puzzles each day were likely to have younger brain ages.

Another study that was spearheaded by Tiffany Hughes and Chung-Chou Chang stated that “A lower risk of dementia was found for a greater number of activities and for a high compared with low weekly time commitment,” which included crossword puzzles. Their conclusion was that crosswords and related activities for one hour each day might be protective against dementia in late life.

Scores Don’t Lie

Those that participate at an elite level in crosswords and games like Scrabble are shown to have high-functioning cognitive abilities. One study took people who were nationally ranked in these games and compared their cognitive function to college students who scored an elite level of over 700 on quantitative and verbal SAT tests.

While there wasn’t a major difference, the crossword players did tend to score the highest in cognitive ability. This meant that the smartest crossword players were achieving the same in reading and writing as those with SAT scores that were good enough to get into Ivy League schools like Harvard or Yale.

Summary

At the end of the day, it wouldn’t be right to say that doing a crossword puzzle every day is certain to increase your intelligence, it is safe to say that it won’t hurt. In fact, the link between crosswords and improved cognitive ability shows that simply doing one puzzle daily leads to a lot of mental health benefits that are too good to pass up.

Even the great Carol Burnett has said “I do the New York Times crossword puzzle every morning to keep the old grey matter ticking.”