Crosswords are a well-known, traditional English word game popularly played across the English-speaking world. Here are just a few tips on how to play them most effectively.

• There are two types of boxes in crosswords, black and white. You only need to fill in each white box with a letter. The black boxes can be ignored.
• Read the English clues and find the words that you are certain about before searching for other words.
• Be brave and imaginative; guess possible words using the shared letters you have already filled in.
• Try to make use of any associations to complete the gaps that you have left, or have discussion with friends.