Treat the word bank as the source list
Begin before you open the generator. Make one approved source list for the activity, then compare every planned entry against it character by character. The word bank is the participant’s contract: if it says “Maya Angelou,” the puzzle should lead to that name, not a memory-based variation such as “Maya Angelouu.” Wordplay Press accepts 3–16 entries. Its Latin-alphabet entries are normalized after spaces are removed, so each one needs 3–18 letters in that form. “Blue whale” therefore needs checking as BLUEWHALE, not as two short words.
Use the right source for each spelling
For an ordinary English word, consult an established dictionary and choose the spelling that fits the language of your activity. Proper names deserve a more specific check. A person, community organization, school, collection, or brand is best checked against that person’s or institution’s own current materials. For U.S. natural features, the U.S. Geological Survey describes GNIS as the federal and national standard for geographic nomenclature; it also records official and alternate spellings. [2] Library of Congress Authorities is another useful reference point for established headings for people, organizations, places, and meetings, though it should not replace a living institution’s own preferred name. [3] For example, verify “Fannie Lou Hamer” from a reliable named source before adding it; do not silently shorten it because the grid looks crowded.
Decide how accents and scripts will appear
Keep the source spelling and the grid spelling distinct when needed. A diacritic is a mark added to a letter in some languages to signal pronunciation, and such marks can be integral to spelling in those languages. [1] Record the source forms “José Martí” and “São Paulo” in your planning list, then expect Wordplay Press to remove accents in the Latin-letter grid: JOSEMARTI and SAOPAULO. Make that convention clear in any clue or introduction so solvers are not asked to guess. Spanish and French interface choices apply to selected prepared translated themes; they do not turn every custom list into a translation. Unsupported writing systems are not automatically transliterated. Use a Latin-script form supplied by the relevant primary institution or select a different activity format rather than inventing a conversion.
Check length, duplicates, and grid fit early
Count letters after removing spaces before you build. A 19-letter entry cannot be made acceptable by shrinking the page, while a long approved name may call for a larger grid or a shorter, source-supported form. Choose among 10, 12, 14, and 16-square grids; the builder can enlarge to 18 when needed. Place short words on a 10 or 12 grid and give longer names room. Remove accidental duplicates, including entries that become identical after accents and spaces are normalized. “Café” and “Cafe” would both point to CAFE in the grid, so decide whether one intended term is enough. Do not rely on a repeated hidden string to represent two separate answers. With up to 16 words, the builder is designed not to intentionally drop an entry, but the final word bank, grid, and key still need comparison.
Regenerate after every real edit
Build only after the list is settled, then treat a spelling, punctuation, name, or difficulty change as a new puzzle version. In Wordplay Press, click Generate to apply edits. Refresh grid merely rearranges the current words; it is useful when you want a different layout, not when you changed the list. Select difficulty deliberately: Easy uses forward horizontal and vertical placements, Medium adds diagonals, and Hard also permits reverse words. Write the setting on your working copy. If you replace “otter” with “otters,” generate again and verify OTTERS in the new grid and key. Keeping an old PDF beside a newly changed list is a common way to distribute mismatched material.
Compare the bank, grid, and key separately
Use a three-part check rather than scanning the page generally. First read every visible word-bank entry against the approved list. Next, trace each one in the grid and confirm every letter in its actual direction. Finally, trace the same entry in the answer key. Work one word at a time and mark it off on your source list. This catches a bank spelling that looks right at a glance but differs from the placed string, as well as a key from an earlier version. For example, if the bank says “OTTERS,” look for six consecutive letters, not the shorter OTTER inside it. On Hard, also read reversed paths in the correct direction. Avoid calling a plausible accidental letter run an answer unless it corresponds to an entry in the bank and key.
Fix failures with the constraint in mind
When a word does not appear as expected, diagnose the input before changing the design. Check whether it has fewer than three or more than 18 letters after spaces are removed, whether an accented version normalized to the same letters as another entry, and whether you clicked Generate after editing. If the list is valid but crowded, enlarge the grid up to 18, reduce the number of words, or choose a concise term that your approved source actually supports. Do not add extra letters, compress a name into an unexplained abbreviation, or imply the layout has been independently reviewed. The English spelling aid can help spot some issues, but it is limited and is not a full spellcheck. Source-check names and specialized vocabulary yourself.
Proof the two-page PDF before sharing it
The Wordplay Press PDF places the puzzle first and the key second. Download it in the browser and inspect page one at the intended print scale: confirm that the title, directions, word bank, and outer grid are all readable and that no page edge clips them. Then inspect page two against the final grid. If participants should not receive the key, use print range 1 rather than handing out the complete two-page document. There is no PDF font-size control, so solve cramped output by simplifying the list, selecting a roomier grid, or choosing an easier arrangement—not by assuming a printer will repair it. A single test print is especially useful before preparing many copies for a meeting or activity table.
Keep a recoverable custom-list record
A custom word list carries the responsibility for the terms it presents, especially for personal names, heritage topics, local places, and language forms. Keep the approved list, its source links or notes, the chosen difficulty, and the downloaded final PDF together. Wordplay Press is browser-based and has no account requirement. Its history is stored locally, and favorites can reopen the exact grid, but clearing browser data can remove that record. Save the PDF and list somewhere separate if you may need them again. The original language is preserved in history, which helps when you maintain versions. For names-and-heritage activities, the site’s heritage guide and help pages can support planning, while the final responsibility for a suitable, accurately sourced custom list remains with the organizer.
Sources and further reading
- [1] A Guide to Deciphering Diacritics
Supports the explanation that diacritics are marks on letters that can indicate pronunciation and may be integral to spelling in other languages.
- [2] Geographic Names Information System
Supports the recommendation to use GNIS for U.S. natural-feature names and the statement that it is the federal and national standard for geographic nomenclature.
- [3] Library of Congress Authorities
Supports the description of available authority headings for personal, corporate, geographic, and meeting names.
Put the idea into practice
Open the puzzle studio, choose a printable theme, or return to all guides. Review your word list and answer key before sharing a worksheet.