How to Solve the WSJ Crossword: A Beginner’s Guide
The Wall Street Journal Crossword has a reputation for being elegant, witty, and just hard enough to be satisfying. If you’re staring at an empty grid wondering where to begin, you’re in exactly the right place. This guide walks you through the habits that turn a blank puzzle into a finished one.
1. Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues
Fill-in-the-blank clues (“___ and void”) are the fastest points on the board because they trigger a phrase almost automatically. Sweep the clue list for every blank first, pencil in what you’re sure of, and you’ll have footholds all over the grid before you’ve done any real thinking.
2. Trust the short, common answers
Three- and four-letter answers repeat constantly in crosswords. Words like ERA, OREO, ALOE and ETUI show up so often they have a nickname — crosswordese. Learning a couple dozen of these gives you free letters that crack open the longer answers crossing them.
3. Let the crossings do the work
You almost never need to know an answer cold. Every square belongs to two words, so a clue you can’t get from the Across may fall out of the Down. When you’re stuck, stop staring at one clue and work the squares around it instead.
4. Read the clue’s grammar carefully
A clue and its answer always match in tense and part of speech. A clue ending in “-ing” wants an “-ing” answer; an abbreviated clue (“Mil. address”) wants an abbreviated answer (APO). Those small signals are gold — we cover them in detail in crossword abbreviations.
5. Watch for the question mark
A question mark at the end of a clue means the wordplay is being playful. “Wild party?” isn’t about parties — it’s a pun. Don’t take those clues literally; look for the double meaning.
6. Know that difficulty climbs through the week
The WSJ puzzle runs Monday through Saturday, and it gets tougher as the week goes on, peaking with the Friday contest puzzle. If you’re starting out, begin with early-week grids. We break this down in why crosswords get harder through the week.
Above all, don’t be afraid to check yourself. If you’re stuck on a single entry, you can look it up on our home page — we publish today’s WSJ Crossword answers every day, clue by clue, so you can confirm one square without spoiling the rest of the grid. Ready for more speed? Read 10 tips to solve crosswords faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should a beginner start in a crossword?
Start with fill-in-the-blank clues and short, common answers, then use the crossing letters to unlock longer entries. Working the crossings is the single most important beginner habit.
Is the WSJ Crossword good for beginners?
Yes — especially early in the week. Monday and Tuesday WSJ puzzles are approachable, and difficulty builds toward the Friday contest puzzle. See how difficulty changes by day.
What does a question mark in a clue mean?
It signals wordplay or a pun. The answer relies on a second, playful meaning rather than the literal definition.
