Vowels tips and strategy
With only four consonants, the words are hiding in the vowels. These habits help you find them.
1. Look for the pangram first
A pangram is worth at least 12 points, often 14 or more, as much as a dozen short words. Say the four consonants in different orders and fill the gaps with vowels: with M, B, L and V, try M_V_B_L_ and you get MOVABLE.
2. Try every vowel in each gap
Once you have a frame of consonants, run through the vowels: L_N_ gives LANE, LINE, LONE… Do the same at the start and end of words: an E at the end or an A at the front often makes a new word.
3. Double the consonants
Consonants can repeat. Look for doubled letters (-LL-, -MM-, -BB-) and for words that repeat a syllable, such as BAMBOO or MAMMAL.
4. Use vowel pairs
EA, OO, EE, IE and OU hide many words: BEAM, BOOM, MOOD, LIEU. And remember Y: it works as a vowel here, so LYNX and MYTH count when their consonants fit.
5. Go letter by letter
Take the first consonant and try every word that starts with it, then words that start with a vowel. The Hints in the game show how many words begin with each letter and each two-letter pair. The answers page shows the same grid for today without giving the words away.
6. Practise
Unlimited lets you play as many puzzles as you want, and the daily Skeleton trains exactly the skill this game needs: seeing words through their consonants. When you really can't go on, the solver lists every word, hidden until you tap it.
Frequently asked questions
How many words do I need for Genius?
Genius is 85% of the possible score, so it depends on the puzzle. Pangrams and long words count for much more than four-letter words, so you rarely need every word.
Are the answers the same for everyone?
Yes. Everyone plays the same daily puzzle and the same word list, so you can compare scores with friends.