Halfway through a puzzle you often know a few letters but not their order — the classic "words with these letters" problem. Here's how to generate candidates quickly in your head instead of guessing at random.
Anchor the vowels first
Vowels define a word's shape. If you know there's an A and an E, try them in the most common slots — A early, E late — and build consonants around them. Most five-letter words follow a handful of vowel patterns.
Lean on common endings
- -ER, -LE, -ED and -ING endings cover a huge number of words
- -GHT clusters (LIGHT, NIGHT, FIGHT) are worth checking when you have a T
- Double letters (-LL, -SS, -EE) catch people out — test them deliberately
Work the prefixes
If your known letters could begin a word, run through frequent starts: ST-, CR-, PL-, TR-, BR-, SH-. Pairing a likely prefix with a likely ending often leaves only one or two words standing.
Let the clues prune the list
Every confirmed position and every ruled-out letter removes candidates. Say the surviving words out loud and cross off any that break a clue — what remains is usually your answer.
