How to Play Word Whiz
Everything you need to start finding words, scoring big, and beating the clock.
Download PDF GuideStarting a Round
When you launch Word Whiz you land on the main game screen. The grid area is empty until you shake. Hit Shake (or press Alt + S) to roll the dice and fill the board with letters. A new random arrangement appears every time.
Word Whiz Basic gives you a 4×4 grid. With Word Whiz Pro you can also play on 5×5 and 6×6 grids for a bigger challenge and more possible words.
Finding Words
Chain Adjacent Tiles
Spell a word by chaining tiles that are next to each other — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Each tile in a word must share an edge or corner with the previous tile. You cannot reuse a tile within a single word.
Type or Click
You can enter a word two ways: type the letters directly in the word box, or click the tiles on the board in order. As you build the word your chosen path is highlighted on the grid so you can see exactly which tiles you have used.
Submit Your Word
Press Enter or click the Submit button to validate your word. If the word is valid and meets the minimum length for your difficulty setting, your score increases and the word is added to your found-words list. Invalid or already-found words are rejected without penalty.
Beat the Clock
The timer counts down from 3 minutes in Basic. When it reaches zero the round ends automatically and the results screen appears. You can also end the round yourself at any time using the End Round button. A blinking countdown warns you when 10 seconds remain.
Difficulty Levels
Difficulty controls the minimum word length. Shorter minimums mean more valid words and a higher total possible score; longer minimums make the game more challenging.
| Difficulty | Minimum Word Length | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 3 letters | Basic & Pro |
| Medium | 4 letters | Pro only |
| Hard | 5 letters | Pro only |
How Scoring Works
Longer words earn more points. Short words score 1 point; an 8-letter word earns 11. Focus on longer words to maximise your score in the time available.
| Word Length | Points |
|---|---|
| 3–4 letters | 1 pt |
| 5 letters | 2 pts |
| 6 letters | 3 pts |
| 7 letters | 5 pts |
| 8+ letters | 11 pts |
After each round the results screen shows every word the board contained — including words you missed. Use this to learn new words and improve your score next time.
Timer Options
In Basic, the timer is always on and fixed at 3 minutes. You cannot change or disable it.
With Pro you have full control: choose 1, 2, 3, 5, or 10 minutes, or switch the timer off entirely for a relaxed, untimed session. A blinking countdown appears in the final 10 seconds to alert you that time is nearly up.
Choosing Your Dictionary
Word Whiz validates words against the dictionaries you have selected. A word only needs to appear in one of your active dictionaries to be accepted, so combining dictionaries increases the number of valid words on any board.
Free with Basic
English – US
American English spellings and vocabulary
English – British
British English spellings and vocabulary
English – Australian
Australian English spellings and vocabulary
English – Canadian
Canadian English spellings and vocabulary
Included with Pro $4.99 one-time
Historical English
Old English, Middle English, and archaic vocabulary
Technology
Computing and internet vocabulary
Medical
93,000+ clinical and anatomical terms
Legal
Judicial and jurisprudence vocabulary
Bible
31,000+ unique words from KJV, ASV, and World English Bible
Classic Word Rules
Classic Word Rules follow standard competitive word-game conventions. When enabled, the following are not accepted regardless of whether they appear in a dictionary:
- Proper nouns (names, places, brands)
- Abbreviations
- Hyphenated words
- Contractions (e.g. don't, it's)
In Basic, Classic Word Rules are always on and cannot be disabled. In Pro you can toggle Classic Word Rules off to allow a broader range of words from your selected dictionaries.
Word Definitions
When you find a word, Word Whiz can look up and display its definition using third-party public APIs (Free Dictionary API, Wiktionary, and Datamuse). This requires an internet connection. The definition appears alongside your found-words list so you can learn as you play.
Custom Grid Builder
Word Whiz Pro includes a Custom Grid Builder that lets you design your own letter arrangements. You can:
- Enter any letters you choose into the grid cells
- Save up to 20 custom grids for later use
- Load any saved grid to start a round with that exact layout
- Replay any completed grid to try to beat your previous score
Custom grids are stored locally on your device. They are never uploaded to InnoVadens servers.
Print & Export
With Pro you can print or export a round summary to PDF. The output includes:
- The letter grid
- Your list of found words and your score
- All possible words the board contained (optional)
- The round settings (dictionary, difficulty, timer)
Tips for Higher Scores
Hunt for Long Words First
An 8-letter word scores 11 points — as much as eleven 3-letter words. Scan for long chains before the clock pressure builds.
Work Outward from High-Value Letters
Letters like Q, X, and Z appear rarely but anchor unusual words. Find them on the board early and explore what chains are possible from them.
Use the Post-Round Word List
After every round Word Whiz shows all the words you missed. Study these to expand your vocabulary and recognise those patterns on future boards.
Try Multiple Dictionaries
Combining the four free regional dictionaries increases the set of accepted words on every board. Words valid in any selected dictionary count, so you will miss fewer valid words.