A short history of word search
Word search puzzles are so familiar that it is easy to forget they are fairly young. They became popular only in the late 1960s.
A puzzle from Oklahoma
The word search as we know it is usually credited to Norman E. Gibat, who published one in the Selenby Digest, a small advertising paper in Norman, Oklahoma, on March 1, 1968. Readers liked it so much that teachers asked for copies to use in class, and the idea quickly spread.
Other early makers
Similar puzzles were being made elsewhere at about the same time. In Spain, the puzzle writer Pedro Ocón de Oro is often mentioned as an early creator of the "sopa de letras" — "letter soup," as the puzzle is called in Spanish.
Many names
Around the world the same puzzle goes by many names: word find, word seek, word sleuth, mystery word and more. Puzzle books devoted entirely to word searches became a staple of newsstands, supermarkets and waiting rooms.
In the classroom
Teachers have used word searches for decades to introduce new vocabulary and spelling in a relaxed way. Finding a word requires paying close attention to the order of its letters, which helps reinforce spelling.
Why people enjoy them
Word searches are gentle: there are no trick clues and no wrong answers to write in. Each word found gives a small moment of satisfaction, which makes the puzzle a pleasant way to unwind.
Calm Word Search
Calm Word Search brings the classic puzzle to your phone, tablet or computer with big letters, 24 friendly themes, two levels, and a choice of sliding or tapping to select words. There is no timer, and a new daily puzzle appears every day.
Learn the basics in how to play, or read our tips.