What is Guardian Quick Crossword?
The Guardian is famous for its fiendish cryptic crossword, but its Quick Crossword is the friendly sibling. The clues are plain definitions, so 'Big cat' simply means LION or TIGER, and there are no hidden anagrams or wordplay to decode. That makes it a good daily habit for anyone who likes the idea of a proper newspaper crossword without the steep learning curve of cryptics. The grid is a full-sized British-style crossword, larger than a mini, so it takes a little longer, but most solvers finish it over a cup of tea. Because it is a British puzzle, expect British spellings and the occasional UK reference, which can be a pleasant change for solvers used to American grids. It is free on The Guardian's website, where each puzzle is numbered and older ones can be found in the archive. It suits crossword fans in Europe and anyone curious about how British puzzles differ from American ones.
How to play
- Click a square or a clue and type your answer.
- Every clue is a straightforward definition. No cryptic wordplay.
- Fill the whole grid. You can check or reveal letters if you get stuck.
Quick facts
- Typical time
- 10–20 min
- Difficulty
- Easy–medium
- Price
- Free to play on The Guardian's website.
- Account
- Not needed.
- Past puzzles
- Free. Every puzzle is numbered, and older ones stay on the site.
- On a phone
- Works in your phone's browser.
- Grid
- 13×13 squares, in the British style.
- Help
- You can check or reveal a letter or a whole word when you're stuck.
Tips to get better
- Expect British spellings. COLOUR, not COLOR. If your answer is one letter too short, try spelling it the British way.
- Use the numbers in brackets. Every clue ends with the length of its answer, such as (7), or (3,4) for two words. A two-word answer is much easier once you know where the gap goes.
- Don't count on the crossings. In a British grid only about half the letters of each word cross another word. Sometimes you simply have to know the answer, so start with the clues you're sure of.
- Run through synonyms. The clues are short definitions, so the job is finding the synonym with the right number of letters. Big, large, huge, vast: one of them will fit.
- Check before you reveal. If you're stuck, checking a word tells you whether your guess is wrong without giving the answer away.
Who it's for
A lovely daily habit if you want a real newspaper crossword without learning cryptic rules. It's free, there's no timer, and it's about the right size for a cup of tea. American solvers may stumble on British words and place names. If you want wit and trickery you'll find the clues plain, which is exactly the point.
