What Is a Spangram?

If you've played a daily themed word puzzle, you've met the spangram – the word that ties the whole board together.

The short answer

A spangram is the special word in a themed word search that describes the theme of the whole puzzle and spans the board from one edge to the opposite edge. The name blends “span” (it stretches across) and “-gram” (a written word).

The rules

It names or sums up the theme – for example PLANETS for a board hiding MARS, VENUS and SATURN.
It touches two opposite sides: left and right, or top and bottom.
It's usually one of the longest words on the board and can be two or more words run together, like PICNICTIME.
Like every word, it bends through touching letters and never reuses a letter.

Why find it first?

Because it runs edge to edge, the spangram splits the board into regions. Once it's placed, the remaining letters form smaller pockets, and the theme words hiding in them become much easier to see.

Spangram examples

Spangram tips

Look along the edges for the first and last letters of a long word.
Re-read the clue: the spangram often restates it plainly.
Check common endings such as -S, -ING and -ER near an edge.

Questions

Is the spangram always the longest word?

Usually but not always. It has to reach both sides of the board, so it's rarely short.

Can the spangram be more than one word?

Yes – phrases are written without spaces, like SNOWDAY or GARDENPARTY.

Do all themed word searches have a spangram?

In Lasso every board has exactly one spangram, and it's highlighted in yellow when you find it.

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