The Daily Edition
Certificate · the day's word, fully paid
The Lexicon
One hidden word. Six chances.
Edition #11
How it is played
The Lexicon is the paper's word column. One word is set in type each midnight and withheld; you have six attempts to name it.
Every attempt is printed back to you marked: a letter standing in its true position, a letter that belongs in the word but is set elsewhere, and a letter that is not in the word at all. Six lines of that is usually enough to corner any word.
The length changes with the day — anywhere from three letters to eight — and the paper tells you which length you are working in before you begin. Nothing is timed. Nothing is scored against anyone but your own record.
Questions from readers
- When does a new puzzle come out?
- A new word is typeset every midnight, in the paper's own timezone. The day's word closes when the next edition goes to press.
- Is it free to play?
- Yes. Every game in The Daily Edition is free, there is nothing to buy, and there are no advertisements.
- Do I need an account?
- No. Your record and streak are kept by your own browser. You are never asked for a name or an address.
- Can I play past puzzles?
- Not by default — the paper is a daily, and an edition stands for its day. If you miss one, tomorrow's is waiting.
- How is this different from other daily word games?
- The word length is not fixed: some days it is three letters, some days eight. It sits in a newspaper alongside two other columns, so the whole edition is a few minutes of reading rather than one puzzle in isolation.
- What is a good opening word?
- One that spends its six letters on different sounds rather than repeating any — a first line that tests as many common letters as possible tells you the most. After that, believe the marks: a gold letter is worth more than a fresh guess.