Home/Guides/Technique Technique Ways of working a grid that do not depend on knowing more words: order of attack, pattern reading, and what to do with a wrong answer. AllBeginnersTechniqueCrypticReference 3 guides TechniqueSolve the crossings first: a working order for any gridA five-step working order for any crossword: read everything first, take the long entries early, finish your densest corner, and doubt the answer you trust most.5 min TechniqueReading the enumeration before the clueThe numbers in brackets rule out more wrong answers than any definition does. How to read word breaks, hyphens and letter counts before you read the clue.5 min TechniquePencil discipline: why your wrong answer is the blockageA stalled corner usually holds one confident error. A drill for finding it fast, and a standard for deciding which answers have earned a letter in the grid.5 min