The Bogglers

Saturday 14 June 2008

OUT- words Part 2

This is the concluding part of our list of SOWPODS OUT- words.

Over 8 letters
OUTMUSCLE(D/S/ING)
OUTNUMBER(ED/S/ING)
OUTOFFICE(S)
OUTORGANISE(D/S/ING)
OUTORGANIZE(D/S/ING)
OUTPASSION(ED/S/ING)
OUTPATIENT(S)
OUTPEOPLE(D/S/ING)
OUTPERFORM(ED/S/ING)
OUTPITIED
OUTPITIES
OUTPLACEMENT(S)
OUTPOLITICK(ED/S/ING)
OUTPOPULATE(D/S/ING)
OUTPREACH(ED/S/ING)
OUTPRODUCE(D/S/ING)
OUTPROMISE(D/S/ING)
OUTPURSUE(D/S/ING)
OUTQUARTERS
OUTRAGEOUS(LY/NESS)
OUTREASON(ED/S/ING)
OUTREBOUND(ED/S/ING)
OUTRECKON(ED/S/ING)
OUTRECUIDANCE(S)
OUTREDDEN(ED/S/ING)
OUTRELIEF(S)
OUTREPRODUCE(D/S/ING)
OUTRIDDEN
OUTSCHEME(D/S/ING)
OUTSCREAM(ED/S/ING)
OUTSETTLEMENT(S)
OUTSIDERNESS(ES)
OUTSOURCE(D/S/ING[S])
OUTSPARKLE(D/S/ING)
OUTSPECKLE(S)
OUTSPOKENNESS(ES)
OUTSPRANG
OUTSPREAD(S/ING)
OUTSPRING(S/ING)
OUTSPRINT(ED/S/ING)
OUTSPRUNG
OUTSTATION(S)
OUTSTRAIN(ED/S/ING)
OUTSTRETCH(ED/ES/ING)
OUTSTRIDDEN
OUTSTRIDE(S/ING)
OUTSTRIKE(S/ING)
OUTSTRIVE(N/S/ING)
OUTSTRODE
OUTSTROKE(S)
OUTSTROVE
OUTSTRUCK
OUTSTUDIED
OUTSTUDIES
OUTSWEETEN(ED/S/ING)
OUTSWOLLEN
OUTTHIEVE(D/S/ING)
OUTTHOUGHT
OUTTHRUST(ED/S/ING)
OUTTONGUE(D/S/ING)
OUTTRAVEL([L]ED/S/[L]ING)
OUTVILLAIN(ED/S/ING)
OUTWARDNESS(ES)
OUTWEARIED
OUTWEARIES
OUTWRESTLE(D/S/ING)
OUTWROUGHT

8 letters
OUTNIGHT(ED/S/ING)
OUTPAINT(ED/S/ING)
OUTPITCH(ED/S/ING)
OUTPLACE(D/R[S]/S/ING)
OUTPOINT(ED/S/ING)
OUTPOWER(ED/S/ING)
OUTPREEN(ED/S/ING)
OUTPRESS(ED/ES/ING)
OUTPRICE(D/S/ING)
OUTPRIZE(D/S/ING)
OUTPUNCH(ED/ES/ING)
OUTPUPIL(S)
OUTQUOTE(D/S/ING)
OUTRANCE(S)
OUTRANGE(D/S/ING)
OUTRAISE(D/S/ING)
OUTREACH(ED/ES/ING)
OUTREIGN(ED/S/ING)
OUTREMER(S)
OUTRIGHT(LY)
OUTRIVAL([L]ED/S/[L]ING)
OUTSAVOR(ED/S/ING)
OUTSCOLD(ED/S/ING)
OUTSCOOP(ED/S/ING)
OUTSCORE(D/S/ING)
OUTSCORN(ED/S/ING)
OUTSERVE(D/S/ING)
OUTSHAME(D/S/ING)
OUTSHINE(D/S/ING)
OUTSHONE
OUTSHOOT(S/ING)
OUTSHOUT(ED/S/ING)
OUTSIGHT(S)
OUTSKATE(D/S/ING)
OUTSKIRT(S)
OUTSLEEP(S/ING)
OUTSLEPT
OUTSLICK(ED/S/ING)
OUTSMART(ED/S/ING)
OUTSMELL(ED/S/ING)
OUTSMELT
OUTSMILE(D/S/ING)
OUTSMOKE(D/S/ING)
OUTSNORE(D/S/ING)
OUTSPEAK(S/ING)
OUTSPEED(ED/S/ING)
OUTSPELL(ED/S/ING)
OUTSPELT
OUTSPEND(S/ING)
OUTSPENT
OUTSPOKE(N[LY])
OUTSPORT(ED/S/ING)
OUTSTAND(S/ING[LY])
OUTSTARE(D/S/ING)
OUTSTART(ED/S/ING)
OUTSTATE(D/S/ING)
OUTSTEER(ED/S/ING)
OUTSTOOD
OUTSTRIP(ED/S/ING)
OUTSTUDY(ING)
OUTSTUNT(ED/S/ING)
OUTSWARE
OUTSWEAR(S/ING)
OUTSWEEP(S/ING)
OUTSWELL(ED/S/ING)
OUTSWEPT
OUTSWING(ER[S]/S/ING)
OUTSWORE
OUTSWORN
OUTSWUM
OUTSWUNG
OUTTHANK(ED/S/ING)
OUTTHINK(S/ING)
OUTTHREW
OUTTHROB(ED/S/ING)
OUTTHROW(N/S/ING)
OUTTOWER(ED/S/ING)
OUTTRADE(D/S/ING)
OUTTRICK(ED/S/ING)
OUTTRUMP(ED/S/ING)
OUTVALUE(D/S/ING)
OUTVAUNT(ED/S/ING)
OUTVENOM(ED/S/ING)
OUTVOICE(D/S/ING)
OUTVYING
OUTWASTE(D/S/ING)
OUTWATCH(ED/ES/ING)
OUTWEARY(ING)
OUTWEIGH(ED/S/ING)
OUTWHIRL(ED/S/ING)
OUTWORTH(ED/S/ING)
OUTWOUND
OUTWREST(ED/S/ING)
OUTWRITE(S/ING)
OUTWROTE
OUTYIELD(ED/S/ING)

7 letters
OUTMOST
OUTMOVE(D/S/ING)
OUTNAME(D/S/ING)
OUTNESS(ES)
OUTPACE(D/S/ING)
OUTPART(S)
OUTPASS(ED/S/ING)
OUTPEEP(ED/S/ING)
OUTPEER(ED/S/ING)
OUTPITY(ING)
OUTPLAN(ED/S/ING)
OUTPLAY(ED/S/ING)
OUTPLOD(ED/S/ING)
OUTPLOT(ED/S/ING)
OUTPOLL(ED/S/ING)
OUTPORT(ER[S]/S)
OUTPOST(S)
OUTPOUR(ED/ER[S]/S/ING[S])
OUTPRAY(ED/S/ING)
OUTPULL(ED/S/ING)
OUTPUSH(ED/ES/ING)
OUTRACE(D/S/ING)
OUTRAGE(D/S/ING)
OUTRANG
OUTRANK(ED/S/ING)
OUTRATE(D/S/ING)
OUTRAVE(D/S/ING)
OUTREAD(S/ING)
OUTRIDE(R[S]/S/ING)
OUTRING(S/ING)
OUTROAR(ED/S/ING)
OUTROCK(ED/S/ING)
OUTRODE
OUTROLL(ED/S/ING)
OUTROOP(ER[S]/S)
OUTROOT(ED/S/ING)
OUTROPE(R[S]/S)
OUTRUNG
OUTRUSH(ED/ES/ING)
OUTSAID
OUTSAIL(ED/S/ING)
OUTSANG
OUTSELL(S/ING)
OUTSERT(S)
OUTSHOT(S)
OUTSIDE(R[S]/S)
OUTSING(S/ING)
OUTSIZE(D/S)
OUTSOAR(ED/S/ING)
OUTSOLD
OUTSOLE(S)
OUTSPAN(ED/S/ING)
OUTSPED
OUTSTAY(ED/S/ING)
OUTSTEP(ED/S/ING)
OUTSULK(ED/S/ING)
OUTSUNG
OUTSWAM
OUTSWIM(S/ING)
OUTTAKE(N/S/ING)
OUTTALK(ED/S/ING)
OUTTASK(ED/S/ING)
OUTTELL(S/ING)
OUTTOLD
OUTTOOK
OUTTROT(ED/S/ING)
OUTTURN(S)
OUTVOTE(D/R[S]/S/ING)
OUTWAIT(ED/S/ING)
OUTWALK(ED/S/ING)
OUTWARD(LY/S)
OUTWASH(ES)
OUTWEAR(S/ING)
OUTWEED(ED/S/ING)
OUTWEEP(S/ING)
OUTWELL(ED/S/ING)
OUTWENT
OUTWEPT
OUTWICK(ED/S/ING)
OUTWILE(D/S/ING)
OUTWILL(ED/S/ING)
OUTWIN(S/ING)
OUTWIND(ED/S/ING)
OUTWING(ED/S/ING)
OUTWISH(ED/ES/ING)
OUTWITH
OUTWORE
OUTWORK(ED/ER[S]/S/ING)
OUTWORN
OUTWRIT(TEN)
OUTYELL(ED/S/ING)
OUTYELP(ED/S/ING)

6 letters
OUTPUT(S/ED/ING)
OUTRAN
OUTRED(ED/S/ING)
OUTRIG(ED/ER[S]/S/ING)
OUTROW(ED/S/ING)
OUTRUN(ER[S]/S/ING)
OUTSAT
OUTSAW
OUTSAY(S/ING)
OUTSEE(N/S/ING)
OUTSET(S/ING[S])
OUTSIN(ED/S/ING)
OUTSIT(S/ING)
OUTSUM(ED/S/ING)
OUTTOP(ED/S/ING)
OUTVIE(D/S)
OUTWAR(ED/S/ING)
OUTWIT(ED/S/ING)
OUTWON

5 letters
OUTRO(S)

Thursday 5 June 2008

OUT- words Part 1

Definition for the Day: 'Outfangthief', from the archaic 'utfangtheof': the right of ancient lords to summon any within their demenses who had committed crimes outside of their limits to judgment at their courts. Infangthief (from 'infangtheof' or 'infangennetheof' was the right to call those accused of crimes within the demense to judgment). Some of you may remember the term from the following poem from W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman's 1066 And All That:

Beoleopard
or
The Witan's Whail

Whan Cnut Cyng the Witan wold enfeoff
Of infangthief and outfangthief
Wonderlich were they enwraged
And wordwar waged
Sware Cnut great scot and lot
Swinge wold ich this illbegotten lot.

Wroth was Cnut and wrothword spake.
Well wold he win at wopantake.
Fain wold he brake frith and cracke heads
And than they shold worshippe his redes.

Swinged Cnut Cyng with swung sword
Howled Witane helle but hearkened his word
Murie sang Quit Cyng
Outfangthief is Damgudthyng.

As mentioned in the previous post, learning compound words is one of the best ways in which to begin to raise your game up to the next level, and OUT- words are one of the best places to start. OUT- comes up fairly regularly and it can take many different endings. The little effort expended in learning the most common of these and keeping one's eyes peeled when OUT appears on a board can reap huge dividends. The following is the first part of my comprehensive list of SOWPODS OUT- words.

Over 8 letters
OUTACHIEVE(S/D/ING)
OUTASIGHT
OUTBALANCE(S/D/ING)
OUTBARGAIN(S/ED/ING)
OUTBLUSTER(S/ED/ING)
OUTBOUGHT
OUTBRAZEN(S/ED/ING)
OUTBREATHE(S/D/ING)
OUTBULLIED
OUTBULLIES
OUTCAUGHT
OUTCHARGE(S/D/ING)
OUTCITIES
OUTCOMPETE(S/D/ING)
OUTCRAFTIED
OUTCRAFTIES
OUTCRAFTY(ING)
OUTDACIOUS
OUTDATEDNESS(ES)
OUTDAZZLE(S/D/ING)
OUTDEBATE(S/D/ING)
OUTDELIVER(S/ED/ING)
OUTDESIGN(S/ED/ING)
OUTDISTANCE(S/D/ING)
OUTDOORSMAN(SHIP)
OUTDOORSMEN
OUTERCOAT(S)
OUTERCOURSE(S)
OUTERMOST
OUTERWEAR(S)
OUTFANGTHIEF
OUTFANGTHIEVES
OUTFIGURE(S/D/ING)
OUTFOUGHT
OUTFUMBLE(S/D/ING)
OUTGALLOP(S/ED/ING)
OUTGAMBLE(S/ED/ING)
OUTGENERAL(S/[L]ED/[L]ING)
OUTGLITTER(S/ED/ING)
OUTGOINGNESS(ES)
OUTHANDLE(S/D/ING)
OUTHUSTLE(S/ED/ING)
OUTINTRIGUE(S/D/ING)
OUTJOCKEY(S/ED/ING)
OUTJUGGLE(S/D/ING)
OUTLANDISH(LY/NESS)
OUTLAUNCE(S/D/ING)
OUTLAUNCH(ES/ED/ING)
OUTLAWRIES
OUTLODGING(S)
OUTLUSTRE(S/D/ING)
OUTMANEUVER(S/ED/ING)
OUTMANIPULATE(S/D/ING)
OUTMANOEUVRE(S/D/ING)
OUTMANTLE(S/D/ING)
OUTMARRIAGE(S)
OUTMASTER(S/ED/ING)
OUTMEASURE(S/D/ING)
OUTMODEDNESS(ES)

8 letters
OUTARGUE(S/D/ING)
OUTBITCH(ES/ED/ING)
OUTBLAZE(S/D/ING)
OUTBLEAT(S/ED/ING)
OUTBLESS(ES/ED/ING)
OUTBLOOM(S/ED/ING)
OUTBLUFF(S/ED/ING)
OUTBLUSH(S/ED/ING)
OUTBOARD(S)
OUTBOAST(S/ED/ING)
OUTBOUND(S)
OUTBRAVE(S/D/ING)
OUTBRAWL(S/ED/ING)
OUTBREAK(S/ING)
OUTBREED(S/ING[S])
OUTBRIBE(D/S/ING)
OUTBROKE(N)
OUTBUILD(S/ING[S])
OUTBUILT
OUTBULGE(S/D/ING)
OUTBULLY(ING)
OUTBURST(S/ING)
OUTCAPER(S/ED/ING)
OUTCASTE(S)
OUTCATCH(S/ING)
OUTCAVIL(S/[L]ED/[L]ING)
OUTCHARM(S/ED/ING)
OUTCHEAT(S/ED/ING)
OUTCLASS(ES/ED/ING)
OUTCLIMB(S/ED/ING)
OUTCLOMB
OUTCOACH(ES/ED/ING)
OUTCOUNT(S/ED/ING)
OUTCRAWL(S/ED/ING)
OUTCRIED
OUTCRIES
OUTCROSS(ES/ED/ING[S])
OUTCROWD(S/ED/ING)
OUTCURSE(S/D/ING)
OUTCURVE(S)
OUTDANCE(S/D/ING)
OUTDODGE(S/D/ING)
OUTDRANK
OUTDREAM(S/T/ED/ING)
OUTDRESS(ES/ED/ING)
OUTDRINK(S/ING)
OUTDRIVE(S/N/ING)
OUTDROVE
OUTDRUNK
OUTDWELL(S/T/ED/ING)
OUTFABLE(S/D/ING)
OUTFEAST(S/ED/ING)
OUTFENCE(S/D/ING)
OUTFIELD(S/ER[S])
OUTFIGHT(S/ING)
OUTFLANK(S/ED/ING)
OUTFLASH(ES/ED/ING)
OUTFLIES
OUTFLING(S)
OUTFLOAT(S/ED/ING)
OUTFLUSH(ES/ED/ING)
OUTFOUND
OUTFROWN(S/ED/ING)
OUTGLARE(S/D/ING)
OUTGLEAM(S/ED/ING)
OUTGROSS(ES/ED/ING)
OUTGROUP(S)
OUTGUARD(S)
OUTGUESS(ES/ED/ING)
OUTGUIDE(S/D/ING)
OUTHOMER(S/ED/ING)
OUTHOUSE(S)
OUTHUMOR(S/ED/ING)
OUTLAUGH(S/ED/ING)
OUTLAWRY
OUTLEARN(S/T/ED/ING)
OUTLYING
OUTMARCH(ES/ED/ING)
OUTMATCH(ES/ED/ING)

7 letters
OUTBACK(S/ER[S])
OUTBAKE(S/D/ING)
OUTBARK(S/ED/ING)
OUTBAWL(S/ED/ING)
OUTBEAM(S/ED/ING)
OUTBRAG(S/ED/ING)
OUTBRED
OUTBULK(S/ED/ING)
OUTBURN(S/T/ED/ING)
OUTCALL(S)
OUTCAST(S/ED/ING)
OUTCHID(E[S]/DEN/ED/ING)
OUTCITY
OUTCOME(S)
OUTCOOK(S/ED/ING)
OUTCROP(S/ED/ING[S])
OUTCROW(S/ED/ING)
OUTDARE(S/D/ING)
OUTDATE(D[LY]/S/ING)
OUTDOOR(S[Y])
OUTDRAG(S/ED/ING)
OUTDRAW(S/N/ING)
OUTDREW
OUTDROP(S/ED/ING)
OUTDUEL(S/[L]ED/[L]ING)
OUTDURE(S/D/ING)
OUTEARN(S/ED/ING)
OUTECHO(ES/ED/ING)
OUTEDGE(S)
OUTFACE(S/D/ING)
OUTFALL(S)
OUTFAST(S/ED/ING)
OUTFAWN(S/ED/ING)
OUTFEEL(S/ING)
OUTFELT
OUTFIND(S/ING)
OUTFIRE(S/D/ING)
OUTFISH(ES/ED/ING)
OUTFLEW
OUTFLOW(S/ED/N/ING[S])
OUTFOOL(S/ED/ING)
OUTFOOT(S/ED/ING)
OUTGAIN(S/ED/ING)
OUTGATE(S)
OUTGAVE
OUTGAZE(S/D/ING)
OUTGIVE(S/N/ING[S])
OUTGLOW(S/ED/ING)
OUTGNAW(S/ED/N/ING)
OUTGREW
OUTGRIN(S/ED/ING)
OUTGROW(S/N/TH[S]/ING)
OUTGUSH(ES/ED/ING)
OUTHAUL(ER[S]/S)
OUTHEAR(S/D/ING)
OUTHIRE(S/D/ING)
OUTHOWL(S/ED/ING)
OUTHUNT(S/ED/ING)
OUTHYRE(S/D/ING)
OUTJEST(S/ED/ING)
OUTJINX(ES/ED/ING)
OUTJUMP(S/ED/ING)
OUTKEEP(S/ING)
OUTKEPT
OUTKICK(S/ED/ING)
OUTKILL(S/ED/ING)
OUTKISS(ES/ED/ING)
OUTLAID
OUTLAIN
OUTLAND(S/ER[S])
OUTLASH(ES)
OUTLAST(S/ED/ING)
OUTLEAD(S/ING)
OUTLEAP(S/T/ED/ING)
OUTLINE(AR/D/R[S]/S/ING)
OUTLIVE(S/R[S]/D/ING)
OUTLOOK(S/ED/ING)
OUTLOVE(S/ED/ING)
OUTMODE(D[LY]/S/ING)

6 letters
OUTACT(S/ED/ING)
OUTADD(S/ED/ING)
OUTAGE(S)
OUTASK(S/ED/ING)
OUTATE
OUTBAR(S/ED/ING)
OUTBEG(S/ED/ING)
OUTBID(S/EN/ER[S]/ING)
OUTBOX(ES/ED/ING)
OUTBUY(S/ING)
OUTBYE
OUTCRY(ING)
OUTDID
OUTEAT(S/EN/ING)
OUTFIT(S/ED/ER[S]/ING[S])
OUTFLY(ING)
OUTFOX(ES/ED/ING)
OUTGAS(ES/ED/ING[S])
OUTGUN(S/ED/ING)
OUTHER
OUTHIT(S/ING)
OUTJET(S/ING[S])
OUTJUT(S/ED/ING[S])
OUTLAW(S/ED/ING)
OUTLAY(S/ING)
OUTLED
OUTLER(S)
OUTLET(S)
OUTLIE(D/R[S]/S)
OUTMAN(S/ED/ING)

5 letters
OUTBY
OUTDO(ES/ER[S]/NE/ING)
OUTGO(ES/ER[S]/NE/ING[S])

3 letters
OUT(S/ED/ER[S]/RE/ING[S])

Wednesday 4 June 2008

My Boggle Strategy (FWIW)

As a player I tend to focus on small word clusters, rather than on the larger board. As a result, I miss almost all of the longer words, but get a good percentage of the smaller ones. I work up to the longer words, rather than down from them. My strategy is more geared for regular 4x4 boards than it is for 5x5s or the new 4x4(4)s.

I am a slow typist and also need to spend a lot of time looking at my fingers, so I have to see words quickly in order to keep ahead of my fellow players. In order to do this, I think in terms of creating strong and interlocking word networks. In a game you always need to know which word comes next, as it were. Each word needs to lead to the next word or set of words. You shouldn’t have to pause to think about it; pause and it might cost you the game.

Word networks can be formed in many ways. At first my networks were primarily formed by a mixture of letter order, semantics and phonetics. I would mentally say the words to myself as I wrote them, checking to see if they sounded right. If I saw HEAD, I would probably see DEAD. The problem was that I would often miss a word like BEAD, as it was pronounced differently. I still employ this method on occasions, but complement it with many others and don’t rely on it so much.

Primary Opening Strategy
Nowadays (or until I went cold turkey, at least) I rely far more on anagram patterns and hook words.

An example movement might help to illustrate my approach. Having begun by quickly scanning the board for common prefixes and suffixes and taking note of them (if there is an open –ING, or an –ED that looks promising I will work with it immediately), I start off seeing letters like A-R-I and then instantly write AIR/RAI/RIA. I keep my eye out for an S and, if there is one, I type the plural forms, along with ARIS/SARI/SAIR. I then see that a T is connected and type ART/TAR/RAT and AIT/TAI/ITA as the remaining subanagrams of A-R-I-T. I type ARTI/RAIT/TIAR/AIRT and look for an A so that I can have ATRIA/AARTI/RIATA/RAITA/TIARA/TAIRA. At each stage I am looking for possible plural forms of each of these words and typing them as I see them (and adding in words like RASTA and ASTIR, if they are there). I remember that ATRIA, being the plural of ATRIUM, cannot take an S, but that it can take an L at either end, making LATRIA or ATRIAL (I also remember that LARIAT is a word; if I see LARIAT, I also glance to see if SALARIAT is there — the only SOWPODS anagram of my first name). If I see an L at the end, I would immediately move to TRIAL/TRAIL/LIART, RIAL/RAIL/LAIR/LARI/LIRA/LIAR/ARIL and TIRL.

Prefixes and Suffixes
Most of the words listed above cannot take any common suffix (-ED, -ER, -ING, etc.) or prefix (RE-, DE-, EX-, UN-, etc.), but a few can. When I type a word like TRAIL, I will look out of the corner of my eye for such suffixes and prefixes. If they look very promising I will type them immediately and make a mental note to return to the other word chain. Once I feel that I have got the best out of a certain set of letters, I will start again somewhere else on the board.

Strengthening Connections
As I said earlier, each word needs to lead to the next. There are plenty of mediocre Boggle players out there with a far better vocabulary than mine. The difference is to be found in the length and strength of my word threads. When it comes to Boggle, the size of one’s vocabulary counts far less than the strength with which your words are bound together. Consequently, if you want to improve your game this is what you need to focus on.

There are a few places where connections, either between word sets or within them, may be weak. There are some words that you will generally miss as you move between and within word sets. Your goal must be to ‘stick’ such words to their neighbours. For example, while AIR/RIA/RAI may be easy enough, ARIL/LAIR/LARI/LIAR/LIRA/RAIL/RIAL is slightly harder. I remember that particular set by trying to observe loose patterns: in the L anagrams, the R only appears in third and fourth position and the vowels can be reversed when the R is in both positions. A similar pattern helps me to remember RIATA/RAITA/TIARA/TAIRA. Once I have remembered those, the remaining two A words are not too hard (that anagram set has two A words, two R words and two T words).

I remember the number of words in an anagram set and sometimes the number of words in the set beginning with particular letters. I rehearse word chains (like the one illustrated above) in my mind, until I get every word every time.

I divide each anagram set (for 4-letter words and greater) into subanagram sets and learn the most useful anagram sets that can be formed by the addition of a letter. For instance, if I have the letters A-A-L-P, I write PAAL/ALAP, AAL/ALA, ALP/PAL/LAP, but my priority is on looking for an S and another A. If I find the S, I write PALAS/ALAPS/PAALS/PLAAS/SALPA. If I find the A, I write ALAAP/ALAPA.

One of the best ways to strengthen connections is to learn the meanings of words. For instance, having studied Hebrew, I hardly ever miss ZAYIN and AYIN when they come up on a board. Semantically reinforcing key words in your mind makes it easier to remember connected words as well. Once you come to know how your own mental word chains work, you will better know which parts need some ‘semantic greasing’!

Creating New Connections
There are a number of ways in which words can be connected in networks. Anagrams are my primary focus. When learning anagrams I focus on the largest sets for each word length and then work on those which have the most common letters, or those which contain the most unusual words. I can gradually work my way through all of the words of a particular length following such a method.

I also use hook words a lot. SUR, SURA(S), SURRA(S), SURAH(S) and SUN(S), SUNN(S), SUNNA(S), SUNNAH(S) are good examples of useful hook word sets. The importance of hook words cannot be overstated. They are a great way of connecting uncommon words to more familiar ones. For instance, both WHAT and DOWN can take an A at the end to form WHATA and DOWNA (ADOWN is also a word).

I also form sets of words with slightly unusual common endings, e.g. BEARE, DEARE, FEARE, GEARE, HEARE, LEARE, MEARE, PEARE, SEARE, WHEARE. There are various mnemonics that one can create to help one to remember such a list. I use ‘DouGH, (Wh)iFF, BLiMP’ to help me to remember the list above. Rather poor, I know, but it does the job (you might prefer ‘(Wh)ee! FaBLeD PHLeGM!’). I then remember that each one of these words takes an S at the end, except the one with an S at the beginning; all take a D at the end except those with a HuMP in them; all take an R at the end except the GLuMPy ones (and WHEARE). Somewhat cryptic, perhaps, but it usually works.

I try to remember some of the unusual prefixes that certain words can take. For instance, LITH can take a number of prefixes, making OOLITH, EOLITH, NEOLITH, ZOOLITH, TALLITH, OTOLITH, TRILITH, and UROLITH. I also create some sets of similar looking words in my mind: e.g. ANOESES, ANOESIS, ENOSES/NOESES, NAOSES, NOISES and ENOSIS/NOESIS.

I also group words with alternative spellings together in my mind. DALETH, DALEDH, DALED are all words for the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet (Hebrew letters generally have at least one alternative spelling). Often if one is on a board, one of the others will be there as well.

Learning the meaning of some exotic words is a good way to create new word sets and chains. A ROJI is a Japanese tea-garden. When I see that I look for RIOJA, then JAR/RAJ, JAI and JIAO.

Going Further
Words with really odd sets of letters or odd letter orders can really prove valuable on occasions. For example, SDEIN, SDAYN, SDEIGN and SDEIGNE are all SOWPODS words, being archaic forms of DISDAIN. The oddness of such words can make them easier to remember as they tend to stick out in your mind.

Learning lots of obscure word trivia is a proven method of familiarizing yourself with words. Semordnilaps (words that can be reversed to spell other words) are one example of useful word trivia — REWARDER/REDRAWER, DIAPER/REPAID, IMAGED/DEGAMI, LAMINA/ANIMAL, DESSERTS/STRESSED, REKNITS/STINKER, etc. If you know your semordnilaps, you won’t miss REKNITS next time you find STINKER on a board. Lists of famous people’s names that are in SOWPODS, lists of words of Yiddish or Welsh origin, and that sort of thing can also be very useful in improving your Boggle vocabulary.

Learning words with unusual letter sets is important, starting with all of the vowel-only (EUOUAE, EUOI, AUA, AUE, EAU, AIA, etc.) and all of the consonant-only words (PHPHT, CRWTH, CWTCH, TSKTSK, PHT, BRRR, BRR, CWM, etc.), and moving on to slightly less unusual letter sets. On tough boards these are the sort of words that can win games.

It is worthwhile to set yourself the target of learning at least two new words (from one of your opponents' lists or from the missed word list) every game. It really isn't that hard and the words add up quite fast. I have dozens of sheets on which I have jotted new words to learn over the last few months.

A tool like Zyzzyva can also be extremely helpful for learning new words. Zyzzyva allows you to set up quizzes for yourself. I used to use Zyzzyva's quizzes to test myself on my anagram knowledge.

Once you have been playing for a while you need to start working on compound words. Words ending with -MAN and words beginning with OUT- would be a good place to begin. There are over 50 6-letter words connected with both OUT and MAN. The list is far, far greater for 7-letter words.

I could say far more about my preferred strategy (about how to vary it when playing particular players or types of boards, etc.), but, as an introduction to the broad contours of my general approach, the above comments are about as detailed as it gets.

Sunday 1 June 2008

SOWPODS Four Letter Words Part 5

A 'zebu', a type of domestic cattle found in East Africa and Asia, recognizable by their shoulder humps.

The final instalment of our SOWPODS 4-letter word anagrams.

Six Anagrams
STAW/SWAT/TAWS/TWAS/WAST/WATS

Four Anagrams
SETT/STET/TEST/TETS
STEY/STYE/TYES/YEST
SWEY/WEYS/WYES/YEWS
TREY/TRYE/TYER/TYRE

Three Anagrams
SAUT/TAUS/UTAS
SITE/STIE/TIES
STOT/TOST/TOTS
SUIT/TUIS/UTIS
SWAY/WAYS/YAWS
TAVS/VAST/VATS
TAWT/TWAT/WATT
TEDY/TYDE/TYED
TWAE/WATE/WETA
VAIL/VALI/VIAL
WAKE/WEAK/WEKA

Two Anagrams
SCYE/SYCE
SECT/TECS
SEIS/SIES
SESH/SHES
SEYS/SYES
SHIR/SHRI
SIRS/SRIS
SIST/SITS
SITZ/ZITS
SKRY/SKYR
SOTS/TOSS
SOWF/WOFS
SPAZ/ZAPS
SPUE/SUPE
STAT/TATS
STAY/TAYS
STED/TEDS
SUES/USES
SUET/UTES
SULU/ULUS
SUMP/UMPS
SWAB/WABS
SWAG/WAGS
SWIG/WIGS
TAAL/TALA
TART/TRAT
TATH/THAT
TATU/TAUT
THAW/WHAT
THEW/WHET
TINY/TYIN
TOES/TOSE
TONY/YONT
TORT/TROT
TREW/WERT
TWEE/WEET
TYMP/YMPT
TYTE/YETT
UVAE/UVEA
UVAS/VAUS
VAGI/VIGA
VAIN/VINA
VATU/VAUT
VEST/VETS
VETO/VOTE
VIAS/VISA
VIES/VISE
VIEW/WIVE
VIRL/VRIL
WADI/WAID
WAIL/WALI
WALY/YAWL
WARP/WRAP
WEID/WIDE
WEIR/WIRE
WHIT/WITH
WIST/WITS
YETI/YITE
YEUK/YUKE
YOUK/YUKO
ZEIN/ZINE

No Anagrams
SACS SADS SAFE SAGS SAIS SANS SARS SASH SASS SAUL SAVS SAWS SAYS SCRY SCUG SCUL SCUM SEAS SECH SEGS SEPS SERS SESS SEWS SEXT SEXY SHAN SHIV SIBS SICK SICS SIJO SIMI SINS SISS SIZE SIZY SKAG SKIM SKOL SKUG SKYF SLEW SLUB SNAR SOCK SOFT SOJA SONS SOOK SORI SORN SOSS SOUS SOVS SOWS SOYA SOYS SPIF SPIV SUBA SUDS SUID SUKS SUMY SUNK SUNS SUQS SUSS SUSU SWIM SWIZ SWUM SYLI SYNC SYND TACK TACT TADS TAHA TAIT TALK TALL TAMP TASS TATT TAVA TAWA TAXA TAXI TEES TEFF TEGG TEGU TEHR TELL TELT TERM TETE TETH TEXT THIG THIO THIR THON THRO THUD THUG TICK TIDY TIFF TIKI TILT TING TINT TIPI TIPT TIRL TIRR TITE TITI TITS TIVY TIZZ TOBY TOCK TOEA TOFF TOFT TOFU TOGE TOGS TOIT TOLL TOLT TOMB TONG TOPI TORC TOTE TOUK TOUT TOWT TOWY TOYO TOYS TOZE TREK TRET TREZ TRIM TRIN TRUE TRUG TRYP TSKS TUCK TUFF TUFT TUMP TUNE TUNG TUNY TURD TURF TURK TURM TUSK TUTS TUTU TUZZ TWAL TWAY TWIG TWIN TWIT TYEE TYGS TYND TYNE TYPP TYPY TZAR UEYS ULVA UNAI UNAU UNBE UNCE UNCI UNCO UNDY UNIS UNIT UPAS UPBY UPGO URAO URDY UREA URIC URUS URVA UTUS VACS VAGS VAMP VANG VANS VANT VARA VARS VARY VAVS VAWS VEEP VEGO VEHM VELD VELL VEND VENT VERB VERT VERY VEXT VIAE VIBE VIBS VIGS VILD VILL VIMS VINO VINS VINT VINY VIOL VITA VITE VIVA VIVE VIVO VIZY VOID VOLK VOLS VOLT VORS VOWS VROT VROU VROW VUGG VUGH VULN VUMS WAAC WADY WAFF WAFT WAGE WAIF WAIN WAIR WAIS WAIT WAKF WALL WAME WANK WANT WAQF WARK WART WAUK WAUL WAUR WAVE WAVY WAWA WAWE WAWL WAWS WAXY WEBS WEED WEEK WEEL WEEM WEEP WEFT WELL WELT WEMB WEND WEPT WEXE WHAE WHAP WHEE WHEW WHEY WHID WHIG WHIM WHIN WHIO WHIP WHIR WHIZ WHOA WHOM WHOP WHOT WHOW WHUP WHYS WICE WICH WICK WIFE WILD WILI WILL WILT WILY WIMP WIND WINE WING WINK WINN WINO WINS WINY WIPE WIRY WISE WISH WISP WISS WITE WOAD WOGS WOKE WOMB WOOD WOOF WOOL WOON WOOS WOOT WORK WORM WORN WOVE WOWF WOWS WREN WRIT WUDS WUDU WULL WUSS WYCH WYLE WYND WYNN WYNS WYTE XYST YABA YAGI YALE YANG YANK YAPP YARR YATE YAUD YAUP YAWP YAWY YAYS YEAD YEAH YEAN YECH YELD YELL YELP YEVE YIDS YIKE YINS YIPE YIPS YIRD YIRK YIRR YMPE YODE YODH YOGA YOGH YOGI YOKE YOKS YOLK YOND YONI YOOP YOUR YOUS YOWE YOWS YUAN YUCA YUCH YUCK YUFT YUGA YUKY YULE YUNX YURT YUTZ YUZU YWIS ZACK ZAGS ZANY ZARF ZATI ZEAS ZEBU ZEDS ZEES ZEKS ZELS ZEPS ZERK ZERO ZEST ZETA ZEZE ZHOS ZIFF ZIGS ZILA ZILL ZIMB ZINC ZING ZINS ZIPS ZITE ZITI ZIZZ ZOBU ZOEA ZOIC ZOLS ZONE ZONK ZOON ZOOS ZOOT ZORI ZOUK ZULU ZUPA ZURF ZYME ZZZS

Tuesday 27 May 2008

SOWPODS Four Letter Words Part 4

A 'roji' is a small Japanese tea-garden. If you see it in a word game, keep your eyes open for 'rioja' too.
Here is the penultimate set of SOWPODS four letter word anagrams:

Seven Anagrams
OWTS/STOW/SWOT/TOWS/TWOS/WOST/WOTS

Six Anagrams
OPTS/POST/POTS/SPOT/STOP/TOPS
RUES/RUSE/SUER/SURE/URES/USER

Five Anagrams
OAST/OATS/STOA/TAOS/TOSA
ORTS/ROST/ROTS/SORT/TORS
PART/PRAT/RAPT/TARP/TRAP
PAWS/SPAW/SWAP/WAPS/WASP
PEST/PETS/SEPT/SPET/STEP
RIOT/ROTI/TIRO/TORI/TRIO

Four Anagrams
OARS/OSAR/SOAR/SORA
OHOS/OOHS/SHOO/SOHO
OILS/SILO/SOIL/SOLI
OWER/OWRE/WERO/WORE
PARS/RAPS/RASP/SPAR
PATE/PEAT/TAPE/TEPA
PAYS/PYAS/SPAY/YAPS
PIES/PISE/SIPE/SPIE
PORY/PYRO/ROPY/YORP
POWS/SOWP/SWOP/WOPS
RATO/ROTA/TARO/TORA
RITE/TIER/TIRE/TRIE
RYOT/TORY/TROY/TYRO

Three Anagrams
ODYL/OLDY/YOLD
OKES/SKEO/SOKE
ONOS/OONS/SOON
ONST/SNOT/TONS
ONTO/OONT/TOON
OOPS/POOS/SOOP
OPUS/OUPS/SOUP
OUST/OUTS/SOUT
OWES/OWSE/WOES
PATU/TAPU/UPTA
PEER/PERE/PREE
PEIN/PENI/PINE
PEPO/POEP/POPE
PERI/PIER/RIPE
PERP/PREP/REPP
PIRS/RIPS/RISP
PISS/PSIS/SIPS
PITS/SPIT/TIPS
POET/POTE/TOPE
POOR/PROO/ROOP
PORE/REPO/ROPE
PREY/PYRE/RYPE
PUMY/UMPY/YUMP
PURS/SPUR/URPS
PUYS/UPSY/YUPS
RETE/TEER/TREE
RIVE/VIER/VIRE
RONT/TORN/TRON
ROOT/ROTO/TORO
ROWT/TROW/WORT
RUDS/SURD/URDS
RUSA/SURA/URSA
SAUT/TAUS/UTAS
SITE/STIE/TIES
STOT/TOST/TOTS
SUIT/TUIS/UTIS
SWAY/WAYS/YAWS
TAVS/VAST/VATS
TAWT/TWAT/WATT
TEDY/TYDE/TYED
TWAE/WATE/WETA
VAIL/VALI/VIAL
WAKE/WEAK/WEKA

Two Anagrams
OAFS/SOFA
OBEY/YEBO
OCAS/SOCA
OMBU/UMBO
ONER/RONE
OOFY/YOOF
OOTS/SOOT
OPPO/POOP
ORAD/ROAD
ORRA/ROAR
OTTO/TOOT
OUKS/SOUK
OURS/SOUR
OVAL/VOLA
OVER/ROVE
OWLY/YOWL
OYER/YORE
PADI/PAID
PAIK/PIKA
PAIS/PIAS
PALP/PLAP
PALY/PLAY
PATH/PHAT
PATY/PYAT
PAUL/PULA
PEDS/SPED
PEES/SEEP
PERM/PREM
PEWS/SPEW
PHOT/TOPH
PICS/SPIC
PINY/PYIN
PISO/POIS
PLOT/POLT
PLOY/POLY
PLUE/PULE
PLUS/PULS
POOT/TOPO
PORT/TROP
POSS/SOPS
POUR/ROUP
PRAM/RAMP
PRAO/PROA
PROM/ROMP
PRYS/SPRY
PUER/PURE
PUIR/PURI
PUNS/SPUN
PURR/RURP
PUSS/SUPS
PUTS/TUPS
PYET/TYPE
PYOT/TYPO
QADI/QAID
RAHS/RASH
RAIK/RAKI
RAKE/REAK
RANT/TARN
RARE/REAR
RATA/TARA
RAWN/WARN
RAWS/WARS
RAYA/YAAR
REEK/REKE
REFS/SERF
REIN/RINE
RENT/TERN
REVS/VERS
RHUS/RUSH
RIPT/TRIP
RITS/STIR
RIVA/VAIR
ROKY/YORK
RORT/TORR
ROTE/TORE
ROUT/TOUR
RUMS/SMUR
RUNT/TURN
RUST/RUTS
RYKE/YERK

No Anagrams
OARY OATH OBES OBIA OBOE OCCY ODAH ODEA ODIC OFAY OFFS OGAM OGEE OHIA OILY OLEO OLIO OLLA OMOV ONIE ONLY ONYX OOFS OOSE OOSY OOZE OOZY OPAH OPAL ORAL ORBY ORYX ORZO OSES OSSA OULK OUMA OUPA OUPH OURN OUZO OVEN OVUM OWED OXER OXES OXID OXIM OYES OYEZ PACK PACT PACY PAIR PALL PAND PANG PANT PAPA PAPE PARK PARP PARR PAUA PAVE PAVS PAWA PAWK PAWL PAWN PEAK PEBA PECH PECK PEEP PEGH PEGS PELF PELL PEND PENK PENT PEPS PERK PERN PERT PERV PFFT PFUI PHEW PHIZ PHOH PHON PHUT PICK PIED PIET PIKI PILI PILL PILY PIMA PIMP PING PINK PINT PION PIOY PIPA PIPE PIPI PIPS PIPY PIRL PIRN PITA PITY PIUM PIXY PIZE PLAN PLAT PLEB PLED PLEW PLEX PLOD PLOP POCK POGY POKE POKY POLK POLL POMP POND PONG PONS PONT PONY POOD POOF POOK POPS PORK PORN POSY POTT POUF POUK POUT POWN POXY POZZ PRAU PRAY PREX PREZ PRIM PROB PROF PROP PROS PROW PRUH PSST PTUI PUBE PUBS PUCE PUCK PUDU PUFF PUGH PUKA PUKE PUKU PULI PULK PULL PULP PULU PULY PUMA PUMP PUNA PUNG PUNK PUNT PUNY PUPA PUPS PUPU PURL PUTT PUTZ PYIC PYNE QATS QOPH QUAD QUAG QUAI QUAT QUAY QUEP QUEY QUID QUIM QUIN QUIP QUIT QUIZ QUOD QUOP RACA RAFF RAGG RAKU RARK RATU RAUN RAZE RAZZ REBS RECK RECS REDD REDS REMS RENY REPS REWS RICH RICK RICY RIDS RIFF RILL RIND RINS RIPP RITT RITZ RIVO ROAN ROCH ROJI ROLL RONG ROOF ROON ROOS RORE RORY ROSY ROTL ROUM ROUX ROWS RUBE RUCK RUDD RUER RUFF RUIN RUKH RULY RUMP RUNE RURU RUSK RYES RYFE RYND

Friday 9 May 2008

Double vowels

Words with double vowels are a lot of fun. Here's a list of all three letter words that have both a "u" and an "e":

AUE, CUE, DUE, EAU, ECU
EMU, EUK, FEU, GUE, HUE
JEU, KUE, LEU, MEU, RUE
SUE, UEY, UKE, ULE, URE
USE, UTE

There are lots of four letter words with both letters, but there are only 55 where they're adjacent:

AGUE, BLUE, CLUE, CRUE, CUED
CUES, DEUS, DUED, DUEL, DUES
DUET, EMEU, EUGE, EUGH, EUKS
EUOI, EURO, FEUD, FEUS, FLUE
FUEL, GEUM, GLUE, GRUE, GUES
HUED, HUER, HUES, JEUX, KUEH
KUES, LEUD, LIEU, LUES, MEUS
MOUE, NEUK, NEUM, PLUE, PUER
QUEP, QUEY, ROUE, RUED, RUER
RUES, SLUE, SPUE, SUED, SUER
SUES, SUET, TRUE, UEYS, YEUK

(Ask a Singaporean or Malaysian what kue/kueh is, if you're curious! You'll get a "Yum!")