Word Search Puzzles
The word search puzzle bears similarities to the ancient word squares. The modern version appears to have been invented in America in the 1960s.
The basic word search puzzle is simple a grid of squares, each of which contains a single letter. The puzzler must locate within the grid a number of target words. Words can be spelt out horizontally, vertically or diagonally and either backwards or forwards. In an ideal puzzle the solution is unique - each target word appears only once in the entire puzzle - and as few letters as posssible are unused by any target word.
Solving
Word searches can, of course, be solved by "brute force". Simply scan the grid row by row for the first letter of the target word then check if it can be spelt out from that point. An alternative approach that I personally find more satisfying is to randomly "scan" the grid allowing the subconscious to pick up any distinctive letter combinations in the target word.Word search puzzles are clearly well suited to computer generation and you can buy or play online programs which will generate puzzles either from a specified list of words or from the entire dictionary. Computer programs sometimes have additional features such as "against the clock" challenges.
A popular variant of thee basic WordSearch puzzle is Wonder Word.