Okay, so I’ve been trying to get better at crossword puzzles lately. It’s something I’ve always kind of dabbled in, but never really got good at. I figured, why not try to tackle them more seriously? And I decided to start with focusing on words that “exude” something. You know, words like “ooze,” “emanate,” “radiate” – that kind of thing.
I started by, well, just doing crosswords. I grabbed a few puzzle books from the store, nothing fancy, just the regular kind you find at the checkout. The first few were rough. I mean, really rough. I’d stare at clues like “Give off, as vibes” for ages, completely blank. I felt like I was hitting a wall.
So, I decided to get a bit more systematic. I started making a list. Every time I encountered a word that meant “exude” in some way, I wrote it down. “Seep,” “waft,” “pour” – you get the idea. I even wrote down the context, like the full clue and the puzzle number, so I could go back and see how it was used.
- Started doing regular crossword puzzles.
- Made a list of “exude” synonyms encountered.
- Noted the clue and puzzle number for each word.
Getting a Little Better(My Practice Record)
It was slow going at first. My list was pretty short, and I was still getting stumped a lot. But gradually, I started to see those words pop up again in other puzzles. And because I’d seen them before, I was able to fill them in much faster. It was like a little lightbulb went off in my head each time. “Hey, I know that one!”
I kept at it, doing a few puzzles every week, adding to my list, and reviewing it regularly. I even started to notice patterns in how these words were used. Like, “emanate” often shows up with clues about light or feelings, while “ooze” might be used for something more… slimy. No surprise.
I wouldn’t say I’m a crossword expert now, not by a long shot. But I’m definitely better than I was. I can actually finish some of the easier puzzles now, which is a huge win for me. And I’m still adding to my “exude” list – it’s become a bit of an ongoing project. My practice is finally show something!
