h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I like your personal space, Word-Lover.

Those word squares are really sophisticated; is that all done with your own wetware or is software involved? I'm guessing the former. How many blind alleys do you go up when you work with words of that length? Shall definitely keep my eye open for any guide entry you do on this.

Wow. Impressed,

Bonsie

Morning, Bonsie.

Software is involved. The software is entirely my own. The word lists are not my own, but they are freely available on the web.

Blind alleys? When doing a /complete/ scan for 8-squares, hundreds of millions. I've also done complete scans for 9-squares on a word list enhanced by myself (many hours copying words from a library copy of the OED), but I never did record stats for "number of blind alleys tried" there.

Did you notice the thematic top words of the squares? A run seeking a 7-square with a /given/ top word takes scarcely a minute, and much of that is reading the word list. I need more time than that to pore over the results and decide which one is least blighted by obscure words.

Are you interested in word squares or other wordplay?

Word-Lover, I'm sorry that you never received a reply to that. I forgot that we don't get alerting emails from h2g2, so didn't see it until just a day ago.

I'm impressed with the care you take over the word squares; and of course I noticed the theme! I had already realised that you had programming experience, so don't know why I thought you must be doing it all in your head.

I don't have a *particular* interest in word squares: that sort of pursuit isn't immediate enough for my impatient taste. BUT, I admire anyone's hobby where it's obvious that skill is involved and time has been taken. Can appreciate it without necessarily wanting to do it myself, if that makes sense.