1. crossword puzzles
   a crossword/hangman hybrid
2. "Wheel of Fortune"

It's a fiendish hybrid. Consider it "crossed" with crosswords and hangman.

1. Lewis Carroll
   Mark Twain
2. Stephen King

He even created an acrostic poem about his most famous character, Alice. Mr. Carroll loved word puzzles.

1. quote
   poem
2. advice

"No comment." Okay, usually the quotes that these puzzles reveal are more interesting than that.

1. The initial letters of each line spell words or phrases.
   The initial letters of each word spell words or phrases.
2. If you read it backward, there's a secret, Satanic message.

It's sort of Cryptography 101, with the letters at the beginning of each line spelling out a subtle message.

1. the Roman word acrokhis
   the Greek word akrostikhis
2. the Latin words Arepo Sator

Would you like some dressing with that letter salad? This a Greek word that points to the end, or extremity, of a line.

1. as mnemonic devices
   as language-development assistance
2. as mathematical cues

Acrostics make for killer puzzles, but they also help as mnemonic devices that students can use to memorize facts.

1. the Christian fish symbol
   the Jewish Star of David
2. the Pastafarian symbol

A Christian acrostic for Jesus Christ results in the word ICHTHYS, which means fish in Greek.

1. honing word fluency
   keeping your math skills sharp
2. improving spatial perception

What's that word again? Ah, yes, fluency. There's no proof, but some believe word puzzles help with word recall.

1. a poem in which the first and last letters of each line spell the same word or phrase
   a poem that repeats each acrostic at least 10 times
2. a poem that makes you see double

It's doubly tricky! Both the first and last letters of each line spell a hidden phrase, making these more complex than regular acrostic poems.

1. anacrostic puzzles
   crostic puzzles
2. all of the above

As if the puzzles themselves weren't tricky enough! Acrostics are also called crostic or anacrostic puzzles.

1. They have diagrams.
   They have many clues.
2. all of the above

Maybe acrostics are actually the evil twin of crosswords? They look very similar with their diagrams and clue lists.

1. white squares
   black squares
2. line breaks

Line breaks are just messing with you. It's actually the black squares that indicate a word's end.

1. logical thinking skills
   Google search skills
2. geometry skills

Time to call on your inner Spock. A thesauruslike mind helps, but logical thinking may be even more important.

1. Digital puzzles applaud you for correct answers.
   Digital versions fill in the diagram automatically.
2. The computer gives you the answers.

Actually, in some online puzzles, the computer really does give you the answers. But it's the fact that your answers automatically populate the diagram that makes digital versions simpler to complete.

1. fill in the diagram with educated guesses
   consult Google
2. fill out the answers you're sure of and then try to fill in blanks on the diagram

Well, a Google search is actually the easiest way, but some people consider it cheating. Starting with the answers you're sure of is a good way to begin.

1. "Behold, O God"
   "Through the Looking Glass"
2. "The Raven"

It takes acrostics into a new dimension, with highlighted letters creating crosses. "Behold, O God" was written by William Browne.

1. There are sometimes clues hidden in the black boxes.
   Once you correctly guess a word in the diagram, then you can use those letters in the corresponding clue blanks.
2. You may see hidden pictures in the diagram.

It's like "Wheel of Fortune" in reverse! Take letters from the diagram back to your clues, and you may be able to solve the puzzle faster.

1. the name of the person who said the quote
   a Bible verse
2. a line drawing

In some cases, guessing the name of the person who said the quote also helps you solve other parts of the puzzle.

1. review any questionable answers to your clues
   buy a new thesaurus
2. give up and begin sobbing uncontrollably

The crying part might be tempting, but reviewing your answers is the only way to move forward in this situation.

1. The Los Angeles Times
   The New York Times
2. Economist

They are the purveyors of fine puzzles. As with crosswords, The New York Times is also known for its difficult acrostic puzzles.