Crossword Puzzle Blog

At last… A better dictionary

Mike — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:51:33 +0000

I am pleased to announce that CPH now uses a better dictionary. The dictionary now has more words and more definitions. Also, where a definition isn’t found, the dictionary will attempt to suggest alternative words.

I hope you like it!

It’s all Scrabble’s fault

Mike — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:00:11 +0000

In my search for a better dictionary for Crossword Puzzle Help I’ve been thinking about why the CPH dictionary isn’t the most comprehensive dictionary out there. I had thought it was the fault of the dictionary, and whilst it certainly is missing some definitions (and is very obviously built on a 1913 dictionary), it can’t be blamed entirely.

Part of the issue is what constitutes a valid word. CPH uses a comprehensive wordlist suitable for all word games (e.g., Scrabble). And that is the problem. The wordlist accepts many words that would not normally be considered valid words. Consider the word “runkle”. CPH accepts this as a valid word, and whilst it would be fine to play in a game of Scrabble, would that word ever appear as the answer to a crossword question? (Incidentally, runkle means “to wrinkle”.)

Thus, when we use CPH and find a word that is missing a definition, we may curse the dictionary. But it could be the case that we have uncovered an obscure word that has found its way onto the (very comprehensive) wordlist).

It’s an issue that I’m going to think about. Maybe CPH should use a much less comprehensive wordlist.

Whilst we’re talking Scrabble words…

Any half decent Scrabble player knows that SH is a valid word. But did you know that SHHis also a valid? BRR and BRRR are valid Scrabble words too. And rightly or wrongly, CPH considers them valid words too.

Why is the dictionary not very good?

Mike — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:22:20 +0000

For the past week or so I’ve been collecting feedback from CPH users. I’m going to write a dedicated post on the feedback soon, but I think one issue – the dictionary – can be addressed now.

I didn’t need any feedback to tell me that the dictionary is the weakest part of the site. It lacks many definitions and some of the definitions are a bit, well, odd. So why is that?

CPH uses a dictionary called GCIDE (The GNU Project’s publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English) and it’s based on the 1913 Webster dictionary. The dictionary contains over 130,000 words. It’s in electronic format, and is in the public domain. That’s why I use it – because it’s free and I can store it in my database. I’d love for CPH to use the Oxford English Dictionary. Alas my ad revenues would only stretch to a pocket learner’s dictionary!

Anyway, I’ve been seeking out a better dictionary for CPH and I think I’ve found one. W-t-h this s-a-e!

Introducing the Crossword Puzzle Help blog

Mike — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:55:32 +0000

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mike, and this is my site. A few things about me: My crosswords of choice are the Guardian Quick crossword and the (infuriatingly titled) Speedy crossword in the Observer. I maintain Crossword Puzzle Help (CPH) in my spare time.

CPH was created primarily as a programming exercise for myself. I was interested in crossword solvers and how they could be programmed. (Quite simply actually). Solving anagrams was the next logical step and the site grew from that.

I’m starting this blog as a way of opening a dialog with CPH users. You can contact me by the posting replies to my blog posts or by the contact form here.