<p>Yes, you can play words just like in a crossword puzzle. As long as the words are left to right or top to bottom.</p>
<p>There are three ways to connect words (except for the first word.</p>
<p>First, connect it like a crossword:</p>
<pre><code>  B
  O
PLAY
  R
  D
</code></pre>
<p>Second, extend a word:</p>
<pre><code>LIVE
</code></pre>
<p>add an S</p>
<pre><code>LIVES
</code></pre>
<p>Third, put a word next to another word so the neighbors form new words:</p>
<pre><code>PROP
</code></pre>
<p>Add Idiot forming also PI</p>
<pre><code>PROP
   IDIOT
</code></pre>
<p>And yes you can combine the last two to add a word to the end:</p>
<pre><code>TREE
</code></pre>
<p>Add SEVEN</p>
<pre><code>TREES
    E 
    V
    E
    N
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-04T19:58:33.487Z
This is, in fact, the primary method of adding words to a scrabble board.
Arcanist Lupus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-04T20:58:50.403Z
@ArcanistLupus Other than the first play of a game, isn't it not only the primary way, but a completely required way?
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-04T22:35:26.123Z
@Gendolkari well, you can also extend words, which I was counting as different.
Arcanist Lupus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-05T16:03:30.217Z
I see how it could be viewed either way. It's fair that there is a difference; but I was seeing the similarity of "must use existing letters on the board".
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-04T19:48:57.030Z
2021-01-10T22:03:51.660Z
2021-01-10T22:03:51.660Z
Toon Krijthe
<p>Not only <em>can</em> you do this, you <em>must</em> do this!</p>
<p>Other than the first play of the game, when the board is empty, all plays must connect to existing words by forming new words out of the already-placed letters.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://scrabble.hasbro.com/en-us/rules" rel="nofollow noreferrer">scrabble.hasbro.com</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The second player, and then each in turn, adds one or more letters to those already played to form new words.</p>
<p>New words may be formed by:</p>
<ul>
<li>Adding one or more letters to a word or letters already on the board.</li>
<li>Placing a word at right angles to a word already on the board. The new word must use one of the letters already on the board or must add a letter to it. (See Turns 2, 3 and 4 below.)</li>
<li>Placing a complete word parallel to a word already played so that adjacent letters also form complete words. (See Turn 5 in the Scoring Examples section below.)</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>Notice that in all 3 methods of forming a new word, the new word connects to an existing word, and uses at least one letter from that existing word to form a new word.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-04T21:03:39.180Z
2019-03-04T21:03:39.180Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
GendoIkari
<p>You can cross words over one another like this</p>

<pre><code>        E
        P
   S  O O N
        X
        Y
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-05T15:31:47.730Z
2019-03-05T15:31:47.730Z
Taran Agnew
<p>For instance the word PLAY is on the board, and I put BOARD using the A from PLAY. Is that acceptable?</p>

<scrabble>
Can I make a word going through another word?
user26680
# Can I make a word going through another word?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-04)

For instance the word PLAY is on the board, and I put BOARD using the A from PLAY. Is that acceptable?

**Tags:** scrabble


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-03-04. Score: 7

Yes, you can play words just like in a crossword puzzle. As long as the words are left to right or top to bottom.

There are three ways to connect words (except for the first word.

First, connect it like a crossword:

```
  B
  O
PLAY
  R
  D

```

Second, extend a word:

```
LIVE

```

add an S

```
LIVES

```

Third, put a word next to another word so the neighbors form new words:

```
PROP

```

Add Idiot forming also PI

```
PROP
   IDIOT

```

And yes you can combine the last two to add a word to the end:

```
TREE

```

Add SEVEN

```
TREES
    E 
    V
    E
    N

```

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This is, in fact, the primary method of adding words to a scrabble board.  
> **username_3**: @username_2 Other than the first play of a game, isn't it not only the primary way, but a completely required way?  
> **username_2**: @Gendolkari well, you can also extend words, which I was counting as different.  
> **username_3**: I see how it could be viewed either way. It's fair that there is a difference; but I was seeing the similarity of "must use existing letters on the board".  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-03-04. Score: 5

Not only *can* you do this, you *must* do this!

Other than the first play of the game, when the board is empty, all plays must connect to existing words by forming new words out of the already-placed letters.

From [scrabble.hasbro.com](https://scrabble.hasbro.com/en-us/rules):

> The second player, and then each in turn, adds one or more letters to those already played to form new words.
>
> New words may be formed by:
>
> * Adding one or more letters to a word or letters already on the board.
> * Placing a word at right angles to a word already on the board. The new word must use one of the letters already on the board or must add a letter to it. (See Turns 2, 3 and 4 below.)
> * Placing a complete word parallel to a word already played so that adjacent letters also form complete words. (See Turn 5 in the Scoring Examples section below.)

Notice that in all 3 methods of forming a new word, the new word connects to an existing word, and uses at least one letter from that existing word to form a new word.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-03-05. Score: -3

You can cross words over one another like this

```
        E
        P
   S  O O N
        X
        Y

```


---

