BananagramsBuilding from a word you already have
Updated September 4, 2026 · 2 min read
You build a grid by branching new words off the letters of an existing word, running across or down. Every tile placed next to other tiles must form valid words in both directions it touches.
The short version
- Lay one word flat, then build a second word downward using one of its existing letters.
- Add an ending like S or ED to an existing word to reach out toward open table space.
- Tear apart your current arrangement whenever you get stuck, because rearranging costs nothing.
- Check every spot where tiles sit side by side to ensure both horizontal and vertical words are legal.
Start with one word lying horizontally on the table. Take a letter from your hand and place it above or below one of the letters in that word, then complete a new vertical word through that shared tile. Words read strictly left to right and top to bottom, exactly like a crossword puzzle.
You can also change or extend your layout whenever you want. Pulling your grid apart and rebuilding it costs nothing and can be done at any moment. Plurals, verb endings and comparatives are all ordinary valid words, so adding an S or ED can instantly give you fresh attachment points.
Keep your tiles separate from everyone else. Every grid is entirely private, and nothing crosses between two players. When you form intersections, remember that every single adjacent letter must make a real word. If two letters touch side by side, they must form a legal two-letter word from the accepted word lists.
The mistake to avoid
The mistake is to place letters next to an existing word without forming valid words in both directions. Every tile you add must read correctly both left to right and top to bottom wherever it touches. If an adjacent pair does not make a legal word, adjust your layout.
Questions that keep coming up
Can I attach my words to another player's grid?
No. Nothing crosses between two players. Every grid is completely private and separate.
Are plurals and verb endings allowed when building out?
Yes. Plurals, verb endings and comparatives are ordinary words, and you may play them freely.
Can I write words backwards or upward?
No. Words read only from left to right and from top to bottom.