BananagramsBuilding sideways
Updated September 4, 2026 · 2 min read
Keeping your grid tight comes down to short words running in parallel. Every tile must belong to a valid word in both directions it touches, and two-letter words allow rows to sit side by side instead of stretching out.
The short version
- Run words parallel to each other using two-letter cross words.
- Memorize two-letter words like QI to place difficult letters tightly.
- Rebuild sections of your private grid at any moment for zero cost.
- Avoid trying to build two-letter words around the letter V.
A grid sprawls when you only attach new words by their ends. When you run words parallel to each other, every adjacent letter creates a cross word. Two-letter words are the structural joints that make these compact, side-by-side placements possible without violating crossword rules.
Learning the short word lists makes the difference between a sprawling grid and a compact one. The North American list contains 107 legal two-letter words, while Collins includes 127. Neither list contains a two-letter word with the letter V, and CH is the only two-letter word with a C, valid only under Collins.
You can also pull your entire grid apart and rebuild it whenever you want. Rearranging your own tiles costs nothing. If a grid has grown too far in one direction, dismantling a long branch to pack the letters into a tight block is always allowed.
The mistake to avoid
The mistake is placing tiles next to existing words without forming valid words in both directions. Every tile you add must read correctly from left to right and top to bottom wherever it touches.
Questions that keep coming up
Can you rearrange your grid during play?
Yes. You may pull your own grid apart and rebuild it at any moment. It costs nothing.
Are two-letter words with V legal?
No. There is no legal two-letter word containing the letter V in either the North American list or Collins.
Can two players connect their words together?
No. Nothing crosses between two players. Every grid is private and separate on the table.