Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I used the backspace key to delete a word but my browser went back a page. Why?
A. This is a known problem with Internet Explorer. Using backspace to go back a page is normal behavior for a browser. In most browsers this can be overridden when the puzzle is selected. If this is a problem for you, try using Firefox. ACROSTICA also allows you to use the spacebar, underscore ( _ ), or backslash ( \ ) keys to delete a letter in the puzzle instead of the backspace or delete key.
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Q. Why is there a "Save" button only for the featured puzzle?
A. The "Save" button works by writing a "cookie" on your computer, which can be read by your browser in a later session. To keep the cookie small and manageable, only one puzzle can be saved this way at a time.
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Q. I thought I saved the puzzle. Why does it open blank?
A. Since the save function works by writing a cookie, it only works for the same computer and the same browser, and only if cookies are enabled. Also, the cookie is set to expire two weeks after saving.
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Q. I thought I finished the puzzle. Why doesn't the quote apear at the bottom?
A. Perhaps you have misspelled a word. If you use the "Hint" button (older puzzles only), you can find the first disagreement between your answer and the stored puzzle solution. The "Show Errors" button will highlight all the differences between your answer and the solution without revealing the correct answer.
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Q. How do you write these puzzles?
A. In B.C. times (Before Computers), acrostic authors would use Scrabble® tiles to spell out a quote, then re-arrange the tiles to spell the clue words. Now it can all be done in software rather than hardware. I use a custom-written program on the Macintosh that handles everything from searching a dictionary to composing a final PDF file. Of course, the most important ingredient is the quote. I look for quotes that express ideas essential to the works from which they are taken, or that at least are amusing. I hope you enjoy them!