| From the introduction, each row and each column of Word Square 13
contains the characters NOEL and a blank cell in some order, so that no
character or space can be repeated in a row or a column. By clue 1, E
is the 4th letter down column 1; while by clue 5, E is the 4th letter across
row 4. Therefore, the E down column 1 must be in row 5, with the E across
row 4 either in column 4 or column 5. We try the E across row 4 in
column 5 first. Since the L in row 3 can't be in column 5 (clue 6), OL
would be in rows 1 and 2 down column 5 (2). The L down column 4 would be in
row 1 (8). By clue 7, across row 2, the E and space are consecutive--either
in columns 2 and 3 or in columns 3 and 4. If the E and space across row 2
were in columns 2 and 3, by clue 3, the space across row 1 would be in
column 2. Then the E in row 1 would be in column 3, with the row 1 N in
column 1. E in column 4 would be in row 3. In row 2, N would be in
column 4 and O in column 1. Across row 3, LN would be in columns 1 and 2
or in column 2 and 3 (6). If LN were in columns 1 and 2, O would be in
column 3--no (4). If LN were in columns 2 and 3 of row 3, there would be
no way for O to fit in the row. So, the E and space across row 2 couldn't be
in columns 2 and 3. If the E and space across row 2 were in columns 3 and 4,
the column 4 E would be in row 3, with the column 2 E in row 1. Then in
row 1, space would be in column 3 (3) and N in column 1. Across row 3,
LN would be in columns 1 and 2 or in columns 2 and 3. If LN were in columns
1 and 2, O would be in column 3--no (4). If LN were in columns 2 and 3
of row 3, O would be in column 1 and space in column 5 of row 3. N in row 2
would be in column 2--but there would then be a second O in column 1. So, the
E and space across row 2 aren't in columns 2 and 3. Therefore, the E across
row 4 isn't in column 5 and is in column 4, with the row 4 space in
column 5. Since the L in row 3 can't be in column 5 (clue 6), OL would be
in rows 1 and 2 down column 5 (2). The column 5 E would be in row 3, with the
column 5 N in row 5. The L down column 4 would be in row 1 (8). By clue 7,
across row 2, the E and space are consecutive--either in columns 2 and 3
or in columns 3 and 4. If the E and space across row 2 were in
columns 3 and 4, down column 4, N would be in row 3 and O in row 5. L
would be in column 3 of row 3 (6). However, there is no way for clue 4 to
work given this arrangement. So, the E and space across row 2 are in
columns 2 and 3. E in row 1 is in column 3. In row 1, space
is in column 2 and N in column 1 (3). In row 2, N is in column 4 and O in
column 1. If the LN across row 3 were in columns 1 and 2, the column 1,
row 4 entry would be a space, a conflict. LN in row 3 are in columns
2 and 3. Then the row 3 O is in column 4 and the row 3 space in column 1.
L in column 1 is in row 4, and space in column 4 is in row 5. In row 4,
O is in column 3 and N in column 2. Finally, in row 5, O is in column 2
and L in column 3. In sum, our Seasons Greetings Word Square contains
the word NOEL as follows:
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 1 | N | | E | L | O |
| 2 | O | E | | N | L |
| 3 | | L | N | O | E |
| 4 | L | N | O | E | |
| 5 | E | O | L | | N |
|
|
|
