Hooks Explorer
Discover hooks (letters that extend words) and find word extensions. Essential for Scrabble and word games.
Find Word Hooks
What Are Hooks?
Hooks are single letters that can be added to existing words to form new valid words.
- • Front hooks: Letters added to the beginning (S + CARE = SCARE)
- • Back hooks: Letters added to the end (PLAY + S = PLAYS)
Game Strategy
Hooks are crucial in word games for:
- • Building off opponent's words
- • Creating multiple words in one play
- • Maximizing points with parallel plays
- • Blocking opponent's potential plays
Valuable Hooks
Most versatile hook letters:
- S: Plurals and verbs (CAT→CATS, RUN→RUNS)
- R: Comparatives (FAST→FASTER)
- D: Past tense (PLAY→PLAYED)
- Y: Adjectives (RAIN→RAINY)
Hook Examples in Scrabble
Common Front Hooks
ABLE → TABLE, CABLE, SABLE
ATE → DATE, FATE, GATE, HATE, LATE, MATE, RATE
EAR → BEAR, DEAR, FEAR, GEAR, HEAR, NEAR, PEAR, REAR, TEAR, WEAR, YEAR
OW → BOW, COW, HOW, LOW, MOW, NOW, ROW, SOW, TOW, VOW, WOW
Common Back Hooks
BAT → BATH, BATS
CAR → CARD, CARE, CARP, CARS, CART
WIN → WIND, WINE, WING, WINK, WINS
PLAN → PLANE, PLANK, PLANS, PLANT
Pro Tip: Two-Way Hooks
Some words can take hooks on both ends simultaneously. For example, CARE can become SCARED (S front hook + D back hook). These are especially valuable in games as they offer multiple scoring opportunities and can be harder for opponents to block.
Word Extensions
Extensions are longer words that contain your base word. Unlike simple hooks that add one letter, extensions can add multiple letters anywhere in the word.
Extension Examples
PLAY → PLAYING, PLAYFUL, DISPLAY
PORT → REPORT, SUPPORT, PORTABLE
LIGHT → DELIGHT, LIGHTING, FLIGHTLESS
Strategic Uses
- • Find longer words for bonus squares
- • Build through existing tiles
- • Create high-scoring combinations