Word List Methodology

1. Source and license

Wordilizer currently uses version 2.0.0 of an-array-of-english-words, a package maintained by Zeke Sikelianos and contributors. The package contains roughly 275,000 lowercase entries, states that it is derived from the Letterpress word list, and is distributed under the MIT License. The complete attribution and license notice are reproduced on the credits page.

2. Normalization

When the server starts, Wordilizer converts source entries to lowercase, retains only spellings made entirely from the letters A–Z, removes duplicate strings, sorts the remaining list, and keeps words from 2 through 15 letters. Entries containing spaces, punctuation, accents, or hyphens are not part of the searchable runtime list. The normalized list is grouped by length so fixed-length searches can inspect only the relevant group.

3. How each search works

Beginning, ending, and exact sequence

“Starting with” compares characters from the first position. “Ending with” compares characters through the final position. Exact “containing” mode requires the submitted sequence to appear continuously and in the same order somewhere in the entry. These are spelling comparisons; they do not infer pronunciation, meaning, etymology, or grammatical role.

Letters in any order and unscrambling

Any-order containing mode requires each submitted letter to occur at least as many times as it was entered, while allowing other letters in the result. The unscrambler is stricter: a result may use only letters available in the submitted pool and may not reuse a letter more often than supplied. It can return both full-length anagrams and shorter constructible words.

Crossword patterns

In a pattern, a question mark represents exactly one unknown letter and an asterisk represents zero or more letters. Known letters remain fixed in their submitted positions. A pattern such as c?t therefore checks three-letter entries beginning with C and ending with T, whereaspre*ing can span different lengths.

4. Editorial and indexation policy

Search results are generated from the normalized source. Wordilizer does not claim that every individual entry has been manually defined or independently approved. Editorial review focuses on the explanatory material, familiar examples, search instructions, internal links, and claims made on prominent landing pages. Automated counts are calculated from the current dataset at request or build time.

The site deliberately separates a useful tool result from an article worthy of search indexing. At present, the guided five-letter and six-letter lists are the only generated word-list pages intended for indexing. Other valid combinations remain available to visitors who use the tools, but carry a noindex,follow instruction and are omitted from the XML sitemap until they receive substantial, distinct editorial treatment.

5. Known limitations

The source is a broad vocabulary list rather than a continuously edited general dictionary or an official game lexicon. It may contain rare, historical, regional, technical, inflected, or potentially sensitive terms; it may also omit words recognized elsewhere. Wordilizer does not currently provide definitions, pronunciation, usage frequency, dated citations, or a universal acceptability score.

A match proves only that the normalized spelling meets the selected filters. It does not guarantee acceptance by Scrabble, Words With Friends, Wordle, a crossword editor, a school, or any dictionary publisher. Consult the rules or official lexicon for the activity when eligibility matters. Third-party names belong to their respective owners and do not imply endorsement.

6. Corrections and review

Report a questionable or missing result to hello@wordilizer.com. Include the word, the relevant page or tool, the filters used, the observed result, and a reliable reference if available. Reports are checked against the upstream source, the normalization rules, and the search implementation. Depending on the finding, Wordilizer may correct its code or explanation, document the limitation, or raise the issue with the source project.

7. Change policy

Material changes to the source, accepted character range, matching logic, indexation policy, or review process will be reflected here and identified by the date at the top. Smaller interface changes that do not alter result meaning may be released without revising this page.