Before printing a set of word searches, look at one page at its actual size. A thumbnail can hide small letters, a crowded list or a very large grid. Choose the words, directions and text size separately so you can see what each change does.
Start with the longest words
Start with the longest words. The grid removes spaces and hyphens, so count the letters that will appear in it. An eight-letter word cannot fit in a straight line on a 5 × 5 grid. Smaller printed text will not fix that: the word needs more cells.
Household Objects includes familiar words such as lamp, towel and laundry basket. Flowers ranges from iris to chrysanthemum. Choose a list the group wants to read, then compare the type at a comfortable distance. Standard uses 12 pt text; Large print uses 18 pt.
The examples below keep the same eight flower names: rose, tulip, daisy, iris, lily, poppy, peony and orchid. Both use across-and-down words. Only the grid dimensions and printed text size change, making them easier to compare.
The 12 × 12 grid has fewer filler letters, but its 18 pt cells are larger on the page. Ask the readers which layout they prefer. Changing the grid dimensions can also move the words, even with the same list and seed, so keep each puzzle with its own answers.
Explain which directions are allowed
Across and down is a clear starting point. Add diagonals or backward words when the group wants them, and explain the directions before beginning. The answer page can help you show what an allowed path looks like.
Check one printed copy
Choose A4 or Letter to match the printer, then check the page breaks and print one copy at 100% scale. Turn off browser headers and footers. Check that no printer setting is shrinking the page and making the letters smaller than you chose.
Large print may move a full theme list onto another page. Check all the thumbnails before deciding whether that is a problem. If the grid itself will not fit, choose fewer rows and columns, shorten the list or select a smaller text size.