ABOUT THE PUZZLES
Why are the cryptic crosswords larger than the codewords and quick crosswords?
Do you compile crosswords in any language other than English?
How do you compile your crossword and codeword puzzles?
How difficult are your puzzles?
Which dictionary do you use?
My friend doesn't want to spoil the card, can I get a print-out?

ABOUT PERSONALISATION
Why can't you use all 10 of my chosen words in a “MyPuzzle”?
Why did you reject my “The Message” phrase?
Why can't you use a particular word?
My friend's name is Zachary Chameleon Tomlinson, why can't you fit his name on the front of the card?

ABOUT GIFT PUZZLES
Who are you?
I don't like spending money on the internet, are my card details safe?
How long has this website been about?
I have received a promotional code how do I use it?

Why are the cryptic crosswords larger than the codewords and quick crosswords?
Partly it's convention: quick crosswords tend to be on a 13 x 13 cell grid, while cryptic crosswords tend to be on a 15 x 15 cell grid. But mainly it's because the cryptic crosswords are our premium product and the larger grid allows for greater flexibility and stronger personalisation.

Do you compile crosswords in any language other than English?
No. Our crosswords are only compiled in UK English (although we will compile crosswords in US English, by prior arrangement).

How do you compile your crossword and codeword puzzles?
For obvious reasons we can't tell you exactly how we make our puzzles. But we're rather keen to give you an insight into the process – so that you understand quite how much work goes into each puzzle.
When your order comes in we write your chosen words into a grid to check the word lengths. Yes, you read that right, we write your words down. Real people get to work.
Once we have an idea of the word lengths we go to the computer and choose a grid design. Crossword grids have different distributions of word lengths depending on the design and type of symmetry. If we don't have a grid design that suits, we may have to modify an existing design.
We then place your as many of your words as we can into the grid and see if the computer can find words to fit in the spaces in between. More often than not it can't, and we have to shift the words around until a full grid is achieved. Fitting words in a particular order is more time-consuming, hence the extra charge if you choose “The Message” level of personalisation.
Once we have a full grid we can then complete the puzzles by adding clues (for quick crosswords) or assigning numbers to letters (for codewords). If we're making a cryptic crossword then most of the work has yet to come – devising devious clues from scratch.

How difficult are your puzzles?
We go to great lengths to ensure that our puzzles are not impossibly difficult – after all, the most important aspect of a personalised puzzle is that the recipient knows that it is personal to them (and they won't know that if they can't solve any of it).
Our quick crosswords are relatively easy. The clues are either descriptions or synonyms of the answers. And we take great care to avoid overly-obscure words (the computer will slip in all manner of esoteric suggestions, if you don't have human compilers to intervene).
Codewords are more challenging and are better suited to people who enjoy logical reasoning. We help the solver out by giving them a couple of letters to start with.
Our cryptic crosswords are designed to amuse rather than downright baffle. Difficulty is a rather subjective notion, but we aim to make puzzles that are equivalent to the cryptic crosswords in the Daily Telegraph (early- to mid-week), London Evening Standard or the “Everyman” in The Observer. As none of our compilers have had a Classical education, we avoid Greek and Latin references (but you're welcome to submit Greek and Latin words as part of the personalisation process.

Which dictionary do you use?
We use a number of dictionaries to aid us, but our house style is derived from Chambers English Dictionary. Hence we use the “ise” form for words like “standardise” or “nationalise”.

My friend doesn't want to spoil the card, can I get a print-out?
Of course. We are happy to send you a PDF file of the puzzle, which you can print out as many times as you like, providing the print-outs are for personal use and the PDF file is not used for publication or distribution.

Why can't you use all 10 of my chosen words in a “MyPuzzle”?
It's a matter of symmetry. If you have a seven-letter word at one part of a crossword puzzle, there will be another seven-letter word at a corresponding part of the same puzzle (or three other seven-letter words, depending on the mode of symmetry).
We try to fit as many of your words as we possibly can. On a 13 x 13 grid we will place at least six of your words. On a 15 x 15 grid we will place at least seven (and we will try and place the other words within the cryptic clues).
When you submit words to us, it's handy if you bear in mind the constraints of symmetry. So, for instance, if you submit a word of eight letters, it has a better chance of being included if you submit another eight-letter word to balance it out.

Why did you reject my “The Message” phrase?
We sometimes need to get back to customers to modify phrases because we simply can't fit the words on the grid.
In some circumstances, however, we have to reject phrases outright. Our cards are designed to bring pleasure and joy. We will not make any puzzles which we believe to contain threats, or language of a nature likely to offend the recipient on the grounds of gender, age, race, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Why can't you use a particular word?
We won't use hate words. It's not a case of political correctness gone mad. We're just not in the business of offending people. And we're not about to start debating whether or not – in context – this or that word is hateful or not.
We also find that certain words and surnames, particularly some Welsh and eastern European words and surnames, don't work. Please don't be offended. It's just that the vowel-consonant distribution is very different to that in the English language. Some words are so consonant-rich that they prove impossible to place. Sorry.

My friend's name is Zachary Chameleon Tomlinson, why can't you fit his name on the front of the card?
Because the cards have been designed to a template that will hold a maximum of 22 characters. If you can't think of a suitable abbreviation, then try a phrase that fits. For instance, “My Cambridge Buddy” or “My Beautiful Wife”. If the card is being delivered directly to the recipient, however, don't forget to put the recipient's name in the address field!

Who are you?
GiftPuzzles is a trading name of boxedBrand, a company that sells editorial content to various magazine, book and online publishers. Since 2005 it has sold and syndicated thousands of crossword, kakuro, codeword, samurai, word search, QuizDoku and sudoku puzzles to magazine and book publishers.
BoxedBrand was started by the journalist and puzzle-compiler James Snodgrass. All GiftPuzzles puzzles are compiled by James and his expert team of freelance crossword compilers.
In a twelve-year journalistic career, James has written about music, technology and motoring for magazines including NME, BBC Tomorrow's World, Stuff and Top Gear. And he is the author of “Godoku” (a Sudoku puzzle-book published by Random House).

I don't like spending money on the internet, are my card details safe?
Very much so. We don't collect any of your financial information. Once you have submitted your order, you will be redirected to PayPal.
PayPal, the trusted leader in online payments, enables buyers and businesses to send and receive money online. PayPal has over 100 million member accounts in 190 countries and regions. It's accepted by merchants everywhere, both on and off eBay.
PayPal helps protect your credit card information with industry-leading security and fraud prevention systems. When you use PayPal, your financial information is never shared with the merchant.

How long has this website been about?
GiftPuzzles.co.uk was launched, for a three-month trial period, in October 2006. The current website launched on November 16, 2007.

I have received a promotional code how do I use it?
If you have been given a promotional code, offering a discount on our products, it may be used before proceeding to PayPal. Simply enter the promotional code EXACTLY as you received it (you may want to copy and paste it) into the box when requested. The discount will be calculated before you proceed to PayPal.
Please note that promotional codes will not work after the stated expiry date.