Buying guide
Books and dictionaries for word players
A dictionary to settle arguments, a word book to study from, and two books for getting better at the game. We chose them from the product listings and the pattern in buyer reviews; we haven't read every one cover to cover.
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Works with the Scrabble board game, played at the table. Tileside is an independent product, not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Scrabble.
Quick picks
| Pick | Best for |
|---|---|
| Official Scrabble Players Dictionary | Settling challenges at home |
| Scrabble Word-Building Book | Studying word lists |
| Everything Scrabble | Getting better at the game |
| Word Freak | A great story about the game |
Our picks
The official dictionary
The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 8th Edition (hardcover)
Merriam-Webster's word-checking dictionary for Scrabble at home in the US and Canada, in its newest edition.
Check on AmazonWhy it's here
- More than 100,000 playable words of two to eight letters, with short definitions
- Over 200 new words in this edition
- The hardcover has bigger pages than the pocket edition
Keep in mind
- Brand new, so there are no buyer reviews yet; readers of the last edition were split on its small print
- Stops at eight-letter words. Clubs and tournaments use the longer NASPA Word List, which is what Tileside checks against
Best word book
The Scrabble Word-Building Book, 3rd Edition
Every word up to seven letters, plus the eight-letter words you can build from them.
Check on AmazonWhy it's here
- Handy lists of two- and three-letter words
- Buyers say it's helpful for beginners
- Large print that's easy to scan
Keep in mind
- Some buyers say words are missing
- Published in 2020, so it misses words added since
Best strategy book
Everything Scrabble (updated edition)
An all-around guide by Joe Edley and John D. Williams: strategy, word lists, history and tournament play.
Check on AmazonWhy it's here
- Detailed, with concrete ways to raise your score
- Covers anagramming, two-letter words and keeping a good rack
- Deep enough for players thinking about clubs and tournaments
Keep in mind
- Fewer reviews than the other picks
- Last updated in 2018
Best read
Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis
Nonfiction about the world of competitive Scrabble, and the author's own climb from newcomer to expert.
Check on AmazonWhy it's here
- Engaging; readers say it makes them want to play more
- Vivid portraits of club and tournament players
- Also covers how the game was invented
Keep in mind
- A story, not a how-to book
What to look for
Which word list. The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary stops at eight-letter words. Clubs and tournaments in North America play the NASPA Word List, and most of the world plays the Collins list, so a word book built on one may not match another.
The newest edition. Word lists grow over time. The 8th edition of the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary came out in September 2026 with over 200 new words. The 7th is still sold and has far more reviews, but it's missing those words.
Print size. The same dictionary comes as a pocket paperback, a larger paperback, a hardcover and an ebook. If small print is a problem, choose the hardcover.
Reference or reading. Dictionaries and word books are for settling a play or studying lists. Strategy books and stories like Word Freak are for between games.
Questions
- What dictionary should we use for Scrabble at home?
- The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary is the standard for home games in the US and Canada. Or check words for free with Tileside, which uses the NASPA Word List 2023, the list clubs and tournaments play.
- What's the difference between the Scrabble dictionary and the tournament word list?
- The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary covers words of two to eight letters. The NASPA Word List used in North American clubs and tournaments also includes longer words.
- What's a good book to get better at Scrabble?
- Everything Scrabble covers strategy, word lists and tournament play. Tileside's free lessons are a good place to start, too.
Check words for free
Tileside checks any word against the NASPA Word List 2023 during a challenge, and its free lessons teach the two-letter words and the big tiles.
Start learning