public static boolean containsWord(String word, char[][] puzzle) { String check = ""; //check row-forward for(int r =0; r < puzzle.length; r++) { for(int c = 0; c <= puzzle[0].length-word.length(); c++) { int len = 0; check = ""; while(len < word.length()) { check += puzzle[r][c+len]; len++; } } if(check.equals(word)) return true; } }