1. No category

Become a Crossword
Super Solver
William Johnston · 19 January 2010
Newton Community Education
Themes
C
U
J
O
The theme of a crossword puzzle is the organizing principle that links the longest
entries. Most crosswords published in the United States have a theme. If the puzzle
has a title, it may obliquely suggest the theme.
U
P
O
N
B B
U B
S Q
F
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T O
Y B U Z
A M
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E L O
L S
O A T S
U I R T
O R
K E T E
A U S A
I N
M
S I S
E C T
R E N
L
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Z
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S T
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R L
A I
G F
E
H
A T
Z O
A Y
R E
D D
R I S E
I N T R
B A R E
S O S
P E N T
I C G U
L
L OW E
S C H E
H O G
M S
S
V E
S P E C
E A R
G L U
N
O
R
O
O
M
R
R
S
E
S
S
E
The five theme entries in this puzzle
are common joke shop items.
A
S
S
A
M
M
A
Y
B
E
E
L
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E
R
I
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N
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B O L
R R A
D I
A A R
N I
I N G
R
G M I
R E P
A W
P L E
P
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U N K N
E A
S T E R
H A N D
O M
R A D U
N
H A
MA W
T E R
I A M E
G N A T
E L
T
R Y
A
A T
MO
OW
R N
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O
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P
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Three horizontal 15-letter entries are
clued as “X” and a central vertical
15-letter entry is clued as “X X X.”
B
A
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O
D
I
E
L
A I
MA
P R
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A B
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P
O P
L
I E
T A
A
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Y
T S
A T
T
T E
A
N L A W
G T
O R L E
I R
MA L A
A G A T
I N C O
T O
R S
L
E T H E
D I A N
C MO
A R
T I C
M P O
T R
I T
A D E
R E G
I S E
E
L N L
A L
A V A
L
M
A
A
N
J
O
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E A
C H
R
U L
O
N
O G
B
L A
O N
N K
G A
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N
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T
Y
T
O
N
Y
A R
X O
I T
S
M
D
L
I
P
E
E
N
The black squares of the grid echo the
double-L theme of this puzzle.
MO O D
M U N I
I C E S
H A R
A
J E R E
A M I L
N T O I
E S T
P
M T F U
A R I E
C U R B
H E E L
O R S O
M
E
M
L O
U R
M Y
E
N E
L
A S
J I
A N
O
R
E
A
N
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T
A
G
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L
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R
A
E
C
O
N
C
E
P A R
G I L T
L A V O
U N A
E O
P
N O
T O I N
I L E D
E E C E
D G E R
G
L
O
O R
R I
K A
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S
E
R
E
S
H
O
W
T
I
M
E
R
O
N
D
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S
C
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P
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E
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Y
A
L
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M
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S
A
T
N
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E
X S
I R
T A
This puzzle names famous beheaded
people. Their “heads” lie nearby but
detached from their bodies.
Theme attributes
Theme entries are usually longer than all the other entries in a puzzle.
Typically, there may be three horizontal theme entries of 12–15 letters, or
four theme entries of 9–11 letters.
Theme entries must be presented in a symmetric arrangement in a puzzle.
It is crucial that theme entries be parallel in construction. Editors insist on
consistency in themes.
Themes provide entertainment and satisfaction for the solver.
When a theme is discovered, it helps the solver complete all areas of the puzzle.
Themes provide a way for the crossword constructor to advance the art and craft
of puzzle-making.
Typical themes
Categories: Theme entries may all be members of a specific category.
Puns: Theme entries may all be puns related to a single topic.
Wordplay: Adding, deleting, or changing letters in common phrases can result in
humorous new phrases that are then clued. See the example on page 3.
Hidden words: Multi-word phrases that contain hidden words can be a theme.
Quip: An amusing or pithy quotation or quip can be a theme, but it must break
into symmetric entries. Sometimes the author’s name can be included.
Clue-related: Sometimes the same clue can be used for all the theme entries.
Special event: Holidays, anniversaries, or birthdays can provide a theme.
Rebus: A small word, symbol, or picture can occupy a single square in several
locations. This is a tricky theme for novice solvers.
Things to avoid in themes
Constructors and editors try to avoid gruesome or tasteless topics (see puzzle
shown at the bottom on this page), and avoid topics that are too specialized to
appeal to a wide solving audience.
Most of the puzzle will not consist of theme entries; about 45–50 squares in a
typical 15 x 15 puzzle should be theme related. If a constructor tries to fit too
many theme entries in a puzzle, this makes filling the puzzle grid much harder, and
it is likelier that obscure or rare words will be needed to complete the diagram.
Aside from the major theme entries, most constructors avoid adding small words
that are only tangentially related to the theme. One exception is that a small
“helper” entry may be placed in a corner of a puzzle if it helps explain the theme in
a puzzle that has no title.
page 1
Become a Crossword
Super Solver
William Johnston · 19 January 2010
Newton Community Education
S P I C
S I L E
W E L L
F L
E T A
G E T S
G L E E
O L D P
G
O
S
S
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P
D
O
T
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M
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P
A
D
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R
E
A
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A
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P
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N
R O
A N
F A
T
O
N
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N
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T
E
P
R
A
E
T
S O F
A N
T O B
I
S
S
T
L L S
B E
T O S
E
A
M
T
E
S
R
O
L
F
E
M
I
L
T
A
X
I
E D
S R
Q U I
S
A S L
E P
N O R
E R A
A T Z
S S E
E
N
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M
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D
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K
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D
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E S
T H
C E
180-degree symmetry. The diagram
looks the same upside down. All
typical crosswords have this feature.
Grids
The grid is the pattern of black and white squares that the solver fills in. You can
use graph paper or computer software to help design and fill crossword grids.
Grid features
Grids are almost always square.
Grids usually have an odd number of squares on each side. Common sizes for grids
are 15 x 15 for weekday puzzles and 21 x 21 for Sunday puzzles.
The maximum word count in a 15 x 15 themed puzzle is 78 words.
No more than about 1/6 of the squares in the grid should be black.
Every white square in the grid must appear in an Across and a Down word.
The black squares of the grid must not divide the puzzle into unconnected areas.
L
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K
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A W N
M I
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T D S
I F E
L E
O O K
OW E
P E R
S R S
B
O
R W
A I
N E
S
O S
M E
M
R
E W
T O
K
E
N
L I N I
A S E S
H E E L
E A
R
P U T O
R A S
K
A G E S
M E N T O
A B E L L
D O T
D
A Y
R V
S U I
I N G S C
T A T S
O T S O
A
S
K
S
F
O
R
J
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L
Y
F
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A H
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T S
R O
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S L
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K
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90-degree symmetry. A quarter turn
maps the grid onto itself.
Grid symmetries
The pattern of black squares must have 180-degree symmetry. That is, if you turn
the diagram upside down, it looks the same.
In addition to 180-degree symmetry, some puzzles also have 90-degree symmetry.
In addition to 180-degree symmetry, some puzzles also have mirror symmetry.
On rare occasions, a puzzle will have mirror symmetry only, without 180-degree
symmetry.
Things to avoid in grids
S
H
O
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T
W
O
O
S
H
G R
H A
I M
C
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L
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MA F I
E L E C
I D I D I
B O N
S
E R I N G
R D
E S E P A
F O X
I T T L E
D A
E S E L A
L U G
A
L D I R E
R H I N
J U D A
A
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T A
V
B I
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Mirror symmetry in two axes.
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D
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Mirror symmetry in four axes.
Two-letter words are not allowed in standard puzzles.
Avoid having too many three-letter words. A maximum of 8–15 three-letter words
is ideal.
Avoid “cheater” black squares added just to make filling the grid easier. If a black
square can be removed without changing the total number of words in the grid, it
is a cheater, unless it is required for thematic reasons.
Avoid large clumps of black squares.
Avoid having just one entry as a mode of access into a region of the grid. Solvers
should have two ways of getting into every region. This guideline is violated in the
top diagram shown at the left.
Grid Activity
The following grids are unacceptable for different reasons. Can you explain
why each grid fails to meet the typical requirements for a puzzle?
Diagram A
Diagram B
Diagram C
Diagram D
page 2
Become a Crossword
Super Solver
William Johnston · 19 January 2010
Newton Community Education
Improving Your Solving
Commonly used words
ERA
AREA
ARENA
ESTATE
ERE
ERIE
ERASE
TSETSE
ELI
ALOE
EERIE
STEREO
ONE
EDEN
ENTER
ODESSA
ORE
ARIA
OPERA
ELAINE
ATE
ANTE
IRATE
ORIOLE
ALE
ELSE
ALONE
ENAMEL
ETA
IDEA
IRENE
ARARAT
ALI
ASEA
AROMA
ORIENT
ENE
OREO
ERATO
ARENAS
These are some of the most common
short words found in crosswords.
As you gain practice in crossword solving, you will find that certain words crop up
over and over again. This has to do with patterns of letters, such as alternating
vowels and consonants, and frequency of common letters, that make building the
puzzle easier for the constructor.
Some of these words are very common, and others are rare enough that they seem
to be seen only in crosswords, and they are sometimes known as crosswordese,
such as ETUI, OLEO, ORCA, and so on. Familiarity with common fill words and
crosswordese can help speed your solving.
Finding the easy ones
Some people like to quickly scan through a puzzle to see which entries they are
sure they know. Look at the clue set and see if any clues stand out as ones that you
think you can solve right away.
Fill-in-the-blank type clues are one kind of clue that can provide an early foothold
in a puzzle. Some sports or movie trivia clues may be gimmes. You can also often
be confident about clues involving areas in which you have expertise.
Method of attack
How do you proceed in solving a puzzle? Some solvers read all the Across clues in
order and then the Down clues, proceeding methodically in that order, repeating as
necessary. Others skip around in the diagram or clues with no particular method,
gradually completing the puzzle piecemeal.
Activity
Cardinal point
_ _ S T
_ _ S T
Musical key
B M _ _ O R
B M _ _ O R
Car damage
D _ N _
D _ N _
Slow movement
L _ _ _ O
L _ _ _ O
“___ boy!”
_ T _ A
_ T _ A
Mummy’s spot
Country name
Another approach is to try to always build off of words you have already entered,
gradually filling the grid like an ever-enlarging amoeba. With this approach, you
already have at least one known letter in each new word you enter, and you can be
more certain the answers are correct because you are building on known letters.
The fastest solvers at the annual crossword competition largely use this approach.
Ambiguous fill
Sometimes you will find that there are two or more words that seem to work as an
answer. It may be possible to fill in some letters, even though you aren’t yet sure
what the final answer is. For example, the clue “Make edits” could be AMEND or
EMEND. So, you can fill in _MEND.
You will eventually figure out which answer is correct, but in the meantime you
should enter as many likely letters as you can.
Watch out for clues where the constructor has deliberately set traps! For example,
the clue “Something in a shell” might be used for PIE, or PEA, or even OAR.
_ _ Y P T
_ _ Y P T
Ambiguous Fill Activity
_ E _ _
Explain why each of the clues at the left is ambiguous by finding more than one
answer that fits with the given letters.
_ E _ _
page 3
Become a Crossword
Super Solver
William Johnston · 19 January 2010
Newton Community Education
Tackling Clues
The clues in a puzzle are what the solver uses to discover the answers. You will
find that certain conventions apply to clues in puzzles.
Rules for clues
The part of speech of a clue must match the part of speech of the answer.
Clues should be accurate, but they may be deceptive.
Clues will be short, since there are space limitations in newspapers.
If an answer is an abbreviation, the clue will include an abbreviation itself as a cue,
or include “(abbr.)” at the end.
If an answer is a common word from a foreign language, the clue will usually use a
reference to that language within its wording.
Difficult entries should have easy clues, or they should be crossed by words that all
have easy clues.
The level of difficulty of clues should be appropriate for the venue of the puzzle
and the day of the week it will appear.
Varieties of clues
Straight definition: Most crossword clues are simple definitions of their answers.
Tricky Clue Activity
Can you solve these clues?
The question marks at the end
indicate these are tricky clues.
Pole star?
S
— — N
— — A
— — L
— — U
— —
Alliteration or rhyme: Clues can use alliteration or rhyme to avoid monotony.
Fill-in-the-blank: Some entries can only be clued with a fill-in-the-blank phrase.
Trivia: Solvers enjoy learning new things, so an interesting fact that can clue a
common answer in a fresh way is usually welcome.
Punny or tricky: A question mark often indicates that the solver needs to view a
clue in a non-standard way to solve it.
Humorous: Solvers welcome offbeat clues to words.
Old tool for working on logs?
L — —
D — —
R — —
L —
— —
Clue variety
Where mates are often found?
You can see from the examples below that it is possible to write clues of different
varieties or difficulty levels for the same word.
N —
D — —
A — — —
S
— —
Blessed events?
N — — —
Z — —
— —
Genesis garden
Paradise
Idyllic spot
Sandwich cookie
Nabisco treat
Hydrox alternative
Run off to wed
Split to unite
Get hitched quick
Jeannie portrayer Barbara
1950s British prime minister
Steinbeck’s “East of ___”
Snack since 1912
Stackable snack
Dunkable dessert
Run for your wife?
Take the honey and run?
Bolt together?
Temptation location
Fall locale
First place?
Round of snacking?
Food that’s been kosher
since 1998
It may get a licking after
dinner
What running mates do?
Take part in a secret joint
venture?
Choose the window instead
of the aisle?
Takes back the lead?
E
— — — S
— — —
Spoke more than once?
— — — I
— I
—
Bring up the rear?
O —
O —
— —
Scratch post?
T —
— —
page 4
Become a Crossword
Super Solver
William Johnston · 19 January 2010
Newton Community Education
Resources
Books for Solvers
Amy Reynaldo. How to Conquer the New York Times Crossword Puzzle.
ISBN: 0-312-36554-3
Patrick Berry. Crossword Puzzle Challenges for Dummies.
ISBN: 0-764-55622-3
Coral Amende. The Crossword Obsession.
ISBN: 0-425-18157-X
Matt Gaffney. Gridlock.
ISBN: 1-560-25890-X
Marc Romano. Crossworld.
ISBN: 0-767-91757-X
Will Shortz. Wordplay.
ISBN: 0-312-36403-2
Internet Links for Solvers
Puzzle Pointers — links to free daily puzzles
http://www.fleetingimage.com/wij/xyzzy/nyt-links.html
Crossword Fiend blog and forum — discussions about daily puzzles
http://www.crosswordfiend.com
Wordplay blog — discussion of New York Times daily puzzles
http://wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com
XWord Info — solving aids, tips, statistics about puzzles
http://www.xwordinfo.com
Answers to Activities
Grid Activity
A. Four squares do not have both
Across and Down words going
through them.
B. There are four 2-letter entries.
C. The diagram does not have
180-degree symmetry.
D. The diagram has 80 entries. The
maximum word count for this
puzzle size is typically 78 entries.
XWord Blogosphere — links to blogs with daily puzzle answers
http://www.xwordinfo.com/blogs.aspx
OneLook — online dictionary search with wildcards
http://www.onelook.com
Crosswordese — word of the day
http://www.crosswordese.com
Cruciverb — crossword constructors resource center
http://www.cruciverb.com
Ambiguous Fill Activity
EAST, WEST
B MAJOR, B MINOR
DENT, DING
LARGO, LENTO
ATTA, ITSA
EGYPT, CRYPT
PERU, REBA
Tricky Clue Activity
SANTACLAUS, SLIDERULE,
ENDGAMES, SNEEZES, ERASES,
RADII, MOON, ATM
page 5