Input: The answer to an index that solvers write in crossword puzzles. Entries that are part of a topic are called – wait – topic entries. Fun fact: In a typical American-style crossword, an entry should have at least three letters. Once you`ve learned some of the shorter answers and how they`re suggested, you can almost be sure to see them again. The brain works in strange and wonderful ways, and if you start solving crossword puzzles consistently, you`ll feel really good when you can say, «Hey, I know!» Now imagine opening your Sunday New York Times crossword magazine and seeing a museum come to life. Here is a puzzle from Sunday 2009 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Solomon R. The Guggenheim Museums in New York celebrated: To bring the point home, let`s take a look at the difference between a Monday clue and a weekend hint for a popular crossword entry. Some crossword puzzles contain a number of entries that all have something in common. Puzzle makers have a knack for recognizing curiosities in our language, and if they can gather enough of the same kind of curiosity, they have developed a thematic set. As a resolver, you can not only solve crossword puzzles, but also assemble the topic. Symmetry: Standard crossword puzzles have 180-degree rotational symmetry, which means that if you turn a crossword upside down, the black and white squares are always in the same place.

Saturday crossword puzzles are actually the hardest of the week. Mondays have the simplest clues and Saturday cues are the hardest or involve the most puns. Contrary to popular belief, Sunday puzzles during the week are difficult, not the most difficult. They`re just bigger. If the constructor and crossword editors are feeling particularly evil, you may see an innocent clue like this for a three-letter entry: To keep things fair between the builder, editor, and solver, most crossword hints follow some predictable «rules.» We`re going to walk you through some of these rules, and if you practice using the minis included in this guide, you`ll go much further in your solution. Fill: A general term for words or phrases that fill a crossword puzzle. Crossword puzzles to manipulate clues are rare, but are becoming increasingly common. The last one I remember was the last day after Christmas, when Christina Iverson begged us to get rid of the bugs.

Do you want to improve your mental flexibility, learn a few interesting things every day and assert yourself with your friends? Solving crossword puzzles is like mental yoga – challenging and relaxing at the same time. Plus, it`s fun, especially if you enjoy words and puns as much as I do. I believe that with patience and practice, anyone can learn to solve crossword puzzles. Once you master a few basic strategies, you`ll find that solving puzzles is not only possible, but also addictive. So let`s get started! The number of types of topics you can see in crossword puzzles is almost endless, so we can`t describe them here. But more often than not, it`s about playing with words. Lock: crossing the entrances in the grid. An American-style crossword has a «full lock,» meaning that no part of the grid can be completely cut off from the black squares. Theoretically, a solver should be able to solve from each section of one puzzle to another without having to stop. Tip: The New York Times crossword puzzle appeals to all ages. It is worth learning both the older and more modern slang and the colloquial language. And you`ll surely learn it when you solve the crossword puzzle, dawg.

The answer to all these clues is the same: «OREO». These delicious sandwich cookies are so popular in crossword puzzles that some have called them «official» crosswords. Let me say something that may be controversial, but it has to be said: it`s okay to look for something when solving a crossword puzzle. Some good news about crossword puzzles: an index-answer match will always be right, even if it takes some time for solvers to see it. And who doesn`t like to be prepared to win, even if it`s after a mental tug-of-war? Meghan Morris is a call advocate in Denver, where she lives in kindergarten with her partner and twins. She came to crossword puzzles at the University of North Carolina, where she did them in The Daily Tar Heel. Ethan: After graduating in 2020, I built a mini crossword puzzle for Harvard`s version of Class Notes («The Red Book») in which I mentioned that I hoped to have a puzzle in the Times one day. Note: A crossword puzzle is a clue that the solver must decipher to find the answer, which is then entered into the puzzle grid. References are not necessarily dictionary definitions; They can include puns, anagrams, and other types of word games. But don`t limit yourself.

Try to master the skills you need to get started, and then push yourself to continue in the week. Here`s all that sneaky and delicious pun in the clues, and therein lies the fun of solving crossword puzzles. Not all crosswords have themes, but for those who do, it will help you solve better. This is another good reason to know them. Tip: Look for one of the most sneaky clues to crossword puzzles: hide a proper name at the beginning of a clue. The real fun and challenge of solving crossword puzzles lies in solving the really difficult clues. Take this quiz to familiarize yourself with some of the most common obscure crossword entries. This is his second crossword in the New York Times and his first Sunday. There`s so much wonderful variety in the New York Times crossword puzzle. These examples are only meant to get you started, but once you`ve dived in and started solving, prepare to be surprised by the incredible creativity of puzzle makers. Solvers often see a «?» in clues that are part of a wordplay crossword theme, but any hint that includes puns could potentially include a «?» An index can receive a «?» depending on its degree of elasticity, that is, the distance between an index and being factually true.

It may also depend on the day of the week when the clue appears: early week puzzles may receive a «?» to help you, while later weekly clues may not be helpful.