And I find my philosophies behind it to be ever-evolving, so I’m eager to engage in these discussions with solvers and constructors alike. In fact, I’d place ON A (partial phrase) and HUD (abbreviation) in a slightly higher tier, as they can at least get fresh angles in their clues.Īt the end of the day, the art of making crosswords is one giant balance. The same can be said for crossword-y mainstays like VIE and RNA perfectly cromulent, sure, but there’s only so much you can do with them. It’s not that I’m anti-name in any way - look, I started this puzzle with TYREKE, and as a solver I love when I can resonate with a puzzle’s references - but I do believe that a preponderance of names will lead to cluing inflexibility. This sort of mind-set has gotten me more interested in mid-length stuff like THRILLER, SYMMETRY, TROPHY, TRENDS, ANIMAL and CLENCH, along with a short fill buildup like HIM / SOLE / CULT / SCAN. A constructor’s ability to write clues might serve as the tiebreaking factor for my final vote on whether to accept or reject it, though I’m also talking about “cluability” - can these answers get fun, imaginative clues in the first place? I’m thinking a lot about cluing lately, which I truly believe can add just as much to the solving experience as the grid itself. There are so many weekend-level puzzles I review and set aside, noting something along the lines of: “This is obviously a well-made puzzle that I’d probably enjoy solving … but is there room for it in our files?” We simply can’t accept them all. Increased diversity in constructors has brought more to the table in terms of interesting fill, and word lists continue to be expanded and optimized. Constructor NotesĪ standout themeless crossword is so tough to make these days. The answer to “For _ (birthday card category)” is HIM. This clue is hinting at something teachers need to wipe across the blackboard, and the answer is ERASER.ĥ2D. “Need for teachers across the board” is a true statement, as we do have a need for good teachers. The “Cry accompanying a double take” is WHAT THE.Ĥ2D. I remember when this entry debuted in 2002 in a puzzle by Brendan Emmett Quigley. “Corn or bean plant, perhaps” sounds like we’re supposed to be thinking about seedlings, but the “plant” in this clue is the CANNERY where the food is packaged.ģ8D.
The “ Three-pointer?” is a HAT TRICK.ģ7D. I needed every crossing I could get for this one. Boy, I wish I had a STAIRMASTER at home to “step up my workout routine.” In lieu of equipment, I’ve been walking up and down the one flight of stairs in my home.ģ5D. The answer to “Lightning unit” in this puzzle is VOLT.Ģ4D. If you are wondering about the curious bedtime location in the clue “Lullaby locale,” here’s where it comes from: “Rockabye baby, on the TREETOP …”Ģ3D.
TYREKE Evans makes his first name debut in this New York Times Crossword puzzle.ġD. The transcription in this clue is the processing of a DNA sequence to make an RNA molecule.ĥ7A. Tough one! “Product of transcription” sounds like we should be thinking about notes that come from transcribing a document, but that’s not where this was going at all. “It” in “It comes to light” sounds like we are looking for something that is uncovered, but in this puzzle “it” is a MOTH, because MOTHs are attracted to light.Ĥ5A. In this puzzle, a “Country album?” is not a collection of country music songs, but a WORLD ATLAS.Ĥ3A. According to, THEODICY is the theological and philosophical explanation of “why a perfectly good, almighty, and all-knowing God permits evil.”Ģ6A. TIL the word THEODICY, which appeared in the New York Times Crossword only once, in 1973. There is a category called TRENDS, which groups the “trending” hashtags, though.ġ8A. I wanted TRENDING for this one, because that is what users see most often on Twitter on top hashtags. Ezersky confesses is a coincidence, but I don’t believe him. Ezersky, who is associate puzzles editor for The Times and the editor of some of our other games, like Spelling Bee and Letter Boxed, gives us a gift today: a challenging and well-made puzzle that includes a fun Easter egg at the very end at 52D, which Mr. Today is Sam Ezersky’s birthday and, according to tradition, we should be giving him gifts. I’ve found that there are many such things - a heartfelt “thank you,” for instance, to all of the people on the front lines of the pandemic, who are showing us all what dedication and bravery truly are - but within the scope of this column, it’s the little kindnesses that count. Sometimes, internalizing the good things is what keeps us going. FRIDAY PUZZLE - At a time when the world is upside down and people are struggling, I think it is especially important to look around for good, positive things that are being done and blessings that can be counted, no matter how small they are.
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