CROSSWORDS: Discover the Theme

Why? | Types | Summary | Quotes |
Examples: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun |
References

Why?

  • A theme can make a crossword more enjoyable
    -- finding a pattern in what might otherwise seem a collection of random words
  • With consistent theme entries, figuring out one or two can often help you solve the other theme entries.
  • It can be more challenging to deduce a rule or solve a meta-puzzle within the puzzle.
  • Themeless puzzles -- sometimes called free-style -- are more difficult, typically with longer slangy "stacked" entries.
  • Examples: Universal; NYT (Fri, Sat -- and occasionally Sun)
  • Some have been described as “crunchy,” “wide-open,” “chatty,” “clean” and “clueable.”

Types of Themes

  • Wikipedia: "Many American crossword puzzles contain a 'theme' consisting of a number
    of long entries (generally three to five in a standard 15x15-square 'weekday'-size puzzle)
    that share some relationship, type of pun, or other element in common."
  • Examples:
  • Category theme: theme elements are all members of the same set
  • e.g., five themed entries ending in the different parts of a tree:
    SQUAREROOT, TABLELEAF, WARDROBETRUNK, BRAINSTEM,
    BANKBRANCH; NYT 4/26/2005
  • Quote themes, featuring a famous quote broken up into parts
    to fit in the grid (and usually clued as 'Quote, part 1',...);
  • Rebus themes, where multiple letters, digits or even symbols
    occupy a single square in the puzzle (e.g., BERMUDAΔ);
  • Addition themes, where theme entries are created by adding
    a letter, letters, or word(s) to an existing word or phrase.
  • e.g., "Crucial pool shot?" = CRITICAL MASSE
    (formed by taking the phrase "critical mass" and adding an "e" on the end.
    All the theme entries in a given puzzle must be formed by the same process
    (so another entry might be "Greco-Roman buddy?" = WRESTLING MATE
    -- "wrestling mat" with an "e" added on). An example of a multiple-letter
    addition (and one that does not occur at the end of the entry) might be
    "Crazy about kitchen storage?" = CABINET FEVER (derived from "cabin fever");
  • Subtraction themes, the reverse of the above,
    where letters are removed to make a new word or phrase;
  • Compound themes, where the starts or ends of the
    theme entries can all precede or follow another word,
    which is given elsewhere in the puzzle.
  • e.g., a puzzle with theme entries that begin with
    PAPER, BALL, and WATER and elsewhere in the puzzle,
    the word BOY clued as "Word that can follow the start of [theme entries]";
  • Anniversary or tribute themes, commemorating a specific person, place, or event.
  • e.g., the NYT 10/7/2011 crossword commemorated
    the life of Apple CEO Steve Jobs who had died on October 5.
    Theme entries related to Jobs' life included MACINTOSH,
    PIXAR, THINK DIFFERENT, CREATIVE GENIUS,
    STEVE JOBS, and APPLE.
  • Synonym themes, where the theme entries all contain synonyms
  • e.g., a Los Angeles Times puzzle featuring a set of theme entries that contain
    the words RAVEN, JET, EBONY, and SABLE, all synonyms for "black"
  • Numerous other types have been identified, including spoonerisms,
    poems, shifted letters, rhyming phrases, puns, homophones, and
    combinations of two or more of other types of themes.
  • cruciverb.com: List of theme categories and examples: Additions; Alliterations;
    Anagram / Scramble; Antonyms; Bookends; Category Members; Combined Types;
    Complete The Clue; Compounds; Containers (hidden); Definitions; Deletions;
    Designated Squares; Direction change; Double/Triple Letters; Featured Letter(s);
    Grid design; Holidays and Special Occasions; Homophones; Jokes / Riddles;
    Language / Accent; Mini theme; Pairs / Triplets / nTuplets; Palindromes; Positional;
    Proper Name Play; Punchlines; Puns; Quips and Quotes; Rebus; Redivision; Repetition;
    Reversals; Rhyme; Sequence; Shared Centers; Shared Initials; Shift; Spoonerisms;
    Stacked 15s; String / Chain; Substitutions; Switch; Synonyms; Tribute; 4Verse

Summary

  • How to locate the theme entries and uncover the theme?
  • Does puzzle have a Title? It should be theme-related, but might not be obvious until you finish!
  • By convention, theme entries are the longest entries, and appear in symmetric Across locations
    -- though occasionally in (additional) Down locations
  • Do long answers have 'marked' clues (?, *, CAPS), or contain circles in grid?
  • Does a special clue, often later in clue list (for central or last Across theme entry),
    'explain' the theme -- aka 'reveal' or 'payoff' entry)
  • Some authors are known for certain themes, e.g., Reagle for puns.
  • Use crossing entries to figure out 1 or 2 longer theme answers;
    if you recognize a pattern, test/apply your theme hypothesis on other likely theme answers.
  • If several answers are not fitting, especially on a Thu or Sun,
    and extra letters or numbers appear to be needed, suspect a rebus or a direction change!
  • Shapes in grid pattern?
  • Insets or circled letters may provide an additional theme level or puzzle-within-a-puzzle
  • Answer or some words reversed? palindrome; malapropism; spoonerism
  • Do you need to add/remove a letter or letter sequence from/to all of the theme entries?
  • Examples; References

Quotes

Examples

  • reagleOLLI Course: Constructing Crosswords: Themes: NYT, LAT, Reagle,
    Crossword Constructor's Handbook, Johnston, Steve, tutorial articles, ...; e.g., "Puzzle Piece"
  • Examples below are organized by day of week:
    Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri,Sat | Sun
  • Click on date/title link for solution (and even more clues & answers)
    and clue discussion -- if available
  • Click on .puz for puzzle download -- if available;
    $ indicates subscription required (e.g., NYT)
  • [theme] indicates type of theme
    click on [theme]= to reveal theme details (spoiler alert!); themes from cruciverb categories above;
    * suffix indicates non-constant addition/rebus. "various" for lists of puzzles
  • Click on any "clue"= -- spoiler alert! -- to reveal the answer ignore spaces & punctuation

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday, Saturday

  • Usually themeless (and harder!) -- but included here since Will Shortz liked...
  • NYT; Fri, 9/29/2000; [.puz]; Will Shortz says (why 1 of 5 favorites):
    "This themeless 68-word puzzle contains ten 15-letter answers spanning the grid,
    with 8-Down intersecting the nine going across. As typical with Bob Klahn,
    he spices up the puzzle with lively vocabulary, and the grid doesn't have
    a single unnecessary black square."
  • NYT; Fri, 3/11/2005; from "Five Unforgettable Puzzles" (WordPlay DVD pamphlet); [.puz$]:
    at the time, set record for fewest (19) black squares

Sunday

References