CROSSWORDS: Solving Strategies and Resources

Summary | Quotes; Pen or Pencil? | References

Summary

• Being born smart helps -- even though you can't change your parents
• Learn to recognize patterns, be creative and flexible
• Multi-tasking and memorizing dictionaries are not necessary
• Be confident -- using ink is optional
• Cartoon: How to Solve the NYT Crossword Puzzle by Patrick Merrell [FLOWCHART]; 1/24/2009
• How to Approach the Biggest Crossword You've Ever Solved: Puzzle Mania’s Super Mega Crossword
  The crossword is only 67 x 41. A mere 782 entries for solvers to ponder. How hard could it be?
  It may look overwhelming, but you’ve got this. Here are our tips for a successful solve.
  1. Solve the Super Mega Crossword any way you want. It’s your puzzle.
  2. If you are a normal human being, don’t expect to solve this crossword puzzle in one day.
  3. Sharing is caring. It may also make solving the puzzle more fun.
  4. Keep your favorite treat nearby. A reward system is invaluable.
  5. Start with the gimmes. Yes, I know there will be a lot of them.
  6. Yes, it is perfectly fine to look things up. People who tell you otherwise are not being good friends.
  7. Take a break when you get stuck.
  8. If you are not familiar with the types of crossword clues and how to solve them,
  now is a good time to learn; NYT; 12/16/2022;

Quotes

• "Fill in the small squares... with words which agree with the following definitions."
  ~Arthur Wynne, first crossword puzzle, 12/1913. Sounds easy enough?
• "Puzzle creators actually want you to solve their puzzle," and how you do that....
  is up to you. There are no rules. You can click through letters on your keyboard
  with the 'error check mode' on or off; you can call a friend or you can look it up.
  You can solve the puzzle any way you choose. ~Jonathan Berkowitz
• I like to see the crossword puzzle as half-full...
  The solid black squares were the only ones I could figure out, so that's something.
• "How many dendrites does this guy... [Dan Feyer: multiple ACPT champion] have?" ~Merl Reagle;
  "[Dan Feyer] excelled at math as well as music, abilities that he thinks go together
  with crossword solving." ~NYT article NYT; 12/7/2011
• "Puzzling person" [WSJ, 2015]; "You, evidently" [NYT, 1994]... SOLVER
• "People who do crossword puzzles... just can't think outside the box." ~Anonymous
• "I'm good at crossword puzzles,...
  I'm not so good at people puzzles." ~Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
• "Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, of Oklahoma... showed exceptional emotional versatility,
  working a crossword puzzle during the hearing and then choking back a sob
  during a prosaic statement about partisanship..." ~Dana Milbank
• "We wanted to see the connection between... being a good crossword solver
  and being great in your field." ~Christine O'Malley, Producer of WordPlay
• "Mental flexibility is... a great asset in solving crosswords. Let your mind wander." ~Will Shortz

Pen or Pencil? -- or (Over)Confidence

• "An optimist is... a man who starts a crossword puzzle with a fountain pen." ~Anonymous
• "Egotism, n:... Doing the New York Times crossword puzzle with a pen." ~Anonymous
  often attributed incorrectly to Ambrose Bierce who died ~1914, just as crosswords were invented,
  and before "crossword" was coined, or NYT had crosswords!
• "I don't smoke, I don't drink coffee,... and I don't need to have a drink at the end of the day.
  What I do need is to solve the crossword, every day, in ink." ~Ken Burns
• Bill Clinton was famous... for completing the Times crossword in a few minutes,
  flawlessly and in ink while simultaneously arguing with political leaders on the phone.
  ~New Yorker, 6/19/2006
• "They say Confucius... does his crossword with a pen" ~Tori Amos (lyric from 'Happy Phantom')
• I believe pencils are superior to pens,
  especially for filling out crossword puzzles... Does that make me erasist?
• Frank Sinatra letter to NYT crossword editor about using pen 9/19/1989
• "Well, so you don't get too cocky,... I myself often complete the TV Guide crossword puzzle."
  He puffed out his chest. "In pen." ~Shelly Laurenston
• "She didn't strike me as... a 'crossword in ink' kind of girl." ~Tom Clancy
• songs: I Do My Crosswords in Pen by On Broken Wings 2003;
  Doing Thursdays in Ink by John Schnall 2008

References

• NYT Mini Crossword: Tips and Tricks for Solving This Fast, Fun Puzzle
  Solve out of order; Look for repeated or related clues;
  Desktop over mobile; One-answer-only clues are your friend;
  Don't be afraid of wrong answers; Not all answers are one word;
  Google if you must; CNet; 9/1/2024
• 8 Helpful Tips for Solving Crossword Puzzles
  Pay attention to the day of the week.
  Punctuation can tip you off; Jump around;
  Grammar matters; Crossings are your allies'
  Mistakes are part of the game; Stick with the same source;
  Keep common words in mind; MF; 8/28/2024
• Want to Be a Crossword Champion? Start With the Right Pencil. NYT; 4/10/2024
• Still stumped by two down on your daily crossword? Try walking up two flights of stairs, scientists suggests 1/14/2024
• 'National Crossword Solvers Day' is December 8
  Myles Mellor created day to help people fighting Alzheimer's Disease; 12/8/2023
• Crossword puzzle champ shares tips on solving puzzles Dan Feyer; video: 3:41; 11/9/2023
• NYT series: Mini to Maestro: Part 1: Beginner; Part 2: Intermediate; Part 3: Advanced 9/19/2022
• I Couldn’t Handle Failure. So I Decided to Embrace Losing. ACPT; 6/27/2022
• The puzzling life of AJ Jacobs
  in this week's Puzzlers' Book Club, we read the wide-ranging memoir of a noted solver, complete with hidden coded message; Guard; 5/9/2022
• WSJ Crossword Course: Part #1. Poetic Justice; Part #2. Chemical Change;
  Part #3. In Character; Part #4. Looking for That Spark WSJ; 8/27/2021
• Join Our 'Crosswords Live' Streams and Help Us Solve the Puzzles NYT; 8/25/2021
• Is it OK to 'cheat' when solving puzzles?
  Your ethical questions answered: can you use word-finders
  or ask friends or strangers in order to fill those final squares? Guard; 3/29/2021
• How to become an elite crossword puzzle solver {scroll down} Quigley, Birnholz, Gaffney; 9/14/2020
• Four Things I Know Doing Crossword Puzzles In Ink 7/14/2020
• How to Get Better at Crosswords Do Puzzles Every Day; Use an App;
  Know When -- and How -- to Cheat; Study Up; LH; 2/15/2019
• How to Solve The New York Times Crossword excellent tutorial, examples; Deb Amlen; NYT; 11/2017
• Improve crossword-solving skills 1/5/2019
• 9 crossword puzzle hacks you should know, according to New York Times puzzle creators
  1. If you're new to the New York Times crossword puzzle, start on Monday
  2. Fill in what you know first
  3. Know common crossword puzzle words
  4. Use the crossings
  5. If the clue is plural, the answer will probably end in "S"
  6. Look out for "veiled capitals"
  7. Hone your skills with practice
  8. Take breaks when you're stuck
  9. "Cheat" if you need to; 12/11/2018
• NYT Crossword Puzzle Maker's 5 Tips For A Razor Sharp Mind Will Shortz; HuffPo; 8/7/2015