I started doing crossword puzzles maybe three or so years ago. Since around the beginning of 2025, I’ve attempted the NYT daily puzzle somewhat regularly.
Crossword Publishers
New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords
The New York Times publishes crosswords in three grid sizes. Puzzles release at 10 PM EST on weekdays and 6 PM ESt on weekends. A subscription is required for full access to the archives.
| Name | Common Grid Size | Max Grid Size | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| mini1 | 5x5 | 7x7 | daily |
| midi | 9x9 | 11x11 | daily |
| standard | 15x15 | 21x21 | daily |
| monthlies | 15x15 | ? | monthly |
| super mega2 | 50x50 | 67x41 | yearly |
| Day | Difficulty | Theme | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | medium | yes | 21x21 |
| Monday | easy | yes | 15x15 |
| Tuesday | medium-easy | yes | 15x15 |
| Wednesday | medium | yes | 15x15 |
| Thursday | medium-hard | yes | 15x15 |
| Friday | hard | no | 15x15 |
| Saturday | challenging | no | 15x15 |
Cluing Conventions
- Abbreviations: If a clue contains “Abbr.” or contains an abbreviation more significant than “e.g.”, the answer is abbreviated.
- Play on words: A question mark (
?) or the word “maybe” at the end of a clue indicates a pun or wordplay. - Agreement: The answer must strictly match the clue in part of speech, tense, and plurality.
- Clue isolation: Answer words never appear in the clue itself.
- Consistency of theme: Themed clues must consistently follow their established mechanism throughout the puzzle.
- Quotes: Spoken phrases are enclosed in quotation marks.
- Verbalizations: Non-word sounds or actions are enclosed in square brackets (e.g.,
[Sigh]). - Parentheses: Used for extended phrases, context, or secondary clues.
- “With”: Often used to indicate a multi-word phrase or cross-referenced clue.
New Yorker
https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/crossword
- publishes minis
| Day | Difficulty | Theme | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | challenging | ||
| Tuesday | moderately Challenging | ||
| Wednesday | beginner-friendly |
Cross with Friends
https://www.crosswithfriends.com/
Crossword Construction
Cruciverbalism is the practice of constructing crosswords and a cruciverbalist is a person who engages in that practice. Sometimes the term cruciverbalist is used to refer to a solver of crossword puzzles, though that is rare. More commonly the person who makes a crossword puzzle is called an author or constructor.
Crossword Construction Software
- Crosserville: A popular, modern web-based crossword constructor.
- Ingrid: A cross-platform desktop app for grid construction.
- Crossword Compiler: A legacy but powerful Windows application for professional constructors.
- Amuse Labs (PuzzleMe): Web platform used by many indie constructors and publications for building and embedding grids.
Terminology
- crosswordese: words whose frequency is much greater in crosswords, because of their letter patterns (e.g., OREO, UTE, OBOE, ONO), than in ordinary speech.
- rebus: a square that contains more than one letter or symbol.
- reveler: an answer that explains the connection between themed clues and answers.
- spanner: a (typically themed) answer that spans the full width of the grid.
- theme (aka, gimmick): a unifying concept linking (typically several long) answers in a puzzle.
Community and Resources
- https://www.xwordinfo.com/
- https://word.tips/#crossword-clues
- https://www.reddit.com/r/NYTCrossword/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/NYTConnections/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/crossword/
- https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisRemo
- https://www.youtube.com/@SamONellaCrosswords
- https://grid-alchemy.com/