How constructors handle archaic and obscure entries
“Often I find that the puzzle ends in an exceptionally challenging area with more than a few words that are either a real stretch, rarely used or archaic. I wonder if the puzzle maker struggled with that particular area when the puzzle was under construction, and that same area is where they ended. Do you think this is true?” — Anonymous From Christina: When constructors start making a puzzle, they generally start with a “grid skeleton,” which is just the black squares placed strategically around the theme entries. With a solid skeleton, there are nearly endless possibilities for what words you can use to fill the rest of the grid. The constructor will typically try to start filling the grid in the most constrained area — long entries that cross several theme entries, perhaps, or an unusual pattern like a five-letter entry that ends in V. For a themeless puzzle, the grid skeleton may or may not have certain entries locked in. Some constructors start with one or more “seed entries,” which are words or phrases that they’d like to build a puzzle around. Other themeless constructors start with a particular grid design that they find appealing, without any entries locked in place. The more words a constructor locks into a puzzle, the fewer options there are moving forward. Each entry that gets placed limits the remaining entries and puts more constraints on the grid. By the time the constructor gets to the final corner, it’s often difficult to fill that section cleanly. The constructor may have to rip out sections that have already been filled several times before getting something without too many tough vocabulary words or proper nouns crossing. When I review puzzles with my fellow editors, and especially themeless puzzles, we often note when a particular section is not quite as nice as the rest of the grid. While it’s not always the case, you can often tell which corner was the last to be filled.
Solve Friday’s Crossword on Easy Mode!
In today’s Wordplay column, Deb Amlen writes about this constructor’s eye for unique phrases and entries. For expert hints on today’s puzzle, read her column. Were you able to solve the Friday puzzle with Easy Mode? We want your input! Share your experience with us on the X platform, on Threads or by email. A Quick Cool-DownHow fast can you solve today’s Mini?
Get a ClueMy favorite clue from last week is 10-Down from Friday, Dec. 12. It’s not an ingredient in “rocky road,” but a road ingredient that’s made of rocks! 10-Down: Rocky road ingredient?
How are we doing? Thanks for playing! Subscribe to New York Times Games. If you were forwarded this newsletter, you can sign up to receive it regularly here. P.S. The answer to Get a Clue is ASPHALT.
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