- Work in pencil.
- Be loyal to a puzzle editor.
- Think about theme.
- Fill in the blanks first.
- Focus on small (three-to-five-letter) word entries.
- Visit Crosswordese.com.
- Get trivial.
- Eye abbreviations and acronyms.
What are the rules of a crossword puzzle?
Word Length: All words should be at least three letters. All letters must be “keyed”, meaning they are in an across word and a down word. Black Square Frequency: Historically, crossword creators were encouraged to limit black squares to no more than one sixth of the grid, or about 17%.
How do you prepare for a crossword puzzle?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAqQnXHd7qk
How do I improve my crossword puzzle skills?
- Start off with easier puzzles.
- Try to learn a little of everything.
- Google is your friend.
- Start with the blanks.
- Recognize words that appear over and over.
- Stay cool.
Are NY Times Crosswords getting easier?
And yet, a decade ago it would have been a real achievement to complete the three hardest days of the puzzle, Friday through Sunday, with no errors. 29 Mar 2021
Is the Times crossword difficult?
The puzzle becomes increasingly difficult throughout the week, with the easiest puzzle on Monday and the most difficult puzzle on Saturday. The larger Sunday crossword, which appears in The New York Times Magazine, is an icon in American culture; it is typically intended to be as difficult as a Thursday puzzle.
What do shaded squares mean in a crossword?
The shaded squares are used to separate the words or phrases.
What do gray squares mean in crossword?
This overflow can be at the beginning, which means that the entry will begin in a gray box before the numbered start box, or at the end, which means that the entry will jut into a gray box for its last letter.18 Apr 2020