ArishMell · 70-79, M
Not really tricks, but I try to see how the clues are formulated.
There are common clues to clue types, such as "in xxxx yyyyy", meaning the answer word spans those two given. If you've already a crossing letter, the rest may come from counting along the source characters.
Words that appear to have no connection to the rest of the clue at all, may be anagrams; and those are sometimes suggested by descriptions like "perhaps" or "roughly".
Others can have abbreviations that give two or three of the solution's letters, such as "railway" giving "ry"; but these can be disguised further. For example, "sailor" in the clue might give "ab" (able-seaman rank) or the colloquialism, "tar".
My local paper uses syndicated puzzles and these seem drawn from several different compilers, so different styles and difficulty.
Sometimes I test the word I think wanted by writing it separately from the puzzle itself, and dissecting it according to the clue. That only proves or disproves it though.
A good dictionary and thesaurus can be a great help, of course.
I work through in clue order, from 1 Across to last Down, skipping the ones I can't solve immediately, hoping that will scatter enough joint letters around to help fill the spaces. Sometimes I spot the answer only on a later session, as if absence from it resets my thinking.
There are common clues to clue types, such as "in xxxx yyyyy", meaning the answer word spans those two given. If you've already a crossing letter, the rest may come from counting along the source characters.
Words that appear to have no connection to the rest of the clue at all, may be anagrams; and those are sometimes suggested by descriptions like "perhaps" or "roughly".
Others can have abbreviations that give two or three of the solution's letters, such as "railway" giving "ry"; but these can be disguised further. For example, "sailor" in the clue might give "ab" (able-seaman rank) or the colloquialism, "tar".
My local paper uses syndicated puzzles and these seem drawn from several different compilers, so different styles and difficulty.
Sometimes I test the word I think wanted by writing it separately from the puzzle itself, and dissecting it according to the clue. That only proves or disproves it though.
A good dictionary and thesaurus can be a great help, of course.
I work through in clue order, from 1 Across to last Down, skipping the ones I can't solve immediately, hoping that will scatter enough joint letters around to help fill the spaces. Sometimes I spot the answer only on a later session, as if absence from it resets my thinking.
franky987 · 31-35, M
I’m mostly in the “skip and come back” camp too fresh eyes really do help
If I’m still stuck after that, I sometimes check a word idea tool like WordFinderTips just to brainstorm possible fits from the letters I already have (not for straight answers, more like nudging my memory).
Between crossings, a thesaurus, and the occasional helper list, that usually gets me moving again. Curious how often others use tools vs. pure patience?
If I’m still stuck after that, I sometimes check a word idea tool like WordFinderTips just to brainstorm possible fits from the letters I already have (not for straight answers, more like nudging my memory).
Between crossings, a thesaurus, and the occasional helper list, that usually gets me moving again. Curious how often others use tools vs. pure patience?
rinkydinkydoink · M
Every NYT crossword puzzle ever published is at this link - https://www.xwordinfo.com/
You should find solving tips and most of what your looking for there. By the way, if you get to know a few of the more prolific creators' styles, that helps, too (some really like to use puns).
Here is a clue in a Sunday NYT puzzle penned by a real rascal that took me forever to figure out because I made the mistake of not thinking beyond the way the creator wanted me to think: in a Sunday NYTP called Puzzle Of The Future, Merl Reagle wanted a 4 letter answer for "Dove home". I made the mistake of assuming he meant dove to mean type of bird with the logical answer being "cote".
Or here - https://crosswordtracker.com/
Or here - (if you want to solve the NYT crossword for free every day) - https://www.seattletimes.com/games-nytimes-crossword/
You should find solving tips and most of what your looking for there. By the way, if you get to know a few of the more prolific creators' styles, that helps, too (some really like to use puns).
Here is a clue in a Sunday NYT puzzle penned by a real rascal that took me forever to figure out because I made the mistake of not thinking beyond the way the creator wanted me to think: in a Sunday NYTP called Puzzle Of The Future, Merl Reagle wanted a 4 letter answer for "Dove home". I made the mistake of assuming he meant dove to mean type of bird with the logical answer being "cote".
Or here - https://crosswordtracker.com/
Or here - (if you want to solve the NYT crossword for free every day) - https://www.seattletimes.com/games-nytimes-crossword/
Thevy29 · 41-45, M
I'd leave it and do the next one in the book. Hopefully I come across the clue again. Only this time it has different clues already answered running through it that will make it easier to figure out.
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
