Okay, so I’ve been trying to get better at crosswords, specifically the New York Times one. It’s kinda tough, but I’m documenting my journey here.
Day 1: Total Beginner
I started completely fresh. I downloaded the NYT Crossword app on my phone. I picked the Monday puzzle (apparently, those are the easiest). I stared at it for like, 10 minutes, and only filled in a few obvious ones like three-letter words or fill-in-the-blanks. It was pretty discouraging.
Day 2: Learning the Ropes
I decided I needed some help. I googled “how to solve NYT crossword” and found a bunch of articles. I learned a few basic tips:
- Start with the short answers, especially fill-in-the-blanks.
- Look for plural words (they usually end in “S”).
- Pay attention to the tense of the clues (past, present, future).
- Don’t be afraid to guess, that is the main point!
I went back to the app and tried another Monday puzzle. I did a little better this time, thanks to those tips. Still lots of blanks, though.
Day 5: Practice Makes Perfect
I’ve been doing a puzzle every day. I moved on to the Tuesday puzzles, and yep, those were noticably harder. I still use those tips all the time. I also started to notice some common crossword answers, like “Oreo” or “Era”.
Day 10: Getting the Hang Of It
I am getting there. I can usually finish a Monday puzzle now, though it might take me a while. I noticed that themes are a big part of the NYT crossword. If you figure out the theme, it can help you fill in some of the longer answers. I figured this out by complete accident one day, and it was a total “aha!” moment.
Day 15: Still Learning
I tried a Wednesday puzzle. I managed to finish with some checking. Still, I’m getting better at recognizing those tricky crossword clues. There’s a lot of wordplay involved, like puns and double meanings. I realized I need to think a little more creatively.
My main strategy is to keep doing puzzles every day, keep learning those common answers, and keep practicing. And maybe someday I will get it.
