dictionary
As long as you’re keeping to mainstream publications, we shouldn’t have any problems :p
Speaking of which, did you know Merriam-Webster Dictionary does a daily crossword called The Missing Letter? It’s actually kind of an interesting way to play a crossword, since it has an (understandably) heavier focus on dictionary definitions, often using them as clues.
On the other hand, the “gimmick” of the game forces them to find ways to start words with Q and Z and all the weird letters you don’t see very often, which leads to some mixed results (you can really tell they struggle with X in particular). Monday’s puzzle in particular had some… interesting choices.
The Missing Letter, May 25th by Matt Gaffney
24A, VERB: “archaic present tense third-person singular of ‘do’” – Admittedly, this clue was fun to attempt to parse out, even if my first guess was DOST instead of DOTH. The definition-based clues aren’t usually this abstract. Probably a love-’em-or-hate-’em kind of thing.
16A, ADJECTIVE: “characterized by, relating to, or requiring only a small amount of moisture” – I’m less mad about using XERIC as an answer than I am about this word’s existence. I’m pretty sure we have dozens of words already representing all level of dryness. Who decided XERIC needed to be added to that list? Whoever it was, I have decided that I hate them.
26D, Word before “you” or “who” – SEZ
Okay, so this cluing here is just, it’s god-awful. BUT ALSO.
…Merriam-Webster. Listen.
If I go to www.merriam-webster.com and type “sez” in the search bar, you know what it tells me?
“The word you've entered isn’t in the dictionary.”
To which, I respond: if you, the authoritative source on English words, do not recognize it as a word, then don’t go adding it to your puzzle and calling it a word.
Changing the topic…
Okay, so I know my comments on the Puzzmo Mini residencies were kinda what started this whole blog, but I’m retracting my praise somewhat. It’s probably still a good idea overall, but I’ve spent most of the month not vibing with Leo’s puzzles at all. The early entries felt fresh and creative, but as May dragged on it became clear to me that Leo felt compelled to do something with a unique twist every single day, with unfortunately exhausting results.
I had this realization with Wednesday’s puzzle, where the grid was shaped like an X. It was the second time they shaped the grid to form letters; I thought the first one (shaped like “it”) had been weak, but the problem with the X grid was that, out of the twelve across answers, only two were longer than three letters, and many were just two. Same with the downs, since it was symmetrical. Absolute slog of a fill for a mini.
They called today’s puzzle a Schrödinger, which is one where the same clue can have two different answers, and the puzzle works with either. Very cool idea if done well, though it’s difficult to pull off. This mini technically counts as a Schrödinger—and on two different words, even—but in both cases, the two possible answers only differ by a single letter. Well in that case, I’ve seen cluing oversights that turned a regular puzzle into a Schrödinger.
Also, they occasionally talk about the software they use to make their puzzles. I actually downloaded it out of curiosity, and I have to say: boy does it just love auto-filling answers for you. That’s the default behavior, and I wasn’t sure how to turn it off. I’m pretty sure this is meant more to help fill in the corners at the end, but now that I’ve seen how the sausage is made, I suddenly can’t help but wonder how much auto-filling was done this month.
Anyway, I don’t want to be too mean here; Leo is young and really new to constructing, a lot of their ideas do land (the one where both sides of the grid were reflected was laudable), and I know a lot of my issues can be chalked up to that youthful enthusiasm where you feel like you have to push boundaries. I think part of maturing is learning when to apply restraint, and they’ll get there.
Or I’m just the old man yelling at a cloud. I can’t dismiss that possibility. But I, at least, am hoping next month’s residency is just a bit more leveled.