The Art of Crossword

Construction

Themes in Crosswords

William Johnston 26 January 2010

Newton Community Education

Themes are typically used to structure American crosswords. The longer entries in
a puzzle are connected by some kind of wordplay or semantic relationship. Other
entries in a puzzle are usually not affiliated with the theme, although sometimes a
small word that explains the theme may be included, often near the bottom. If a
puzzle has a title, it may provide a clue to the theme.
Themes provide a help to the solver, because they cross all areas of the puzzle and
help the solver fill in the grid. Usually there are 3, 4, or 5 theme entries, and they
are often 1015 letters long.
Because crossword grids have rotational symmetry, theme entries must be found
that have matching lengths, so they can be placed opposite each other in the grid.
Below are some simple kinds of themes. The examples are drawn from puzzles
published by constructors in the CrosSynergy syndicate in the Washington Post.

First words link entries

Theme entries are often multiple-word phrases. Sometimes the first words of these
phrases are connected in some way. They may be synonyms, or they may all be
words that can be linked with one other word to form familiar phrases.
D
I
S
P
E
L

I
N
T
E
N
T

S
H
A
R
E
D

L
A
M
P

S
I
E N D
S T A L
O C T E
B E T
E T E R
R E R E
E R E M
D A D

I
L
I
E

K
E
N
T

S
S E
L E
I N
T
H
N A
A D
I T
L O

E
S
A
U A
X
E L
R E
S S
H
K A
E F
L T
S
E
Y

D
A
H
L
I
A

I
M
A
M
S

S
S U
A R
T E
R
O
M
A

I
R
I
S

D
A B
I A B L
N G D O
O T I O
C D
P L A I
U I T E
MM E R
P O
S H A
A B
A N G L
I O L E
L D E S
S E R T

C
Y
G
N
E
T
S

Q
U
E
S
T
S

Non-Stop by M. Ashwood-Smith
PERPETUAL MOTION
ENDLESS SUMMER
ETERNAL TRIANGLE

R
O
C
K

A
C
H
E

M
A
G
N
A

A
B
O
I
L

A
B
B
R

T
O
R
O

S P S
D
I
E A N
E W I N G
V O I
N
B E E T
B E L L
R
U T S
C O
B S
S H U
B
L S T A T
E M I L E
WO R K
S P
R G
U R
A G
P O
P Y

A T E
WA
R A N
I R
E T
O U T
D
R A N F
J E W E L
Q U A R R E
U N T Y
M
O K S
Z I
T S
R A N
B I N G
E
WA V Y
MO L E
S
I R I T A W
N S
E X I
E T
D E M

N
I
N
O

T
S
A
R

L
A
T
T
E

S
W
I
S
S

H
A
L
O

E
Y
E
S

By Gum! by Patrick Jordan

CHEWING OUT
ART FLEMING
SPIRIT AWAY
BUBBLE WRAP

A
C
C
R
U
A
L

R
E
S
T
O
N

M
O
H
A
N
D
A
S

B
R
A
S
I
L
I
A

E
L
T
O
R
O

D
E
A
D
E
R

I
N
N G
L
F O
I B
T S
T
I N
N O
G I
R R
O
O
M

S
M
E
A
R
S
P
U
S
S
Y
C
A
T

H
O
K
U
M
C
A
R
E
T
A
L
I

O E R
N D O
E Y S
D
E F
C H A
S L I T
O O P E
R T S
E S
R
F I
S
Z E P
S O L E
N N O N
I E N
P S Y

L
E
A
F
T
H
R
O
U
G
H

O
R
N
A
T
E

P
I
N
C
E
R

P
L
A
Y
T
F I
E M
Y E

T
E
R
R
A
R
I
A

S
N
E
E
R
S

R
O
S
T
E
R
S

Loose Ends by Harvey Estes

CHANGE KEYS
LEAF THROUGH
CANNON FIRE
FITTING ROOM

A
D
D
T
O

S
E
U
S
S

E
N
S
U
E

S
P
U
R

U
L
N
A

C
A
T
O

A
F
A
R

E
A
S
T
E
R
E
G
G

A
D
R
T
T B U
N A M
M S
S A O
L
T
Y B O
E R
I C
N D U
E E R
F
W
E
S
W
Y

O
A
S
I
S
S
Y
R
U
P
U
V
A

N U T
I S A
T E R
P L
S
R O O
T E N N
A T
G
MA G A
E P O
S
O R
C D E
S O B S
N N Y P
A D E
G E S

A
U
T
O
S

S
N
O
W
T
R
U A
Z I
I N
S
V
T O
A G
B U
S E

O
D
I
E

F
O
L
D

A
R
N
O

E
D
E
N

A
R
E
C
A

L
Y
S
O
L

Hare Force by William Johnston

DUST BUSTER
SNOW TRAIN
PLAYBOY MAGAZINE
EASTER EGG
FUNNY PAGES

Last words link entries

The last words of multiple-word phrases can likewise form the basis of a theme.
Here too, there may be a missing link word that connects all the final words to
form familiar phrases.
A
T
O
N

H
A
H
A

A
T
O
P

B
E
H
O
L
F I D
M E L E
A M E N
P A X
C
H I L L
A G A I
S A G E
A V O N
T E S T

M
A
B
L E
O L
D L
E
P
C A
H I
A R
N
G R
A
Y

O
T
O
O
L
E
E
S
P
Y
O
L
E

I R A
A
S E A
P
B T A I L
O O
N
O A T M
R C R A B
E T A S
C A N
E
A
MM
P E D B E
R O A R
C A R S A
L
U S E
B E E
D
A R N
S

C
A
N
O
E

T
R
A
L
A

S
E
G
A
L

E
D
I
E

T D
G E
I I
F

L
I
E
N

E S
L T
MO
OW

Moan & Groan by Paula Gamache

BOBTAIL NAG
FIDDLER CRAB
CHIPPED BEEF
SAGE GROUSE

D
U
F
F

O
H
I
O

G
A
R
Y

M
U
S
T
S
U L C E
S O O E
MO C S
A S H
A I
J O I N
U N R E
D I M S
G O A S
E N N E

A
L
T S
K
P I
R S
Y
M
M E
O L
T A
E L
L
E
N

L
E
T
I
N
S
O
N
I
C

A
R
O
M
A
T
I
S

C
A
O U
L S
E E

M B
G O
R Y
S
L C
H O
A U
S T
A
S
O U
L E
D R
E
R

O
N
S
C A
O L
M E
B
C
C H
T U
N T
Z
E P
MA
S H

H O
O N
T E
M P
U M
S
T W
A W
R I
D I

H
O
P
I
N

I
O
N
A

A
T
T
Y

In the News by Rich Norris

FIRST STORY
SPINAL COLUMN
JOINT ACCOUNT
LOUD REPORT

M
R
E
D

O
S
S
O

M
A
L
T
E
D

G
R
I
E
V
E

C
F
C
S

O
B
O
E

S P
K I
I T

B
A
R
E
I
D
L E P
A N
M I G
G A
MM U
I A G
N
U
I J I
V E N
A R
N K
S Y

P
O
O
H
C
O
R
N
E
R

E
D
W
O
O
D

E
D
N
A

T
O
A
T

I
N
N

M
E
A
N
Y

A
N
N
E

C
I R
T Y
T
I
F R
I A
R I
S S
T E

N
T
S
B I
P
P A
O N
C E
A M
H A
O
N B
T O
A U
S T

M
O
O
L
A

I
M
P
L
I
C
S I
N T
I
V E
E M
L I
G
R
E

-Fold Em by Bob Klahn

TELEPHONE BILL
COMMUNITY CENTER
VENETIAN BLIND

C E
E N
E D
N
U
D
E

S
E
E
R

T
I
N
P
A
N

O
L
D
A
G
E

C C C P
A I D A
MA S T
S
R A Y
P E P
I P O
N E L L
G A L O
S T O O
S
H A V E
O G E E
L O R N
E G A D

E
W
O
K
S

V
E
R
O
N
I
C
A

E
L
K
O

T
A
K
E
P
L P I
E E N
A T
S
H
I
E
P
S

T S
MO
E Y
N
A
C L
C H E
L E
I R A
N I D
G E O
R
C H A
O T B
N T L
E P E

B
A
R
T
E
N
D
S
N
A
F
U

I
M
A
L
O
S
E
R

P
I
M
A

E
G
O
S

D
O
N
T

I
C
I
C
L
V E
E
T T
T A
E X

N
A
T
I
O
N

K
L
E
I
N

O N
R O
E S

Boring Results by Paula Gamache

MASTER KEY
KITCHEN SINK
STOOL PIGEON
HOT BUTTON

page 1

The Art of Crossword

Construction

Hidden words

William Johnston 26 January 2010

Newton Community Education

P
A
C
E
C
A
R

A
L
L
G
O
N
E

P
E
O
R
I
A
N

A
S
S
E
N
T

D
I N H I
T I E S
S P I C
L P S
A I M S
T E A L
E R N O

J A B B A
A L I A S
E R A N K S
G E E
S S
H O R S
S
S
O M Y
E P P S
U D E R A N
S
D O J O
A D
T O
E R A C K
D E L A
B
L O N E R
S H I R E
E A T A T

R
E
L
I
C
A
T
R
A

D I M S
U N I T
D A N A
R I M
R A C E
O G A N
T E M S
H
S T P
P T E R
R I N I
O N C O
N G E R
T E N T
O R T O

Its About Time by Harvey Estes

CLOSERANKS
HORSERACE
DUDERANCH
SPICERACK
LONERANGER

Theme entries may contain hidden words, often spanning the word breaks. The
theme entries will not otherwise be related. In these puzzles, the hidden word is
usually referred to in the title or included as an entry by itself in the puzzle.
B A S S
A B I T
T E X A
T I
C H R
J A M S
O V A
B E N E
S
A B B A
B O R I
S S E
S E M
E Z I
D E A

L A H R
O B O E
S P A N H
C
E
I S T MA
T O U T
E R A S
F I T S P
T P
E O
P L U
S P A S T
C U R
I G L O S
O
A P O
N
Y A D

O
W
A N
D U
S P
R
A
N
G
E

O
C
S

R
A
S P
P
A

MA N
I L E
D L E
P D
A R T
MO O
O
K A G
L O
I P O
N A K
R C
A I N
G N A
S O H

A
Y
N
E
N
D

T
W
O

Inland Resort by Rich Norris

TEXASPANHANDLE
CHRISTMASPARTY
BENEFITSPACKAGE
BORISPASTERNAK
SEMIGLOSSPAINT

D
U
E
S

R
S
T
U

A
S
T
I

T
R
U
C
K
G O B I
O P E N
L E D G
E R E
MA W S
U
I N S
C H E S
H O M E
E P O X

I
N
D
E
E
D
K
I
S
S
Y

N
E
E
D
I
E
R

OW
W E
L B
E S
T
S E
R
U R
O Z E
W I D
E
D E S
A T
R A
P R

I
R
A
Q U
P
R T
O O
N
U
E S
L U
T R
O P
R E
O D

A
T
S
E
A
F
A
S
C
I
A

S
U
P
E
R
B

C
R
U
Z

L
I
P T
E R
R E
S
I G
S W
T E
S N

I I
N S
R T
E

F
L
E
A

L
U
A
U

A
L
L
I
E

H
A
Y
D
N

C
A
N
S

O
L
I
O

H
A
D
A

T
B
S
P

I
S
L
A
M

S
T
O
L
I

Beware the Ides . . . by Ray Hamel

SUICIDESQUEEZE
GOBIDESERT
WIDESCREEN
INSIDESTRAIGHT

A I L
C C I
T E N
G O
S
M U C
MM I T
U M N A
M B I
C
S O
P L A
O R
P
I F L E
S
V E
T
O T
O
T E

O
N
M
I
K
E

C
Y
A
N

H S
E T
D E
G N
E T
R R O
H O R
M E W
U T
S
S T I C
C
V O
A Y A W
T A N
E N K
L G A

T
I
L
A T
C
R S
E
M C
C O
K N
I D
N
L A
E X
Y E

I
N
U
I
T

C
A
R
V
E

K
N
E
E
L

A
G
R
I

R
E
E
F

S
E
R
E

E
T
T
A

F
I
R
S

G
N
A
T

Pest in Show by William Johnston

GOINGNATIVE
COMMITERRORS
PLASTICKNIFE
STIFLEAYAWN

Add or subtract something

A letter or cluster of letters may be added or subtracted from idiomatic phrases.
The resulting non-idiomatic phrases are clued. It is usually easier to see when
letters have been added. When letters are subtracted, the title of the puzzle may
help the solver guess what has been removed.
P
O
M
E

R
U
I
N

S
H
O
W

T
Y
K
E

M
S
D
O
S

A
T
O
N
E

I S M
N C E
N I S
S T
S
S K I
R A I N
A T T
D
I E
S O
D
S T A
N I A S
O P B I
S
T H
A
T O
Y
E N

M
U
T
A
N
T

U
T
I
L

S
E
L
L

S
P
L
O
T
R A C
A S H
I N K Y
N G
K E O U
P R
L L I N
E A N
I D E
A Y S

M
A
N
R D
A M
K S
E
A
S M
T F
O M
G
I C
E N
S N

E
M
C
E
E

OW
MO
A R
R S
S T

O
H
I
O

P
O
L
O

E
Y
E
D

R
E
N
O

D
A
U
B

A
X
I
S

S A F E
I MA X
B O N E
A C
O T T
W R I T
N A C H
E L I O
R A S
MA
P
C A R P
A T S E
N O V A
A M P L

I
D
I
O
T

H
E
A
V
E
N
S

A
C
T
I
N
G

H
O
T
L

P
I
A L
A D O
G N E T
R O
E N T E
A
R E
A R
S
P O
E

A
N
N
A U
P
A U
M P
P
M
I C
M C
R A
E L
A L
L S

I
C
E
C
A
P
M
A
T
S
U

S
A
R
T
R
E
O
R
A
N
C
O
S

A
L
A
I
R
E
D
B
U
T
T
O
N
S

A
L
S
O

H
E
L
P
S

C
A
E
N

S
L
E
E
K

MO
E D
N S

H
I
C
C
U
P
S
C
A
M

U
S
A
U
S
A

L
E
H
R
E
R

T
U
D
E

A
T
A
N
C
A S H
L O O
S T R

L
E
N
A T
H
S E
C O
R
I E
M S
T
U R
L E
N E
A T

C
O
R
E
A

A
L
C
O
T
T

B
O H
B A
W
H E
E D
Y
Y
A

D
E
A
F S
C
S O
C U
A R
R
E B
B
S Q
O P
F I
A T

C
H
A
P
S

H
O
M
E
I
C
B E
A
Y A
S
O T
U I
T
R
E

O
B
O
E

A
B
U
D
H
I A
D B
A I
H
O G
A
R R
A R
P E
S T

T E
E S
N T
U
N
U
M

B
O
G
S

G
R
E
A
S
E

Y
E
L
L
O
W

C
A
M
E
L

A
R
O
S
E

M
A
N
E
T

S
E
E
M

A
R
G
O

K
A
M
A

I
S
O
N

F
I
G
N
E
W
T
O
N

E
L
K R
I
S G
MO
E R
E
B
A R
V O
I S
A
T
E

S
H
A
R
O
N
H
E
C
K

I
O
T
A
G
O
E
T
H
E

MO
A W
R E

L O S
O H A
I O N
N
A
S U P
O O S E
R D E R
A D S
T E
A
E N E M
I B
S O L O
N K E Y
A R E
G A N

S
T
A
M
E
N

N
E
V
E
R
E
V
R E
A R
Y
E R
O
C L
E L
L E

I
R
O
N

P
I
N
S

C
I
A
O

K
I
L
N

I
N
U
I
T

A
T
B
A
T

S Wonderful by William Johnston

STALL ORDERS
STRAIN TRACKS
STAKEOUT FOOD
STOP BILLING

The Midas Touch by Paula Gamache Copper Heads by Bob Klahn

A CIVIL AUCTION
CURATE OF SPEED
WRITING PAUPER
CUBEDBUG
MAGNETIC TAUPE
CUTIEBAR
CARPENTER AUNT
CURED SQUIRREL

Monday Kickoff by R. J. Hartman

MONK RATION
MONGOOSE NECK
MONARCH ENEMY
MONKEY CLUB

C
L
A
W
S

L
A
Y
U
P

P
A
G
A
N
S

E
N
I
S
L
E

A
S
T
E
R
N

C
U
F
F
I
N
G

H
A
I
R
D
Y
E

M
E
R
R
I
E
S
T

C
A
P
E
W
I
M
P

A
E
R
I
E
A
L
O
U
E
S
A
I

F
O
R
T
S
U
M
T
E
R
L
A
R
K

E
X
OW
O
A M
M B
P
A
B
O B
K E
B Y
Y
M
E

A
N
G
L
E
E

L
O
A
D

E
T
U
I

R
O
L L
A L
I O
R
A
E T
S T
S A

C
R
E
E
L
S
H
U
N

U T
R E
G E
E
D
Q U
R U N
I O N
N D E
S
O G I
E N
C O T
E R L
N G
T E

H
E
R
O
I
C

O
S
S
A
D
O

O
L
A
V

S
I
Z
E

S
E
E
S

H
E
A
D
T
U
R
N
E
R

E
D
N
A

R
U
D
Y

R
E
D
U
B

E
A
S
T
S

O, O, Annette by Mel Rosen

[]ARROWGAUGE
[]UMBERCRUNCHER
[]EUROBIOLOGIST
[]ETHERLANDS

B
A
T
S
M
A
L
L

A
R
E
S
O
O
R
E
O
I
D
E
A

T
O
L
E
T
W
I
N
D
B
L
I
N
D

E R
S E
L J A
O B
P I E
A C T
I E
B
D
A L
A J E
R A N
O R D
S
M
I
A
N
S

T
A
C
O
S
D
O
E
R
S
H
O
E

E S H
U
L T O
N
F
K E T
E
S E A
S E R I
Q U A R R
U E T S
A R S
W
C S
MA
S A N
K
S A N G
L E A H
A D B O X
N E
L I
A R
E X

P
I
L
L
F
I
G
H
T

U
L
E
E

P
E
A
R

E
M
I
T

D
A
Z
E

R
A
I
M
I

I
N
N
E
S

A
N
G
S
T

Pain Relief by Patrick Jordan

YELL[]JACKET
PILL[]FIGHT
WIND[]BLIND
SHAD[]BOXING

J
A
M
M
E
D

A
L
U
M
N
I

P
O
T
E
N
T

S
H
A
D

T
O
R
I

A
V
I
V

D E V
O N A
A T T

A N
N E
E WA
T S
A
H
T O
T A M
N F O
T
E T T
E C O
R E S
I L
L L
Y S

I
G
L
O
O

M
A
T
S
U

P
R
O
A
M

E
D
Y

E
C
C A
A R
D D

A
D
Z

C
A
N
G A
S E P
E Y E
R S
B E T
S R U
T
D Y
U E S
N E C
C
A
E
N

E
G
G
S
A
C

D A R
I L E
A I O

T
A
L
T E
S
A M
R O
R
O R
R I
O S

E
R
O
S
E
L
A
P
S
E

R
E
N
T
S
E
N
S
E
D

Drop In Anytime by Sarah Keller

M[]UTE WALTZ
HOUSE PA[]TER
STANFORD-B[]ET TEST
DIV[]E COMEDY
CAN[]E CORPS

C E
O N
O R T
Y O
P
B
O R
T E A
O S T
X
L
C A
S T S
A R
C
S
H
E
E
S

R
A
O
U
L

O
L
I
V
E

B
E
S
E
A
T
P E
W E D
O G
R
E R G
T A I
H I L
I N D
N Y A

E
X
E

C
H
I
C L
S V I
W I
A
A
L I S
E N T
T E
P
E
N T
L Y L
K A
E G

P
A
N
E
L
I
S
T

A
L
C
A
L
D
E

S
T
A
R
E
A
T

N
O
S
A
L
E

P
L
A
C
E
S

M
O
D
E
L
T

Bug-Free by Mel Rosen

GI[] TORTOISE
PLEAS[]VILLE
MOST W[]ED LIST
FIRST SERGE[]
CH[]ILLY LACE

page 2

The Art of Crossword

Construction

Homophones and puns

William Johnston 26 January 2010

Newton Community Education

E
D
W
I
N

V
E
R
N
E

E
L
I
T
E

S
T
E
W

C
H
A
R

C
A
P
P

A
R
E
A

A
E
R
I
A
L
I
S
T

N
M
A
I
N G S
E N T
A H
W R E
A
R
D
O
N S
G H T
S U R
N O
W
D
E
O
L
H

E R I T
MA T I
T R U E
E R S
A
B O
S T I N
T O
A R T S
S A T
Y O U A
E
T R
A H
W
R A P A
L L E R
Y O N S

T
O
P
S

R
E
A
R

B E N T
O G E E
O G R E
S O N
T H
E A C E
E P A L
H E A L
E D N A
E
C R O
S H U P
T I S T
E L S E
T E E D

W-here We Go by Thomas Schier

WRINGS TRUE
WREST IN PEACE
WRIGHT YOU ARE
WRAP ARTIST

A theme may be constructed around homophones (words that sound alike) or

puns. For this kind of puzzle to be successful, the type of homophone or the subject
of the puns should be consistent among all the theme entries.
P
E
C
O
S

A
M
A
T
I

M
O
T
H

A
U
R
A

C
O
A
T

A
B
L
E

L
S
T
O
T T Y
T O
A M E
B E
L
P
R S
E E S
S T Y
S T R
R L
O E
O U
M P

A H A R
H A M E
S H A C
S K
O
S E
T T I N
E A D
P L I E
O A
P U T T
I P
S
E R A
R O S E
C A I M
E R A S

A
P
S
O
T
K
I
B
N S E
G P L
A L
D
Y
R S
I N G
P L I
S
MA T
A N
E D

I
R
R
I
T
A
T
E
D

P
A
I
N

S
L
O
G

N
A
T
O

T
R
I
G

N
O
T
R
E

T
R
E
K
S

S
T
R
O
P

Ott Couples by R. J. Hartman

CATTY SHACK
BETTING PLANT
HASTY PUTTING
ROSE MATTER

C
O
B
B

A
R
I
A

S
H
A
R

P
L
U
T
O

L
O
G
E

A
L
A
S

M E L
A
L
O N O
L L Y I D
A T O
D
O L E
S A L M P
E
A T Y
L A
G H
L E N
A
N D E A U
R E C T
V I S H
MA
A V
A N
M E
N A
P N

B O O
W
O I N
A
R
Y L L
Z
O G R
S O R E
E C K I N
G R E T
B O R
C
D L
I R
F L E M I
A P B
C U R L
C K S O N
N E
R A
Y S
E B

A
L
A
I

L
O
G
S

L
U
S
H

G
A
R
R

A
N
A
T

P
E
R
O
N

A
L
O
N
G

H
I
P
S

B
A
S
K
S

E
A
T
A
T

U
N
D
O

M
E
A
N

A
T
R
Y

A
R
A
B

C
O
L
E

Poets Society by Mel Rosen

BILLY IDYLL
PSALM PECKINPAH
RONDEAU FLEMING
MACK SONNET

S U P
P
L
I T A
Z E R R A
T I N
E
T Y N E
G O O D
S
R O N
S T
E T
P O
T E
A R WA R
T A C K
C U S E
M I
U T
A D
T O
N A
E R

L O T
A N E
Z O R
Y
R E
H I V
MA B A
E L L
A T E
T S
S
S P
S
T E A
S H A M
N E R M
A M
E
P E
D

R
O
O
M
E
R
R
U
M
O
R

A
L
V
A

S
E
E
R

H
O
N
K

K
A
R
A
T

E
V
I
C
T

R
I
S
K
Y

S T A
I N O R
V I T A
E P O T

Send in the Clones by R. J. Hartman

RAZER RAZOR
ROOMER RUMOR
TOOTER TUTOR
MINER MINOR

Resources for Making Puzzles

Software
Once you have a theme idea, there are several software tools available to help you
in creating a puzzle grid and filling it with words and phrases.
Crossword Compiler (Windows)
http://www.crossword-compiler.com

Cruciverbalist (Macintosh OS Classic)

http://www.tucows.com/preview/206066

Crossfire (Java)
http://beekeeperlabs.com/crossfire

Across Lite (for .puz files)

http://www.litsoft.com
http://www.litsoft.com/across/alite/macman/aformat.htm

Grid Ideas and Word Lists

If you need an idea of what grids will accommodate your theme entries, or you
want access to some lists of words and phrases that are useful for completing fills,
then the following online resources are a good place to look.
Cruciverb Constructors Forum
http://www.cruciverb.com

National Puzzlers League

http://www.puzzlers.org

page 3

The Art of Crossword

Construction

Grid Pattern Conventions

William Johnston 26 January 2010

Newton Community Education

S P I C
S I L E
W E L L
F L
E T A
G E T S
G L E E
O L D P
G
O
S
S
I
P

D
O
T
I
M
E

S
P
A
D
E
R

R
E
A
M

A
S
S
I
S
I

T
I
E
P
I
N

R O
A N
F A
T
O
N
I

S
N
I
T

E
P
R
A
E
T
S O F
A N
T O B
I
S
S
T
L L S
B E
T O S
E
A
M
T
E
S

R
O
L
F

E
M
I
L

T
A
X
I

E D
S R
Q U I
S
A S L
E P
N O R
E R A
A T Z
S S E

E
N
I
G
M
A

S
I
R
H
A
N

T
A
S
T
E
D

S
K
E
L
E
T
O
N

H
U
E
D

Y
A
P
S

E S
T H
C E

180-degree symmetry: the diagram

looks the same upside down. All
typical crosswords have this feature.

The grid is the pattern of black and white squares that the solver fills in. You can
use graph paper or computer software to help design and fill crossword grids.

Grid features
Grids are almost always square.
Grids usually have an odd number of squares on each side. Common sizes for grids
are 15 x 15 for weekday puzzles and 21 x 21 for Sunday puzzles.
The maximum word count in a 15 x 15 themed puzzle is 78 words.
No more than about 1/6 of the squares in the grid should be black.
Every white square in the grid must appear in an Across and a Down word.
The black squares of the grid must not divide the puzzle into unconnected areas.

Grid symmetries
L
E
W
D
P
A
N
E
L
T
R
A
S

I
R
A
E

N
I
T
S

K
E
E
P
O
A W N
M I
A N
T D S
I F E
L E
O O K
OW E
P E R
S R S

B
O
R W
A I
N E
S
O S
M E
M
R
E W
T O
K
E
N

L I N I
A S E S
H E E L
E A
R
P U T O
R A S
K
A G E S
M E N T O
A B E L L
D O T
D
A Y
R V
S U I
I N G S C
T A T S
O T S O

A
S
K
S
F
O
R

J
U
L
Y
F
O
U
R
T
A H
S
T S
R O
O U
S L

A
R
E
A

R
E
E
S

K
N
E
E
L

Y
E
A
T
S

U
S
T
A

P
S
S
T

90-degree symmetry: a quarter turn

maps the grid onto itself.

S
H
O
U
T

W
O
O
S
H

G R
H A
I M
C
L
I
N
G

H
O
N
O
R

U
P
P
E
R
P
A
L
A
T
I
N
A
T
E

M
I
S
R
E
A
D
L
A
N
G
L
E
Y

MA F I
E L E C
I D I D I
B O N
S
E R I N G
R D
E S E P A
F O X
I T T L E
D A
E S E L A
L U G
A
L D I R E
R H I N
J U D A

A
T
T A
V
B I
A L
R A

M
A
G
I
N
O
T

T E A
N A T
N T E
A L
C T I
O
E
S
R

A
L
A
N
D
T
I
P
P
E
R
G
O
R
E

S
P
I
C
E

T
O
N
E
R

O N
H I
O T
N
I
N
N
Y

S
A
S
E
S

Mirror symmetry in two axes:

a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

S
P
E
D

L
I
V
E

I
T
E
M

B
A
S
S
I

U
T
A
H
N

S
A
L
A
D

O
G
E
E

U
N
I
T

T
A
R
A

T
H
R
O
W
I
N
T
H
E
T
O
W
E
L

L
A
N

P
U
F

A
C
C
I
D
E
N
T
R
E
P
O
R
T
S

S
L
A
T

H
O
P
I

E
U
R
O

S
O
R
E
N

S
P
I
E
D

P
A
E
S
E

N
A
I
L

E
D
N
A

S
I
T
S

S
T
A
N
D
A
R
D
E
N
G
L
I
S
H

D
E
R

C
O
E

T
A
K
E
A
T
F
A
C
E
V
A
L
U
E

R
U
H
R

A
R
A
B

M
A
N
Y

N
I
C
A
D

E
X
T
R
A

R
E
A
D
Y

G
U
S
T

U
N
D
O

E
G
A
N

The pattern of black squares must have 180-degree symmetry. That is, if you turn
the diagram upside down, it looks the same.
In addition to 180-degree symmetry, some puzzles also have 90-degree symmetry.
In addition to 180-degree symmetry, some puzzles also have mirror symmetry.
On rare occasions, a puzzle will have mirror symmetry only, without 180-degree
symmetry.

Things to avoid in grids

Two-letter words are not allowed in standard puzzles.
Avoid having too many three-letter words. A maximum of 815 three-letter words
is ideal.
Avoid cheater black squares added just to make filling the grid easier. If a black
square can be removed without changing the total number of words in the grid, it
is a cheater, unless it is required for thematic reasons.
Avoid large clumps of black squares.
Avoid having just one entry as a mode of access into a region of the grid. Solvers
should have two ways of getting into every region. This guideline is violated in the
top diagram shown at the left.

Grid Activity
The following grids are unacceptable for different reasons. Can you explain
why each grid fails to meet the typical requirements for a puzzle?

Diagram A

Diagram B

Diagram C

Diagram D

Mirror symmetry in four axes:

a horizontal axis, a vertical axis,
and both diagonals.

page 4

The Art of Crossword

Construction

Filling the Grid

William Johnston 26 January 2010

Newton Community Education

The fill is the collection of words and phrases that are the answers in the grid. The
fill should use common words rather than obscure ones. A puzzle is made hard by
clever clues, not by including obscure words. Computer software can help you find
legitimate fills.

S H I P P E D B E E F

S H E R R Y B O M B S

Fill sequence
The diagrams at the left show a typical sequence for finding a fill.

S H O C K A B L O C K

S H I L L F A C T O R

Phase 1: The theme entries must be

placed first, in symmetric locations.
Black squares are built around them.

The theme entries are placed first, and black squares are built around them that
conform to standard grid requirements.
Once the theme entries are in place, look for other longer words in the diagram,
especially those that cross through more than one theme entry. These need to be
chosen early to ensure that a fill is possible.
Smaller words are filled later, region by region.

S
I
I
N
T
T
D
S
A
S H I P P E D B E E F
L
P
A
S
E
T
S H E R R Y B O M B S
S H O C K A B L O C K
F
O
D
N
E
G
S H I L L F A C T O R
A
A
E
N
B
I
S
S
T

Phase 2: The longest Down entries

are filled in, especially those that
cross more than one theme entry.

S
P
D
A
S
B

S
I
N
T
D
A
H I P P E
L
P
O T E N T
U O
S H
C T A
H O C K A
R E F
A D E G G
S H
A
N
S

E
B
B
S
I

I
T
S
B E E
A
E S
R R Y
E G
L O C
O
N
L L F
A
B
S

S
P
D
A
S
B

M
O
O
D
S
E
B
B
S
I
M
A
M

P
H
O
B
E

E
I
R
E

I
T
S
E
A
E S
R R Y
E G
L O C
O
P E N
L L F
E B A
B O B
E W S

Avoid too many crossword-ese words that appear over and over in puzzles, such
as ESNE, IOTA, ORCA, and so on.
Avoid obscure or obsolete words. Avoid made-up words or phrases.
Avoid death, disease, and other unpleasant topics. Puzzles are sometimes used as
an escape, and should not remind solvers of their troubles.
Dont use too many abbreviations as entries.
Dont include too many proper names.
Dont have too many entries that will require fill-in-the-blank clues.
Dont strain to get every letter of the alphabet in. Letters like Z, K, Q, J, and F are
rare and fun to see in puzzles but getting them all in may lead to bad quality fill.

F
L L N
A I
B O M
N O
L
K
O D L
E
A C T
E
I
T

E W
B
R
A
E

S
A
W
S

F
L L N
A I
B O M
N O
L
K
O D L
N E
A C T
E
I
T

Fill Activity
The four corners of the puzzle shown at the left are reproduced below. Can you
find a fill for one or more of these corners?

O R

Phase 3: The left, right, and center

regions are filled.

S
I
N
T
D
A
H I P P E
L A P
O T E N T
U O
S H
C T A
H O C K A
R E F
A D E G G
S H
A
N
S

Things to avoid in fill

S
T
17
A 21
20
S H I 24P P
L A

E W

Upper left

B
R
A
E

51

S
A
W
S

O R

Phase 4: The top and bottom regions

are filled. Only the corners remain.

10

14

52

11

12

13

16
19
22

23

F
26
L L N E W
Upper right

53

B A D E 57G
S
62
63
56

66
69

Lower left

N E 59 60 61
A 65C T O R
E
68
I
71
T
Lower right

page 5

The Art of Crossword

Construction
William Johnston 26 January 2010
Newton Community Education

Writing Clues
The clues in a puzzle are what the solver uses to discover the answers. You will
find that certain conventions apply to clues in puzzles.

Rules for clues

The part of speech of a clue must match the part of speech of the answer.
Clues should be accurate, but they may be deceptive.
Clues should be short, since there are space limitations in newspapers.
If an answer is an abbreviation, the clue should include an abbreviation itself as a
cue, or include (abbr.) at the end.
If an answer is a common word from a foreign language, the clue should usually
use a reference to that language within its wording.
Difficult entries should have easy clues, or they should be crossed by words that all
have easy clues.
The level of difficulty of clues should be appropriate for the venue of the puzzle
and the day of the week it will appear.

Varieties of clues
Straight definition: Most crossword clues are simple definitions of their answers.
Alliteration or rhyme: Clues can use alliteration or rhyme to avoid monotony.
Fill-in-the-blank: Some entries can only be clued with a fill-in-the-blank phrase.

Tricky Clue Activity

Can you solve these clues?
The question marks at the end
indicate these are tricky clues.
Pole star?
S
N
A
L
U

Old tool for working on logs?

L
D
R
L

Trivia: Solvers enjoy learning new things, so an interesting fact that can clue a
common answer in a fresh way is usually welcome.
Punny or tricky: A question mark often indicates that the solver needs to view a
clue in a non-standard way to solve it.
Humorous: Solvers welcome offbeat clues to words.

Clue variety
You can see from the examples below that it is possible to write clues of different
varieties or difficulty levels for the same word.

Where mates are often found?

N
D
A
S

Blessed events?
N
Z

Takes back the lead?

E
S

Spoke more than once?

I
I

Bring up the rear?

Genesis garden
Paradise
Idyllic spot

Sandwich cookie
Nabisco treat
Hydrox alternative

Run off to wed

Split to unite
Get hitched quick

Jeannie portrayer Barbara

1950s British prime minister
Steinbecks East of ___

Snack since 1912

Stackable snack
Dunkable dessert

Run for your wife?

Take the honey and run?
Bolt together?

Temptation location
Fall locale
First place?

Round of snacking?
Food thats been kosher
since 1998
It may get a licking after
dinner

What running mates do?

Take part in a secret joint
venture?
Choose the window instead
of the aisle?

O
O

Scratch post?
T

page 6

The Art of Crossword

Construction

Preparing for Publication

William Johnston 26 January 2010

Newton Community Education

If you want a puzzle to be published in a newspaper or magazine, you will need to

submit it either via e-mail or regular mail to an editor. Payment varies depending
on the publication and the size of the puzzle.

Submitting puzzles to editors

ACROSS
1

Flag a cab

Gift adornment

Cut out of whole cloth

14

Not pizzicato, to a violinist

15

Savings plan

16

Dystopian novelist

17

Off the mark + Love god = Nutjobs

19

Some among a sibling's offspring

20

Curl one's lip

21

Open-toed footwear

23

Cap attachment

25

Have a chat + Garfield's foil = Warty, perhaps

29

Females in the fold

31

Specimen, for example

32

Chaplin prop + Sword handle = Small jewelry item

36

Between, in Bayeux

HAIL
BOW
MADE UP
ARCO
IRA

Different editors have different requirements for manuscript submissions. Refer to

the style sheet information and mailing addresses available at www.cruciverb.com.
If you are submitting manuscript, clues and answers need to be presented in a large
font, double-spaced.

ORWELL
WEIRDOES
NIECES
SNEER
SANDAL

The time between submission and response can be as little as a week or as much as
six months.

EARLAP
TOADLIKE
EWES
SYNONYM
CHAINLET
ENTRE

Clues for a puzzle are submitted to an

editor in a simple double-spaced
format, with answers at the right.

Clues are very often rewritten by editors, usually to adjust the difficulty level.
Anywhere from 25% to 75% of the clues may be changed.
The theme or fill of a puzzle is very rarely changed, although sometimes an editor
will ask you to rework an area of a puzzle and re-submit it.

Creating puzzles for online presentation

If you want to make your puzzles available online, the .puz file format is one
way to do it. The free Across Lite program allows people to open, solve, or print
puzzles.
<ACROSS PUZZLE>
<TITLE>
"Sunday Challenge"
<AUTHOR>
By William I. Johnston
<COPYRIGHT>
2010 William I. Johnston
<SIZE>
15x15
<GRID>
.CSTAR.LETSLIP.
FAEROE.EDIFICES
ARMANI.ADMONISH
REPPED.VIE.ECTO
ESE..SPEED.ULEE
AFROS.LII.APERS
SOFTPRETZEL....
TRIBECA.ZIGZAGS
....LABRADOODLE
KNOLL.AIR.LODEN
NANA.ARCDE..WAN
ICER.UGO.SLOANE
SHOOTSAT.SESTET
HOUSESIT.ASSERT
.STAMINA.YEARS.
<ACROSS>
Red giant with an abundance of carbon
Inadvertently reveal
Denmark's ___ Islands
Grand buildings

A .txt file like this one can be opened

within Across Lite and saved as a
.puz file for online presentation.
The periods in the grid section
indicate black squares.

You can build a special .txt file using any word processor, and if you use the
appropriate format in this file, you can open it in Across Lite and save it as a .puz
file to be delivered online.
Across Lite software
http://www.litsoft.com

Across Lite .puz file text format

http://www.litsoft.com/across/alite/macman/aformat.htm

Books
Patrick Berry. Crossword Puzzle Challenges for Dummies.
ISBN: 0-764-55622-3
Stan Kurzban and Mel Rosen. The Compleat Cruciverbalist.
ISBN: 0-442-25738-4

Will Johnston URLs

http://www.fleetingimage.com/wij/xyzzy/nyt-links.html
mailto:wij@theworld.com

Answers to Activities
Grid Activity
A. Four squares do not have both Across and Down words
going through them. Unchecked letters are not allowed.
B. There are four 2-letter entries.
C. The diagram does not have 180-degree symmetry.
D. The diagram has 80 entries. The maximum word count
for this puzzle size is typically 78 entries.
Tricky Clue Activity
SANTACLAUS, SLIDERULE, ENDGAMES, SNEEZES, ERASES, RADII, MOON, ATM

page 7