PortalsOS

A puzzle should be solvable. There's nothing worse than a puzzle that's too hard to complete. We want people to solve our puzzles.

Determining the obscurity of a crossword clue is subjective. Editors consider whether a clue is intentionally featured or simply fits the puzzle. A team of seven editors helps ensure a balanced approach, aiming for accessibility across diverse solvers.

In puzzle editing, there's a need to draw a line with 'Scrabble words'—those that appear only in unabridged dictionaries. This helps ensure that players can find as many words as possible without getting stuck on obscure terms.

I was into fill-it-in puzzles, which look just like crosswords, but instead of clues, it gives you a list of answers alphabetized by length.

A good puzzle creates a sense of accomplishment. Whether it's the daily jolt from Wordle or cracking a tough crossword theme, feeling achievement is key.

New York Times crosswords are ordered by difficulty: Monday is the easiest, Saturday is the hardest, and Sunday is large and medium in difficulty. Editing often involves adjusting clues to match the intended difficulty level.

The New York Times receives upwards of 150 crossword submissions each week from around the world. Editors sort these into categories: immediate rejections, maybes, and accepted puzzles. The editing process primarily involves changing clues rather than altering the puzzle's words.