![]() ![]() You may, however, use linked clues when cluing theme entries, or when two entries form a two-word phrase such as RUN AMOK. There's no compelling reason to link these entries, and piecing clue fragments together is more tiresome than fun for solvers. Remember to cite your source if the information you find may be difficult to verify.Īvoid writing clues that refer to other clues, like "1-Down, for one" to link the entry COLOR to BLUE. Dig a little deeper into Rousseau's life and see what you can come up with. In short, you should clue most entries as you ordinarily would but when you have an intriguing entry like ROUSSEAU, don't feel you have to limit yourself to "French philosopher" due to space constraints. Rather, the extra room is meant to help you bend certain clues toward desired subjects, and to let you include interesting facts that might normally get sacrificed for lack of space. That's not to say you're required to write longer clues, and it's certainly not an invitation to make every clue paragraph-length. The layout of the puzzle is designed to accommodate slightly longer clues than the average venue. When possible, bend clues toward intellectual subjects so, for instance, clue MONROE as the president or the college, not Marilyn. Single-word definitions should be used sparingly. Use a good mix of clue styles: straight definitions, humorous definitions, deceptive phrasings, and interesting trivia. The difficulty of the clues should roughly match that of a Wednesday or Thursday New York Times puzzle. Short common words such as OF, AND, or THE can be repeated if both are parts of larger entries (for example, PIECE OF CAKE and UNHEARD-OF). If you use SNOWMAN in your puzzle, other entries containing forms of SNOW and MAN are off-limits. Multi-word partials longer than five letters are unacceptable.Īvoid repeating forms of words in your grid. Partial phrases such as IF I and IN THE should be kept to a minimum. Acceptable foreign entries include common pronouns, low numbers, greetings and farewells, words commonly seen on restaurant menus, and words used in famous quotes and titles. Foreign words that the average English speaker has no reason to know.Made-up phrases such as BIG STEAK and METAL PEN, and questionable phrases such as IS WEARY and THROW TO.Contrived uses of prefixes and suffixes, such as VALORS, ELATER, UNBAKE, RETALKED, and SHIRTLIKE.Words that are vulgar or offensive, or refer to unsavory topics. ![]() ![]() Uncommon abbreviations, prefixes, and suffixes.Obscure names and terms, including crosswordese.The following types of entries should be avoided: Entries that reference pop culture (JAY-Z, SPIDER-MAN, BIG MAC) should be minimized, though it's okay to have a few. Avoid reusing words from the theme entries in your title.ĭesirable fill entries include lively words and phrases with unusual letters and letter patterns (KARAOKE, BANZAI, ON THE QT), and entries that relate to the scholarly topics mentioned above. Try to pick one that cleverly hints at the theme without completely giving it away. The following themes are always unwelcome: themes based on celebrity names, movie and TV shows, brand names, and other pop-culture topics themes involving repeated words and themes that have been used too many times before. Gimmick themes such as rebuses may occasionally be accepted, but it's safest to ask ahead. (Wordplay themes are acceptable as long as they relate to academic subjects - puns on classic book titles, for instance.) Quotation puzzles will be published sparingly, so send them sparingly, and stick to genuinely amusing or profound quotes that relate to the above-mentioned topics. (If the theme entries are all Across entries, longer unthemed Down entries are allowable.) Themes should be original, interesting, and internally consistent.īecause The Chronicle's readership is centered in academe, themes that relate to topics such as literature, the arts, science, history, philosophy, and (of course) education are strongly encouraged. The theme should have a minimum of three answers, which should be the longest entries in the puzzle. Avoid grids that can be divided in two by blackening either two symmetrical squares or the center square. Exceptions to these totals may be made if the theme is ambitious enough to warrant them. The standard grid rules apply: Normal crossword symmetry, no unchecked letters or two-letter words, and a maximum of 78 entries and 38 black squares. Puzzles submitted to The Chronicle should be themed 15x15 crosswords of the highest quality. CHRONICLE of HIGHER EDUCATION CROSSWORD GUIDELINES ![]()
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