Comments on An Englishman Solves American Puzzles: How I Solve the Crosswords

Thanks for the feedback Matthew - glad you enjoy w...

2010-12-22T18:42:36.981-05:00

Thanks for the feedback Matthew - glad you enjoy what's offered here.

Here's a random Listener Crossword: 3986: Terminal Suspension by Schadenfreude. I believe most of the series is only available as part of The Times's Crossword Club.

Thanks for the great blog, Crossword Man. I read ...

2010-12-22T08:13:37.032-05:00

Thanks for the great blog, Crossword Man. I read both you and Rex Parker daily.

Is there anywhere I can find a free past example of the infamous Listener Crossword to get a sense of its devilish nature?

Thanks Alex. When I filed the application back in ...

2010-12-12T10:55:13.691-05:00

Thanks Alex. When I filed the application back in July, I had vain hopes of the whole process being completed in time for me to vote last month. No chance!

Congratulations! I love to say that I became a cit...

2010-12-11T09:24:15.012-05:00

Congratulations! I love to say that I became a citizen just in time to vote for Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro!

Thanks ... I passed! Yay! But I'll have to wai...

2010-12-10T16:22:52.773-05:00

Thanks ... I passed! Yay! But I'll have to wait a couple of months for the oath ceremony as they're a bit booked up...

I so agree with you about America TV...most of the...

2010-12-09T12:05:44.897-05:00

I so agree with you about America TV...most of the shows pale in comparison with those produced in the UK. NPR/TV and BBC America help a bit. I became a citizen in 1984 and have all my children (5) and grandchildren (7) scattered across the US.
Good luck with the interview on Friday!

Thanks Alex. My problems extend to TV also. That m...

2010-12-08T17:29:59.582-05:00

Thanks Alex. My problems extend to TV also. That may never change. Did you become a US citizen? I have my naturalization interview this Friday (December 10) ... assuming all goes well, this blog will be need a name change.

Like you I am a transplanted Brit, but of somewhat...

2010-12-07T12:37:16.904-05:00

Like you I am a transplanted Brit, but of somewhat longer duration, having been US-based since 1978.
I always enjoy the NYT puzzles, generally breeze through Weds and occasionally Thursday. I have never finished either Fri or Sat completely "solo", but do occasionally finish Sun solo. It has become easier over the years as I have become more americanized...but I still have problems with the sports and modern music questions.
I have recently started to enjoy the NYT KenKen puzzles (the 6x6 and 7x7 grids) as a supplement to the crossword.
Love your blog...keep it up!

Sounds familiar, Anon, except you could add TV to ...

2010-11-28T09:43:47.040-05:00

Sounds familiar, Anon, except you could add TV to that list in my case!

As someone who has lived in the US during all of m...

2010-11-25T00:13:33.228-05:00

As someone who has lived in the US during all of my 91 years my biggest problem is finding the answers to the two categories that I am the least interested in - pop music and sports. Otherwise I usually breeze through NYT Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and if I am lucky can finish up an occasional Thursday or Friday.

I do better without his kind of help :-)

2010-11-06T10:35:05.830-04:00

I do better without his kind of help :-)

But as your photo shows, you clearly get help from...

2010-11-06T06:35:31.806-04:00

But as your photo shows, you clearly get help from your cat!

How do you justify that?

That's a fascinating story Prakash. Thanks for...

2010-09-19T12:26:43.220-04:00

That's a fascinating story Prakash. Thanks for sharing it and I hope you enjoy your happy hours for many years to come!

I am an aged hindu from Bangalore. I unashamedly ...

2010-09-16T00:28:21.478-04:00

I am an aged hindu from Bangalore. I unashamedly use google, wikipedia, imdb, one look reverse dictionary, ultralingua, roman numerals and other sites.
If I complete a puzzle I turn to your site for verification. If I am 90% accurate I am happy.
If I do not complete a puzzle to my satisfaction I save it and try to complete it using unlock code next day.checking each letter I enter.
My way is antonym to your way. However I spend few happy hours everyday
Prakash Devatha

Dear Mr. Crossword Man, I'm Indian, live in D...

2010-09-06T03:38:55.393-04:00

Dear Mr. Crossword Man,

I'm Indian, live in Dubai, did my A-Levels and then attended an American University. I should be cruising through these crosswords :)

Have made it to Thursday, will continue to persevere. Your site is much appreciated.

Yup. Bear in mind that sometimes the overall theme...

2010-06-08T16:44:18.745-04:00

Yup. Bear in mind that sometimes the overall theme is explained by a single answer, as in the May 31 puzzle. More often it is not explained and you have to spot the connection between the answers to get a sense of satisfaction - this was the case with the June 2 puzzle

Thanks. Looks like I am not missing anything. I ...

2010-06-06T21:24:07.725-04:00

Thanks. Looks like I am not missing anything. I guess that it just turns out that there was a theme for that day, but, unlike the Sunday puzzles for example, the theme name just wasn't expressed in the puzzle title.

Hi Nighthawk. Although American crosswords commonl...

2010-06-03T12:07:30.967-04:00

Hi Nighthawk. Although American crosswords commonly have titles, I don't believe the daily crosswords in the New York Times do - themes are intended to be self-contained. I'm maybe not the best person to ask, as I very rarely see the printed edition. The last time I did, the only significant difference I noted was in the bylines: in the printed paper, Will Shortz has a separate (larger) byline from the constructor's byline. When viewed in Across Lite, they are put together as in today's "NY Times, Thu, Jun 03, 2010 Elizabeth C. Gorski / Will Shortz". That's the only heading/title/theme you should see for today's puzzle; if that's missing, you have a problem; otherwise, I think everything is as intended.

I only within the last 3 months started doing the ...

2010-06-03T09:49:36.688-04:00

I only within the last 3 months started doing the puzzles in my local paper and the NYT on occasion.
But I get the NYT ones on the computer, print them, and then work them with pen/pencil.

It seems I am missing something when I do this. For example, in the puzzle today,June 3, there was a theme/title which gave clues to the themed answers, and which would have been quite helpful, had it printed out. But using the AcrossLite software to print, the headings/titles/themes don't print.

Is this a problem with that software? Or am I missing a step?

Any help about using that program would be much appreciated.

Hi Anon. I know what you mean: it always seems tha...

2010-03-28T14:33:53.349-04:00

Hi Anon. I know what you mean: it always seems that the grids are overwhelmed by the subjects you don't know. Baseballers and rap artists in my case. Glad you like the blog.

Your web site's name "An Englishman Solve...

2010-03-28T00:16:30.936-04:00

Your web site's name "An Englishman Solves American Crosswords" often amuses me as I'm working the NYT puzzle since it seems to me that nearly 10-20% of every puzzle's clues reference English geography / landmarks / literature / writers / / musicians / history and so on. Another 10-20% of clued squares regularly reference French words and since you've disclosed elsewhere on your site that you've studied French, it seems to me that such an Englishman is in a uniquely favorable position to solve the NYT puzzles. This is simply a friendly observation and of course I've made no detailed analysis of the frequency of English or French references, but it does always SEEM that way! :) I live in southern Illinois, where the NYT puzzle doesn't arrive until several weeks after you receive it in the east, so thanks for your site! With it, I'm able to check my answers or find the answer if I have to give up. I think your site is the best!

Nice puzzle thanga. Did you post it because you wa...

2010-03-27T18:25:39.814-04:00

Nice puzzle thanga. Did you post it because you want to know the answer (in which case I can help) or just to amuse readers (in which case I won't spoil it for them)?

I am an insect, & the first half of my name re...

2010-03-27T08:27:31.158-04:00

I am an insect, & the first half of my name reveals another insect. Some famous
musicians had a name similar to mine. What am I? ______ ...

Hi Stephen, great to hear your story. Glad you lik...

2010-03-24T17:51:27.498-04:00

Hi Stephen, great to hear your story. Glad you like the blog and that crosswords and other sports are keeping you on the straight and narrow!

Dear Crossword Man, My mom and I have always wante...

2010-03-23T19:33:43.655-04:00

Dear Crossword Man,
My mom and I have always wanted a bit of knowledge or understanding to come with the completing of the NYT puzzles. Now that I have stumbled upon your brilliant and extremely creative site, my wish to have resources with the crossword has come to life. Along with sports, the daily NYT crossword has kept me from the "youthful indiscretions" mentioned above! Thanks so much. . .