Stan Newman's Daily Crossword Tips March 19 – 24, 2023
Solving crosswords every day is a fun and healthy habit that will build and strengthen your problem-solving skills. Whether you're new to crosswords, or a seasoned solver, everyone can use a helpful hint now and then. Come back every week to see the digest of daily tips that will help you achieve the satisfaction of solving a crossword a day.
Sunday, March 19, 2023
HOME, A LOAN: Some lending language, by Gary M. Larson
Difficulty level: Medium
Some of the trickier clues: 31 Across, 42 Across, 60 Down, 83 Down
Today's Tip: Presidents of 24 Across have included Theodore Bikel, Ellen Burstyn and Colleen Dewhurst.
Play more Sunday crosswords from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Monday, March 20, 2023
GOT IT COVERED by Doug Peterson
Difficulty level: Easy
Easy clues suggested for you to begin with: 22 Across, 35 Across, 6 Down, 12 Down
Today's Tip: In the edible family.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
SPRING IS HERE by Billie Truitt
Difficulty level: Easy
Easy clues suggested for you to begin with: 15 Across, 30 Across, 6 Down, 21 Down
Today's Tip: With SPRING in four clues.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
MEN AND BEASTS by S.N.
Difficulty level: Easy-Medium
Easy clues suggested for you to begin with: 24 Across, 65 Across, 6 Down, 32 Down
Today's Tip: With one of each in three clues.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Thursday, March 23, 2023
CALLING BILL HALEY by Chris Gross
Difficulty level: Medium-Hard
Easiest clues suggested for you to begin with: 4 Across, 22 Across, 40 Across, 63 Across
Tricky clues to watch out for: 52 Across, 59 Across, 12 Down, 26 Down
Today's Tip: The three theme clues are the reason for the title.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Friday, March 24, 2023
MESSY by Mark McClain
Difficulty level: Hard
Easiest clues suggested for you to begin with: 48 Across, 66 Across, 28 Down, 56 Down
Tricky clues to watch out for: 31 Across, 42 Across, 7 Down, 39 Down
Today's Tip: Compare each theme answer with the second word in its clue.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Saturday, March 25, 2023
SATURDAY STUMPER by Anna Stiga
Difficulty level: Very Hard
Most straightforward clues: 16 Across, 25 Across, 2 Down, 40 Down
Trickiest clues to watch out for: 5 Across, 18 Across, 1 Down, 25 Down
Today's Tip: The themeless Saturday Stumpers are deliberately designed to be the most challenging daily crosswords available anywhere, and are widely acknowledged by champion-level puzzle fans to be just that. The most important tip to always keep in mind: expect trickery everywhere, and consider the multiple meanings (and/or parts of speech) that any clue word might have. If you have trouble getting started, you’ll find it highly enlightening to use the app’s “Reveal puzzle” feature, then compare each clue with its corresponding answer. This is how many have developed the skills to fully solve Saturdays.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
How did it go?
Did you find this week’s digest of daily tips helpful? Did you find a clue that really stumped you? Join your fellow crossword fans in the comments. Just scroll down to the bottom of the page to the comments to engage with other puzzle solvers just like you.
About this week’s puzzle authors:
Stan Newman
Since 1988, Stan Newman has been the Crossword Editor for the Long Island, New York newspaper Newsday, where he is widely acknowledged as America’s preeminent expert in customizing crosswords by level of difficulty. During his career, he has also been Founding Editor for the popular “Crosswords with Friends” app, Managing Director of Puzzles and Games for Random House, and has authored or edited over 200 books - including crossword puzzle books, word game books, and crossword reference books.
Stan has written many thousands of his own crosswords over the years, including the first crosswords ever to appear in the Wall Street Journal, People and Newsweek magazines.
As a puzzle solver, he has held since 1996 the world's record for the fastest completion of a New York Times crossword: 2 minutes, 14 seconds.
Gary M. Larson
Gary M. Larson is a retired comedian who lives in Edmonds, Washington with his wife, Amy. He spends his days creating crossword puzzles, riding his E-bike, hanging out at the beach, and entertaining local residents with giant bubbles.
Doug Peterson
Doug Peterson is an avid puzzle solver and constructor who grew up in Montana and now makes his home in Southern California. He learned the ropes at an early age, solving Dell puzzle magazines with his grandmother during long summers spent at her home in Missoula.
He currently works for a labor union in Duarte, California, and spends most evenings working on crossword themes, grids, and clues. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and organizing his ever-growing comic book collection. And he loves to include comic book references in his puzzles.
He’s been making puzzles for Stan since 2003 and loves to challenge solvers with evocative clues and answers.
Billie Truitt
Billie Truitt has been constructing puzzles for Stan since 2008, specializing in the easier Tuesday puzzles, expanding into Fridays and Sundays in recent years. She lives with her husband and son in Windsor, Connecticut.
Chris Gross
Chris Gross is a retired Sales and Marketing Manager who worked in the Packaging Industry for over 35 years. Originally from Pennsylvania, he is a wine geek (he completed and passed a Sommelier exam), a coffee & craft beer aficionado, a foodie who loves to cook; a crossword puzzle blogger/solver/constructor (his first puzzle published in 2019); and lover of most sports. Chris lives in Arizona with his partner, Margaret; together they have four adult children and four grandchildren.
Mark McClain
Mark McClain lives with his longtime partner Diana Christopulos in the small city of Salem, Virginia, near the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway. He was born in Alva, Oklahoma, and spent time in Oklahoma City and the Dallas area during his years working in financial management for several large corporations. He has two adult daughters and one granddaughter.
He holds a bachelor's degree in economics and marketing and an MBA in finance and accounting. He's a veteran of the U.S. Army and in retirement has spent many hours volunteering at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and several other community volunteer jobs.
He has been making crossword puzzles since 2014 for Stan as well as several other publishers. His crosswords may have a classic feel, as he listens to classical music while working on them. In his spare time he enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles.
Anna Stiga
Anna Stiga is one of several pseudonyms used for the crosswords authored by your humble puzzle editor. “She” is the credited author for Saturday Stumpers that are intended to be not as cranium-crushing as those carrying his own “S.N.” byline, but more difficult than those with his “Lester Ruff” Saturday alias.