Stan Newman's Daily Crossword Tips March 26 – April 01, 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 26, 2023
ALLITERATIVE: With the accent on the second syllable, by S.N.
Difficulty level: Medium
Some of the trickier clues: 31 Across, 47 Across, 51 Down, 55 Down
Today's Tip: Shakespeare is believed to have written 23 Across for a performance before Queen Elizabeth I.
Play more Sunday crosswords from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Monday, March 27, 2023
HOME NOISEMAKERS by Doug Peterson
Difficulty level: Easy
Easy clues suggested for you to begin with: 44 Across, 60 Across, 13 Down, 38 Down
Today's Tip: With 55 Across not necessarily electrical.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
CHEAT SHEET by Billie Truitt
Difficulty level: Easy
Easy clues suggested for you to begin with: 48 Across, 70 Across, 13 Down, 61 Down
Today's Tip: No cheating should be necessary.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
DANCE CLUB by Mark McClain
Difficulty level: Easy-Medium
Easy clues suggested for you to begin with: 42 Across, 68 Across, 18 Down, 42 Down
Today's Tip: Dances older and newer.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Thursday, March 30, 2023
VOWEL PLAY by Steve Faiella
Difficulty level: Medium-Hard
Easiest clues suggested for you to begin with: 14 Across,
Tricky clues to watch out for: 11 Across, 64 Across, 13 Down, 49 Down
Today's Tip: With Y only incidentally involved.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Friday, March 31, 2023
HAM ON WRY by S.N.
Difficulty level: Hard
Easiest clues suggested for you to begin with: 5 Across, 27 Across, 46 Across, 53 Down
Tricky clues to watch out for: 9 Across, 49 Across, 7 Down, 39 Down
Today's Tip: A three-part quote from 38 Down.
Play more crosswords at this same level from editor Stan Newman’s archives.
Saturday, April 01, 2023
SATURDAY STUMPER by Steve Mossberg
Difficulty level: Very Hard
Most straightforward clues: 23 Across, 41 Across, 13 Down, 51 Down
Trickiest clues to watch out for: 20 Across, 61 Across, 8 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.
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.
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.
Steve Faiella
Steve Faiella has been a lifelong crossword solver. When he retired in 2019, after a 40-year career in Information Technology for one of the world's largest financial institutions, he decided to try his hand at constructing the puzzles that he's enjoyed since his teen years. Steve's first Newsday puzzle was published in March of 2020, and Stan has been amazing in mentoring Steve in his newfound craft. Steve hopes to continue making puzzles for years to come. He lives in Western Connecticut with his husband, Mike Walker, and his very demanding basset hound Rudy.
Steve Mossberg
Steve Mossberg is a music teacher living with his family in the Boston area. As a dad and cryptic crossword buff, he likes a good pun and a tricky clue. Steve enjoys making all sorts of tough crosswords, but finds it particularly entertaining to construct Saturday Stumpers after many years of solving them with a timer. His first Newsday puzzle was published in 2020.