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NY Times daily because it’s in our paper. I don’t usually do the Sunday puzzle because it just takes too long for me.
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I don’t have enough self-confidence to try it in ink.
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I usually try to work it at breakfast while I have my coffee.
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100% although it sometimes takes me quite a while on Friday and Saturday.
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I can’t really think of a particular favorite word.
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Only for obscure facts like Terre Haute’s county, a foreign word I’m not familiar with, or who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1964. Most of the time I can figure it out but sometimes I have to look it up.
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None come to mind. I’m sure I’ll think of some as soon as I hit submit.
1. Which crossword puzzles do you like best?
My newspaper carries the New York Times Sunday puzzle (though not the dailies), and it’s usually pretty good: a challenge, yet almost always completely do-able in half an hour or less. Other than that, I don’t have much experience with the different newspapers’ crosswords. I like Games’s crosswords (I’ve gotten to where I can usually complete their “Ornery Crossword” using only the hard clues); and Dell’s Crosswords Crosswords magazine is a good value for the money.
I like 'em hard, as long as it’s because they’re tricky rather than obscure. I like clever, punny themes, and in general, cleverness, trickiness, puns, wordplay, gimmicks–fun stuff like that.
I also love cryptics, as well as other kinds of puzzles, but they fall into a different category and aren’t what I think of first when you mention (ordinary, American-style) crosswords.
2. Ink or pencil?
Pencil–specifically, very soft lead mechanical pencil.
3. Where/when do you like to do crossword puzzles?
I usually do one or two first thing in the morning, while listening to music and drinking Diet Mountain Dew, to help jump-start my brain. I’m not naturally a morning person, and mornings are much less dreadful if I start them with something enjoyable like this.
4. What percentage of the puzzle do you usually complete?
Usually all of it; occasionally there’s a square or two where two obscure words intersect.
5. Your favorite crossword puzzle word?
Don’t have a favorite, but I hate those obscure words that occur nowhere else but in crossword puzzles.
1. Which crossword puzzles do you like best?
The London Times is still the best and the most difficult. I like the Financial Times - because I manage more of it
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2. Ink or pencil?**
Real men use ink 
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3. Where/when do you like to do crossword puzzles?**
I do them on planes between getting the paper and the Fasten Seatbelts Sign going off so I can get my laptop out**
4. What percentage of the puzzle do you usually complete?**
Given the time limits above 10-80%**
5. Your favorite crossword puzzle word?**
the one I have just solved **
6. Do you cheat?**
No search engines on planes**
7. Favorite crossword pun question(s)/answer(s)**
“Important right given to attorneys” - Significant…
Sign-if-I-cant:smack:
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NY Times. I subscribe to them online. The ones in the St. Louis paper are usually too easy or silly, though they also include belated NY Times ones.
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On the computer, pencil option; on paper, pencil. I like to write down whatever comes to mind and then erase as I see fit. If I wait until I’m sure then I’ll never get a Saturday puzzle done.
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Used to do them at work (lots of down time), but now I don’t have much time, so I’ll do them on my computer when I’m not lurking the dope.
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For NY Times, I can get Monday-Wednesday easily. I usually finish Thursday and Friday if I struggle with it for a good while. I almost never finish much of Saturdays. Sundays are a toss-up.
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No preference. I like puzzles that rely less on vowel-filled four letter words.
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Occasionally. When I’d do them at work we’d make it a competition so I wouldn’t cheat, but if I’m on the computer occasionally I’ll look something up.
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Nothing comes to mind right now, but I swear some of the Sunday NYT puns are sooooo bad they become charming.
Merle Regal does a good job. Both small and large NYT are a bit of fun. The “Cryptic” over in Britain is death warmed over.
What sort of “Have you stopped beating your wife?” question is this? INK! Always ink, unless you lost your pen and couldn’t borrow one.
In bed on Sunday morning, on the throne, when forced to take pubic transportation or flying.
What? Another of these wife beating questions? Well over 97%, if not all!
Something like "Mirror Mirror in the NYT. It involved writing clues backwards and was a cast iron b!tch!
Cheating does not appear in the term, “Solving a crossword puzzle.” In a word, NO.
These aren’t puns, but rather common.
Ani = Blackbird
Iter = Roman road
Rete = Network
Ern = Seabird
Erne = Seabird
Oast = Kiln
Drat = Mild oath
Egad = Mild oath
Sprat = Young fish
I’ve drilled the large Sunday NYT in as little as 45 minutes. Usually it takes 1-2 hours. The small NYT falls in 15 to 30 minutes. I once did the large Sunday SF Chronicle travel section puzzle in 17 minutes instead of its posted average of 71 minutes. It’s all because I do them in ink, trust me …
<b>1. Which crossword puzzles do you like best?</b>
I like the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian, and the ones you can get on YahooGames. Just not cryptic, unless I am feeling masochistic.
<b>2. Ink or pencil?</b>
Ink usually, just because I’m more likely to have a pen on me. Alternatively, I like doing them online.
<b>3. Where/when do you like to do crossword puzzles?</b>
Usually when I am on night duty, to keep me awake. Also on the bus, or to procrastinate when I am supposed to be studying. Also, regularly each Saturday morning.
<b>4. What percentage of the puzzle do you usually complete?</b>
All of it. I’m a compulsive perfectionist.
<b>5. Your favorite crossword puzzle word?</b>
Hm… Specificity perhaps.
<b>6. Do you cheat?</b>
See my answer to 4, but even then, only if I’m going insane and neglecting the rest of my life. I usually don’t have to.
<b>7. Favorite crossword pun question(s)/answer(s).</b>
Can’t think of one off the top of my head.
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Boston Globe, especially the Sunday puzzle
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Pencil
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Right after eating breakfast
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100%
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“anil”, “ana” and “ani” spring to mind…
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Depends on your definition of “cheat,” I guess. I don’t look at the puzzle solution, but for me part of the fun is being able to find the information in reference materials as needed. To that end, I have a copy of the OED on hand, as well as a couple of good encyclopedias, a movie and video guide, and atlas, etc. When I see a clue that stumps me at first sight, the hunt is on! I may not know the answer to every question, but I’m proud of my ability to find the answer…
Barry
- For U.S.-style puzzles: Saturday NY Times. That’s a challenge. The Sunday version is bigger, but slightly easier, since it has a theme and Saturday usually does not. Also, the clues on Saturday are more ambiguous.
For British-style (cryptic) puzzles: the Globe and Mail puzzle online. Once you get the hang of cryptic crosswords, nearly all American ones seem ridiculously simple.
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I do them online. Pencil if I’m filling out a paper puzzle. I can use ink, but I do like the ability to erase.
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Online.
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100% of most online puzzles.
50% of the NYT Saturday
Maybe 1% of the Globe and Mail -
Rorem (as in Ned). An obscure American composer gains immortality because he happens to have a useful set of letters in his name.
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Sometimes. I don’t have unlimited time. But only on the Saturday NYT and Globe and Mail.
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My favorite in yesterday’s Globe and Mail puzzle was “Uses Polish enthusiasts?” The answer, of course, was “buffs.” I just love that sort of thing – completely impenetrable until you suddenly have the “aha” moment and it becomes ridiculously clear.
1. Which crossword puzzles do you like best?
I like the Guardian and Telegraph cryptic crosswords. When I read the Independent, a few years ago, I used to try the really really difficult Beelzebub crossword, and sometimes completed it. Never managed the Observer’s Azed, though.
2. Ink or pencil?
Ink
3. Where/when do you like to do crossword puzzles?
Lunchtime, bedtime, at home, on a train journey. At college I used to do them with a group of friends at lunchtime in the bar, over coffee and chocolate.
4. What percentage of the puzzle do you usually complete?
All, or all except a couple of annoying clues
5. Your favorite crossword puzzle word?
6. Do you cheat?
No. I used to use the Chambers dictionary to help with the Independent Beelzebub crossword, as recommended by the setters. I occasionally used marijuana to help with the Guardian crossword (disclaimer: I do not endorse or promote the use of illegal drugs at this time)
7. Favorite crossword pun question(s)/answer(s).
I don’t recall a particular favourite.
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Which crossword puzzles do you like best? New York Times daily and Washington Post Sunday (though I tackle the NY Times Sunday regularly, can’t say that I love it)
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Ink or pencil? Ink–black rollerball pens only, to be precise
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Where/when do you like to do crossword puzzles? Mostly at home, though I normally bring a book of them when I have to wait somewhere for a long period of time (doctor’s office, airport, etc.) They’re also a great break from studying/homework.
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What percentage of the puzzle do you usually complete? Depends on where it’s from–I can usually complete 100% of the dailies, around 75-100% of the Washington Post Sunday and anywhere from 50-90% of the NY Times Sunday.
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Your favorite crossword puzzle word? esne
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Do you cheat? Most of the time, no. However, if I have the crossword all done except for, say, the last letter of one word, I’ll check the dictionary. I also use the dictionary if I don’t know a word that appears in a clue.
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Favorite crossword pun question(s)/answer(s). Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any that stand out. I like puns that combine names of famous people.
1. Which crossword puzzles do you like best?
I do the Sunday Chicago Trib magazine, Books section, and NY Times. Sometimes I’ll hit a weekday NY Times when someone tosses a newspaper, but Sunday’s my crossword day. I do them in (IMO) ascending order of difficulty: Trib Mag, Books, NY Times. There’s also the added bonus of assorted cryptics in the Trib and NY Times, but those are often a little tough for me.
2. Ink or pencil?
Always ink, preferably blue ballpoint because it shows up better on the glossier pages against black. For the Books section, which is newsprint, I sometimes use a gel ink pen.
3. Where/when do you like to do crossword puzzles?
I usually start them while lounging on the couch, then take them to bed and work on them before I fall asleep. They usually stay in the bedroom until the next Sunday. If I can’t sleep or don’t feel like reading, I work on the cryptics and any clues I didn’t complete on the puzzles.
4. What percentage of the puzzle do you usually complete?
I’m usually 100% on the Trib Mag, 95-100% on the Books, and 90-95% on the Times, unless it’s an absolute bastard of a puzzle. Last week I was 100%, though!
5. Your favorite crossword puzzle word?
Erne/ern. Always and forever.
6. Do you cheat?
Nope.
7. Favorite crossword pun question(s)/answer(s).
Recently I liked “rapping doctor”=Dre, which is another good crossword name. TERI Garr is also in there a whole heck of a lot.
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The Times ( cryptic), Prospect ( general knowledge) and The Listener Crossword ( a monstrosity I try as a challenge).
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Ink
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Anywhere
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I usually finish The Times and Prospect ones. With The Listener Crossword, which appears in The Times on Saturdays, it can be anything from completing it to not getting a single clue.
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Osmeteria
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I try to do the Times Crossword without a dictionary.
Prospect: I think you’re supposed to look things up. Can you answer questions like “Genus of gelatinous fungi found on decaying wood (7,4)” or “Sewing up a hawk’s eyelids to render it quiet and tame (7)” without assistance?
Listener: Chambers dictionary is recommended as it does contain some obscure words. Its main difficulty is that it has a theme, though. Letters have to be changed or omitted, some answers are unclued or the clue contains extra words, for example. -
I had invested in friendly cow (10)
Intimidate
(1) NY Times
(2) ink – specifically, Pilot G-2 rollerball (Besides the “wimp” factor, pencil can be harder to read)
(3) with coffee in the a.m. (but sometimes only on the weekend)
(4) usually finish, but not always the Saturday NY Times
(5) I, too, hate “crosswordese” (e.g., abed, asea, and compass points). One reason I like the NY Times is that it has relatively few of these. On the other hand, it assumes a fairly literate level of general knowledge (e.g., mythology) and provides clues for common words that are clever but not annoyingly cute (e.g., “stands for things” = “easels” to use one example from a week or so ago).
(6) I’ll confess, if stumped, to checking the Almanac for clues like “1957 Nobel laureate” and, if really stumped by the Saturday NYT, to checking Google for the author of quoted song lyrics or the like.
(7) Favorite questions: The ones that elicit an “aha!” or a “d’oh!” because the answer required thought rather than either obscure knowledge or just plain luck. In that vein, I especially like figuring out the “trick” to the Sunday NYT.
JABBA, Can you explain how “I had invested in friendly cow” leads to your answer?
Any on-line introductions to the style of crosswords in The Times?
[ul]
[li]*1. Which crossword puzzles do you like best? *[/li]World of Puzzles/Games Magazines
[li]2. Ink or pencil?[/li]Ink. Pencil is too faint. Plus it annoys my wife.
[li]3. Where/when do you like to do crossword puzzles?[/li]Over lunch; in any waiting room; or curled up on the couch in the evening.
[li]4. What percentage of the puzzle do you usually complete?[/li]Most, usually, with occasionally a word missing.
[li]5. Your favorite crossword puzzle word?[/li]If I notice that a word is a “crossword puzzle word” (as in, “good lord, you’ll never see this outside of a crossword puzzle”), it really detracts from the puzzle (to me).
[li]6. Do you cheat?[/li]Nope. If I can’t figure it out, I would just as soon leave it blank and go on to another one. Similarly if I have to look up the answer in a book or dictionary - takes my fun away.
[li]7. Favorite crossword pun question(s)/answer(s).[/li]First lady? (3 letters)
[/ul]
1. Which crossword puzzles do you like best?
NY Times daily, or anything edited by Merl Reagle (only get his puzzles in collections though).
I also like diagramless passingly well. Hate the British-style puzzles.
2. Ink or pencil?
ink - not to be arrogant, but just because pencil is hard to write with/read on newspaper.
3. Where/when do you like to do crossword puzzles?
whenever - I can’t do anything like that in a bath (reading/crossword puzzle) without getting everything wet, though.
4. What percentage of the puzzle do you usually complete?
100% up through Thursday NY Times, usually upwards of 75% for a Sunday (interest goes downhill after I’ve had the ‘aha!’ moment and gotten all the themed clues).
5. Your favorite crossword puzzle word?
I don’t care for crossword warhorses, but my wife and I joke about how ‘Asta’ is in just about every crossword ever.
I particularly dislike crossword-words where it’s a person who hasn’t been famous for 30 years or more (comedian Johnson - ARTE - man that’s a lame one! ASHE (Wimbledon champ from whenever), TRIS (Speaker of baseball), etc., need to be given dignified burial).
6. Do you cheat?
No.
7. Favorite crossword pun question(s)/answer(s).
I’m bad at remembering them, but I do like the tricky ones. Here’s one:
“first name in maps?” - RAND
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Actually cryptic puzzles, and diagramless. Of the traditional puzzles, NY Times. I can do Monday ones in under 5 minutes, Sunday in around 1/2 hour.
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Pencil, unless I’m really stuck without one.
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All over. I try to do the NY Times one when I’m reading the paper when I get home. I have a bunch of Games magazines in my bathroom. I also take them with me when traveling.
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All of them.
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No particular favorites. I like it when authors I read get in. The Baltimore City Paper Funny paper column (a comics watch column) has the Oreo watch.
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Never! If I look, I admit I didn’t finish. I used to look up words in crostics, but I don’t need to anymore.
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Don’t remember, but the Times has some good ones.
I’m quite good at trivia, and I discovered that a lot of it is from doing puzzles.
Cool. I have a question - is it true that the
market for cryptic puzzle books crashed? Henry Hook and Stanley Newman both had nice series. There used to be a million of them, but now there are none. My uneducated guess is that lots of people bought them, found out that they couldn’t do them, and later volumes in the series didn’t sell.
tullius
“I had” is regularly abbreviated to “I’d”. In crosswords, where we ignore punctuation, this becomes “id”. Intimate means friendly. Then “id” is invested in ( i.e. placed inside) the word ‘intimate’ to give ‘intimidate’. Finally, the verb ‘to cow’ means ‘to subdue the spirit of; to intimidate’. Thus: “I had invested in friendly” = “cow”.
OK, I must confess that I didn’t read the entire thread here; I got about a quarter into it and got bored. But I’m an inveterate cruciverbalist, and ran across an absolutely stellar clue/answer today:
Clue (5 letters): “Summers in the East?”
Answer:ABACI
- I do the crossword in the Toledo Blade and sometimes the crostics in the Parade.
- Ink. Though I make the letters very small in in the lower left corner of the box, just in case.
- Usually while watching afternoon TV. Judge Judy isn’t that entertaining.
- The last 2 I’ve done were 6 and 11 unfilled boxes respectivly.
- Iota.
- only after I know I’ve screwed a word up by following the cross clues.
- don’t have a specific favorite, but those words that make one go :smack: have to list up there if for nothing than my stupidity factor