crossword puzzle book report

Book report Crossword

Description.

Who crashed Where did the family goe Who came to see the family Who came with the grandparents Where did Adam take mia for a date How old was Mia when shd got her first instrument Where did Adam ask Mia out What did Adam do for a living Who was the first of the family to pass What did they eat in the morning Where were their gonna go before they got into an accident What does mia listen too

The Tell-Tale Heart By Edgar Allan Poe

Maya, Inca, and Aztec Empires

The Boy of the Painted Cave

Lange Families

Citrus High School

Mark 9 - who is the greatest?

Serial Killer: Belle Gunness

Frequently asked questions, what is a crossword.

Crossword puzzles have been published in newspapers and other publications since 1873. They consist of a grid of squares where the player aims to write words both horizontally and vertically.

Next to the crossword will be a series of questions or clues, which relate to the various rows or lines of boxes in the crossword. The player reads the question or clue, and tries to find a word that answers the question in the same amount of letters as there are boxes in the related crossword row or line.

Some of the words will share letters, so will need to match up with each other. The words can vary in length and complexity, as can the clues.

Who is a crossword suitable for?

The fantastic thing about crosswords is, they are completely flexible for whatever age or reading level you need. You can use many words to create a complex crossword for adults, or just a couple of words for younger children.

Crosswords can use any word you like, big or small, so there are literally countless combinations that you can create for templates. It is easy to customise the template to the age or learning level of your students.

How do I create a crossword template?

For the easiest crossword templates, WordMint is the way to go!

Pre-made templates

For a quick and easy pre-made template, simply search through WordMint’s existing 500,000+ templates . With so many to choose from, you’re bound to find the right one for you!

Create your own from scratch

• Log in to your account (it’s free to join!)
• Head to ‘My Puzzles’
• Click ‘Create New Puzzle’ and select ‘Crossword’
• Select your layout, enter your title and your chosen clues and answers
• That’s it! The template builder will create your crossword template for you and you can save it to your account, export as a word document or pdf and print!

How do I choose the clues for my crossword?

Once you’ve picked a theme, choose clues that match your students current difficulty level. For younger children, this may be as simple as a question of “What color is the sky?” with an answer of “blue”.

Are crosswords good for students?

Crosswords are a great exercise for students' problem solving and cognitive abilities. Not only do they need to solve a clue and think of the correct answer, but they also have to consider all of the other words in the crossword to make sure the words fit together.

Crosswords are great for building and using vocabulary.

If this is your first time using a crossword with your students, you could create a crossword FAQ template for them to give them the basic instructions.

Can I print my crossword template?

All of our templates can be exported into Microsoft Word to easily print, or you can save your work as a PDF to print for the entire class. Your puzzles get saved into your account for easy access and printing in the future, so you don’t need to worry about saving them at work or at home!

Can I create crosswords in other languages?

Crosswords are a fantastic resource for students learning a foreign language as they test their reading, comprehension and writing all at the same time. When learning a new language, this type of test using multiple different skills is great to solidify students' learning.

We have full support for crossword templates in languages such as Spanish, French and Japanese with diacritics including over 100,000 images, so you can create an entire crossword in your target language including all of the titles, and clues.

RS Recommends: The Best Crossword Books for Brain Health

By Natalli Amato

Natalli Amato

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Just as you might go for a walk to exercise your heart and lungs, you can do activities to exercise your brain. Doing word games and puzzles is one of the best ways to exercise your brain and maintain your overall cognitive functioning. Whether you’re an avid puzzler or just getting started, crossword puzzles are a fun and effective means to take care of your mind.

Crossword Book Buying Guide

Billie eilish would like to reintroduce herself, team trump is ready to lose the supreme court immunity case. they’re celebrating, taylor swift and jack antonoff have reached their limit, kanye west announces 'yeezy porn' amid reports of adult film company, the best crossword books to buy right now.

Whether you’re a crossword novice or a pro, we’ve found some of the best crossword books you can buy right now on Amazon.

1. The New York Times Supersized Book of Sunday Crosswords

Lovers of the  New York Times  crosswords need this supersized crossword book. With 500 puzzles total, it’s the largest collection of Sunday crosswords that you can buy. Edited by experts Will Shotrz and Eugene T. Maleska, this collection of puzzles will bring you hours upon hours of good, challenging, crossword fun.

Buy The New York Times Supersized Book of… $13.19

2. The New York Times Crosswords for a Long Weekend

Another collection of New York Times  crosswords, this crossword book was edited with relaxation in mind. These crosswords range in difficulty from easy to hard and are best paired with a cup of coffee and a quiet morning in nature. With 200 puzzles total, you’ll want to bring this crossword book along on your next vacation.

Buy The New York Times Crosswords for a… $13.47

3. The Ultimate Brain Health Crossword Puzzle Book for Adults

If you’re new to crosswords and want to take up the hobby to improve your brain health, this crossword book is an excellent place to start. The puzzles in this book span three different levels of difficulties, cover fun themes, and even feature some clues to help get your gears turning. The 84 puzzles in this book are organized by increasing difficulty level, so you can build up your abilities and track your progress.

Buy The Ultimate Brain Health Crossword… $12.99

4. Brain Games Crossword Puzzles

Crossword puzzles are an entertaining way to challenge your mind, as long as you’re not straining your eyes. These jumbo-print puzzles are easy on your eyes and make crossword puzzles far more accessible. This crossword book has over 80 different puzzles, and they get harder as the book goes on. We also appreciate how the solutions are included at the back of the book.

Buy Brain Games Crossword Puzzles $11.68

5. Entertainment Crosswords

Trivia buffs, get ready to have fun with this themed crossword book. All 100 of the crossword puzzles in this collection are about entertainment. Whether you love movies, music, broadway, sports, or TV, there’s something here for you. Even entertainment experts will find a challenge here; the puzzles start off easy but get increasingly difficult. 

Buy Entertainment Crosswords

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Los Angeles Times News Quiz this week: Earthquakes, rattlesnakes and the WNBA draft

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5 Best Crossword Puzzle Books for Every Skill Level

Crossword puzzle books are a great way to challenge your mind while having fun. They’re an enjoyable pastime for many individuals, regardless of their skill level. It’s always exciting to complete a crossword puzzle that you previously thought was too challenging. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the best crossword puzzle books for every skill level. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, we’ve got you covered.

Why Crossword Puzzle Books are Great for All Skill Levels

Crossword puzzles books are a fantastic way to keep your brain active. They challenge you to use creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Crossword puzzles are also beneficial to your language skills and vocabulary. They can be a helpful tool to improve certain aspects of your cognitive abilities. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, crossword puzzles books are an excellent way to sharpen your mind.

Benefits of Crossword Puzzles for the Brain

Crossword puzzles engage multiple areas of the brain that are essential for cognitive functioning. They require you to use your memory recall, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. The more you engage in these activities, the better your brain becomes at performing them. As a result, completing crossword puzzles daily as part of your routine helps maintain cognitive function as you age.

Moreover, crossword puzzles are a great way to improve your focus and concentration. They require you to pay attention to the clues and fill in the blanks, which helps to improve your attention span. This can be beneficial in other areas of your life, such as work or school, where you need to stay focused for extended periods.

How Crossword Puzzles Improve Vocabulary and Language Skills

Crossword puzzles incorporate a range of words and definitions. Completing puzzles daily can help you learn new words and remember their meanings, which can improve your language skills. This is especially helpful for individuals learning English as a second language. By completing crossword puzzles, you can expand your vocabulary and learn new words in context, which can help you communicate more effectively.

Additionally, crossword puzzles can help you improve your spelling and grammar. As you fill in the blanks, you’ll begin to recognize patterns in words and how they’re spelled. This can help you become a better writer and communicator.

The Role of Crossword Puzzles in Reducing Stress and Anxiety

Crossword puzzles are excellent for reducing stress and anxiety. They provide a challenging and fun distraction from daily stressors. Completing crossword puzzles causes the brain to release endorphins, which are feel-good hormones, bringing a sense of calm and relaxation.

Moreover, crossword puzzles can help you take a break from technology and screen time. In today’s world, we’re constantly bombarded with notifications, emails, and social media updates. Taking a break from technology and engaging in a crossword puzzle book can be a refreshing change of pace.

In conclusion, crossword puzzle books are an excellent way to keep your brain active and improve your cognitive abilities. They offer a range of benefits, from improving your language skills to reducing stress and anxiety. So, whether you’re a beginner or an expert, pick up a crossword puzzle book today and start challenging your mind!

Beginner Crossword Puzzle Books

Are you looking to challenge your mind and have some fun at the same time? Crossword puzzles are a great way to do just that! If you’re a beginner, don’t worry – there are plenty of crossword puzzle books out there that are perfect for you. Here are some of our top picks:

The New York Times Light and Easy Crossword Puzzles

As one of the most well-known newspapers in the world, The New York Times knows a thing or two about crossword puzzles. This crossword puzzle book is perfect for beginners. It features puzzles of varying difficulty levels, ranging from very easy to moderate. It includes 75 crossword puzzles and solutions, making it a great value. You’ll love the feeling of accomplishment you get when you complete each puzzle!

You can find this book here .

Funster Crossword Puzzle Book for Adults

If you’re looking for a puzzle book that’s both fun and challenging, the Funster Crossword Puzzle Book for Adults is for you. This book is filled with 101 puzzles that are designed to be both entertaining and engaging. They are large print, easy-to-read puzzles, perfect for those with vision impairments. The puzzles are also designed with fun clues and solutions, so you’ll never get bored.

The Everything Easy Crossword Puzzle Book

If you’re looking for a puzzle book that will keep you busy for a while, The Everything Easy Crossword Puzzle Book is a great choice. This book contains 200 easy crossword puzzles that are perfect for beginners. The clues are straightforward, and the puzzles increase in difficulty as you progress through the book. You’ll love the feeling of accomplishment you get when you complete each puzzle!

So whether you’re looking for a fun way to pass the time or you want to challenge your mind, these beginner crossword puzzle books are sure to do the trick. Happy puzzling!

The New York Times Monday Through Friday Easy to Tough Crossword Puzzles

Are you an avid puzzler looking for a challenge? Look no further than these intermediate crossword puzzle books. The New York Times Monday Through Friday Easy to Tough Crossword Puzzles is perfect for those who have completed beginner-level puzzles and are looking for a steady increase in difficulty. With puzzles throughout the week, you’ll be able to build your skills and challenge yourself with the most difficult puzzles on Fridays.

Simon & Schuster Mega Crossword Puzzle Book

For a more diverse experience, check out the Simon & Schuster Mega Crossword Puzzle Book . With over 300 puzzles and a variety of themes and styles, you’ll never get bored. The book even includes rebus puzzles and cryptic clues to really put your puzzling skills to the test.

The Ultimate Crossword Puzzle Book for Adults

If you’re looking for a book with a clear progression of difficulty, The Ultimate Crossword Puzzle Book for Adults is the book for you. With 300 puzzles that start easy and get progressively more difficult, you’ll be able to challenge yourself and build your skills as you go.

The well-written clues will keep you engaged and entertained for hours on end. No matter which book you choose, these intermediate crossword puzzle books will provide a fun and challenging experience for any puzzle enthusiast. So grab a pencil and get ready to put your skills to the test!

Advanced Crossword Puzzle Books

The new york times sunday crossword puzzles volume 50.

From the most popular newspaper in the United States, this book provides the ultimate crossword puzzle experience. The Sunday puzzles are the most challenging and incorporate the most intricate wordplay and themes.

The New Yorker Crossword Puzzle Book

The New Yorker crossword puzzles are notoriously challenging. This book features 50 of the most challenging crosswords designed to test even the most advanced crossword enthusiasts. The book also includes notes and explanations for some of the more challenging puzzles.

The Times Cryptic Crossword Book

For those who are up for the ultimate challenge, this book is an excellent choice. The Times Cryptic Crossword puzzles are notoriously challenging. They require a level of skill and expertise that is unmatched in the world of crossword puzzles. This book is sure to provide a challenging and fun crossword puzzle experience.

In conclusion, crossword puzzles are an exciting and beneficial pastime for individuals of all skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced, we’ve compiled a list of the best crossword puzzle books that will help challenge and entertain you. Remember to have fun while solving puzzles. Happy puzzling!

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• Crossword Tips

Clue: Book report?

Referring crossword puzzle answers, likely related crossword puzzle clues.

• One for the books?
• Taxpayer's dread
• Inspection of accounts
• Accounting inspection
• Tax cheat's worry
• Book review?
• Financial review

Recent usage in crossword puzzles:

• New York Times - June 21, 2015

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Paper Hat

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Paper Hat

Constructor: Beth Rubin

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• ANNA (57A: Disability justice activist Landre) ANNA Landre is an internationally-recognized activist and researcher. Her work calls attention to the "implementation gap," highlighting ways laws often fail in practice. ANNA Landre is currently a PhD student at the Global Disability Innovation Hub in London. She previously served as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Washington, D.C., while completing an undergraduate degree at Georgetown University.
• CREPE (33D: Thin pancake similar to malawah) A malawah is a sweet, thin pancake flavored with cardamom. It originated in Somali. A CREPE is also a thin pancake. CREPEs originated in France, and may be sweet or savory.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• CLUE (7A: Board game with Miss Scarlet) I enjoy playing many different board games, but if pressed to choose one game that is my favorite of all time, it would be CLUE . Nothing against Miss Scarlet, but Professor Plum is my favorite character. When I was young, Professor Plum was my favorite for the strategic reason that his starting space on the game board was the closet to the door of a room. Now when I play CLUE , I generally play the CLUE Master Detective edition, which was released in 1988 and features more rooms, more suspects, and more weapons. In this version, all characters begin in the same space. I still choose to play as Professor Plum.
• EAU (16A: Water, in French) We frequently see the French word for water used in the name of perfumes. For example, I have previously written about EAU de Luna and EAU de Space .
• I'VE (24A: "___ Been to the Mountaintop" (MLK speech)  "I'VE Been to the Mountaintop" was Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s final speech, delivered at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee on April 3, 1968, the day before he was assassinated. In the speech, he said, "...I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land."
• ARABIC (25A: "Alif, ba, ta..." language) Alif, ba, and ta are the first three letters of the ARABIC alphabet. The basic ARABIC alphabet contains 28 letters, each representing a consonant. Vowel sounds are indicated by diacritical marks added to the letters.
• OIL-BASED (29A: Like the paint Van Gogh used for "The Starry Night") I wrote about Vincent Van Gogh's painting, "The Starry Night," a couple of weeks ago.
• MANO (32A: Hand, in Spanish) The phrase "MANO a MANO," which is Spanish for "hand to hand," is used to describe a direct competition or conflict between two people.
• GEM (37A: Jasper or opal) Jasper is a type of quartz. It has a number of different colors, which are the result of mineral impurities. Red is a common color for this GEM (caused by iron inclusions), but it may also be yellow, brown, or green. There are a number of different varieties of opal, broadly classified into precious (these GEMs display iridescence) and common (such as the milk opal or resin opal).
• ON SILENT (48A: Set to not ring or buzz) and JUST A SEC (60A: "Hang on one moment!") These two answers seem to go together nicely. "JUST A SEC ... I need to put my phone ON SILENT."
• ESSAYS (50A: Some Zadie Smith works) Zadie Smith is a writer of novels, ESSAYS, and short stories. Her most recent book, The Fraud , was published last year, and is a historical novel about the Tichborne case, a British trial in the late 1800s concerning a man claiming to be the heir to a family fortune. I enjoyed listening to Zadie Smith talk about her new book in this NPR interview .
• IN A (59A: Catch lightning ___ bottle) To try to "catch (or capture) lightning IN A bottle" is to attempt a particularly challenging or difficult feat, something that seems impossible. The saying dates back to the 1800s, and refers to Benjamin Franklin's experiments (conducted in the 1700s) that attempted to capture electricity from lightning and store it IN A jar.
• STL (70A: Soulard Market city (Abbr.) The Soulard Farmers Market , located in St. Louis (STL), Missouri is the oldest public market in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River. It was established in 1779, and is still operating today. Soulard Market is open Wednesday through Saturday year-round.
• CATAN (1D: Board game with ore, lumber, brick, wool and grain) It's been just a few days since we saw the game of CATAN referenced in a clue for the word ORES.
• OPERA (2D: Show such as "Porgy and Bess") Porgy and Bess is an OPERA composed by George Gershwin, with libretto by Dubose Heyward and Ira Gershwin. It was first performed in Boston in September 1935, premiering on Broadway a couple of weeks later. The OPERA has been produced multiple times since then, including in 2019 at the Metropolitan OPERA in New York City. The live cast album from the Metropolitan OPERA production won a Grammy Award for Best OPERA Recording.
• BEA (11D: "Golden Girls" actress Arthur) BEA Arthur (1922-2009) portrayed Dorothy Zbornak on the TV series  The Golden Girls (1985-1992). Prior to that, she portrayed the character of Maude Findlay in the TV series  All in the Family  (1971-1972), and then in the spin-off series,  Maude  (1972-1978). BEA Arthur won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, one for Maude (1977) and one for The Golden Girls (1988).
• EDAM (19D: Cheese aka queso de bola) EDAM is a semi-hard cheese traditionally sold in spheres wrapped with red paraffin wax. It is named after the town in the northwest Netherlands where it was originally made. In Spain, the Philippines and some Latin American countries, EDAM is known as queso de bola, Spanish for "ball cheese."
• UVA (22D: Charlottesville sch.) Charlottesville, Virginia is the home to the University of Virginia (UVA). The abbreviation of school in the clue alerts solvers that the answer will be an abbreviation.
• OIKOS (34D: Greek yogurt brand) Dannon OIKOS is a line of Greek yogurt that has been on the market since 2007. Dannon is the American brand of the French food-processing corporation, Danone. I learned that fact when writing about a previous puzzle .
• EAST (47D: Chad-to-Sudan direction) Chad is a landlocked country in Africa. The capital of Chad is N'Djamena. EAST of Chad is the country of Sudan. Sudan is not landlocked, as it has coastline along the Red Sea. The capital of Sudan is Khartoum.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• MONEY ORDERS (3D: Bank-issued checks)
• CUT ME SOME SLACK (7D: "C'mon, I only made a little mistake!")
• BAG OF TRICKS (26D: Crafty person's repertoire)

The top word of each vertical theme answer (the one on top like a HAT) can pair with the word PAPER, giving us PAPER MONEY, PAPER CUT, and PAPER BAG.

I liked the use of the word HAT to point at the theme being in the top word of the vertical theme answers. It's a cute theme. Thank you, Beth, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

• USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
• Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers

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• The Berkshire Eagle

• Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Michelle Arnot has always found something satisfying about filling in boxes — it's the connecting line between her love of crosswords and calligraphy. She's a master in both arts. 

• BEN GARVER — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

Michelle Arnot constructed her first crossword for the New York Times in the late 1970s while a graduate student studying French at Columbia University. She wrote the book about the history of the crossword and then turned that into a career in publishing for several puzzle magazines. 

Michelle Arnot's library holds a collection of her works as well as historic crosswords. Arnot wrote “What’s Gnu? A History of the Crossword Puzzle,” in 1981. That book sparked a lifelong career in crosswords. Now she's helping shepherd a centennial printing of the original crossword book to the public, seven copies of which can be seen on her shelf here.

Michelle Arnot has made her way in the world of crosswords from solver, to constructor, historian and judge. Arnot regularly travels to the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, founded by New York Times' crossword editor Will Shortz, to serve as a judge. This year's event — the 46th annual competition — had nearly 800 contestants.

A close inspection of The Berkshire Eagle from Jan. 19, 1924 shows the paper ran ads for The Boston Globe's crossword offerings before deciding to launch on the new puzzle craze itself in October of that year.

• Archival image of The Berkshire Eagle

The first crossword printed in The Berkshire Eagle was placed on page 21 of the paper's evening edition on October 17, 1924. Squeezed in between an article celebrating the 100th anniversary of the creation of cement and ads for “Shredded Wheat” and “Heinz Cooked Spaghetti,” the puzzle made its local debut.

• ARCHIVAL IMAGE OF THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

Michelle Arnot, a Sandisfied resident, avid crossword solver-constructor and one of the few historians of the much loved puzzles, has found herself at the intersection of the puzzle's history. She's helping make sure a milestone for the puzzle gets its due.

It's been 100 years since a crossword puzzle first appeared in a newspaper. This Sandisfield resident is making sure the puzzle gets its due

Meg Britton-Mehlisch

Pittsfield Reporter

• Author facebook
• Author twitter
• Author email
• Apr 21, 2024
• 9 min to read

PITTSFIELD — You could say Michelle Arnot has made her life in a series of boxes.

Specifically, the boxes that hold weight in Arnot’s life are the kind you find arranged in a grid at the back of a newspaper — the kind that make the crossword.

“This is kind of weird, but I love putting letters in boxes,” Arnot said. It’s a habit that’s mirrored in other parts of her life. A stint living in Tokyo gave Arnot the chance to learn and master Japanese calligraphy, which is its own “very specific putting of letters in a box.”

“I just like to fill in the boxes,” Arnot said. “I know that sounds silly, but there’s a lot of satisfaction in it.”

The New Yorker-turned-Sandisfield-resident is an avid crossword solver, former professional constructor, publisher, educator and one of the few authors and historians of the much loved puzzles.

As someone who knows the puzzle grid inside and out, it’s not surprising that Arnot is marking a milestone that few outside the most seasoned puzzle solvers will know in the game’s history.

Crossword puzzles: A snippet of history

• By Derek Gentile, Berkshire Eagle Staff
• 3 min to read

She hasn't been able to secure a ticker tape parade or national holiday, but she's played a part in making sure that 2024 is celebrated as the 100th anniversary of the crossword book that took the puzzle from a backpage game to an international phenomenon.

A nine-letter word for the first of its kind (INAUGURAL)

Most crossword aficionados recognize Dec. 21, 1913, as the birth of the crossword. That’s the day an edition of the New York World newspaper published a diamond configuration of mostly empty squares under the title “FUN’S Word-Cross Puzzle” to beef out the entertainment section.

Arthur Wynne, the editor of the paper’s Sunday FUN section, was the man behind the boxes. Born in Liverpool in 1871, Wynne moved to the United states in 1891 and set out to make his way in the newspaper business.

He found a job at the New York World newspaper. Facing a hole in the layout for the entertainment section ahead of the Christmas edition, Wynne’s desperation became a source of inspiration.

He concocted the puzzle from memories of the word games he played as a child in the British Isles, including one in particular called Magic Square.

That game gave puzzle solvers a group of words that had to be arranged in a square so that they read the same way up and down and across. Wynne held back from giving the words to solvers and instead gave clues to the vertical and horizontal placement of various words on the diamond.

In a presentation on the crossword to the Sandisfield Arts Center in 2021, Arnot said Wynne’s space-filler became a quick hit, resulting in bags of fan mail delivered to the offices of the New York World. He kept creating the puzzles, even as weeks later his typesetters made a mistake by switching the hyphenated words in the title to read as “Cross-Word” — renaming the game altogether.

Some papers caught on to the potential of the game rather quickly. The Pittsburgh Press began publishing crosswords in 1916. The Boston Globe followed suit in 1917. Archival issues of The Berkshire Eagle show that The Globe knew what it had on its hands.

The first mention of “crossword puzzles” in the Eagle appeared in August 1923 in an ad for The Globe. “If you have ever acquired the cross-word puzzle habit, you know what a treat it is to find cross-word puzzles which are uniformly accurate and interesting,” the ad read.

Another instructed “if you are one of the tens of thousands of puzzle fans in New England, one of those people who love to labor at solving cross-word puzzles ... become a daily reader of the Boston Globe.”

The Eagle appears to have run just a handful of ads, before deciding to create its own crosswords.

The inaugural Eagle “crossword puzzle” found its way to Berkshire doorsteps on Oct. 17, 1924, in the evening edition of the paper.

Placed on page 21, in between an article celebrating the 100th anniversary of the creation of cement and ads for “Shredded Wheat” and “Heinz Cooked Spaghetti,” the Eagle puzzle followed a trend among American newspapers to fully embrace the puzzle’s popularity.

A seven-letter French phrase for popularity (EN VOGUE)

The ascension of the crossword is the work of more than just Wynne. It was an aspiring journalist by the name Margaret Petherbridge who ferried the puzzle to true stardom.

Petherbridge was hired by the New York World in 1921. She landed a job as the secretary to the editor of the paper’s Sunday edition.

By this point Wynne had outsourced construction to reader submissions. This era of contributions led to a lot of errors in the games — from misnumbered definitions and missing clues to unchecked answers. Tiring of the headache that production of the puzzles was becoming, he passed the responsibility over to Petherbridge.

A 1992 article in Crossword magazine by Helene Hovanec reports that when Petherbridge took on the task, she’d never solved a crossword. She picked puzzles “solely on aesthetic appeal” and then sent them off to print without testing. When another journalist complained about the errors in his favorite pastime, Petherbridge gave the puzzles a real go.

Petherbridge, Arnot said, “swore on a stack of dictionaries that she would make it perfect — and she did.”

Petherbridge became the “grand dame” of crosswords. She wrote the rulebook that keeps crossword puzzles in print today. She set up a publishing schedule for the puzzles so it gave her a week’s advance to proof and test-solve each puzzle before it went to print.

She decided only dictionary words would be allowed as solutions and ended the trend of designs with unchecked letters — those squares that have no secondary check by intersecting with another word. She changed the format of the clues from being identified by the first and last space of their solutions to the single number format like 5-Across or 10-Down that’s used today.

In late 1923, Petherbridge was introduced to two young Columbia University graduates who were looking to make their start in publishing — Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. Simon’s aunt was a fan of crosswords and was looking for a book of crosswords to keep her entertained.

Petherbridge and two colleagues put their heads together and made the first book of crosswords. While Petherbridge had delivered on the assignment, Simon and Schuster were worried that their attempt at publishing would fail and tank their future careers.

They decided to hedge their bets and on April 18, 1924, “The Cross Word Puzzle Book'' was published by “Plaza Publishing” — an imprint named after their telephone exchange.

The book was an overnight success. The sales from the book gave Simon and Schuster the funds to shore up their now famed publishing company.

“They would be nowhere if they hadn’t published the book of crosswords,” Arnot said — noting that Simon is the father of singer Carly Simon, so the puzzles play a part in some music history, as well.

Arnot said at this time the crossword was shifting from a pastime of the newspaper reader to an international craze. Even so, papers like The New York Times decried the puzzles. In November 1924, the Times dedicated a portion of its opinion page to calling the puzzles “a familiar form of madness.”

Lumping crosswords in with games of mahjong — which editors equally disdained — the Times wrote that those giving time to crosswords are “committing the same sinful waste in the utterly futile finding of words” and dubbing it a “primitive sort of mental exercise.”

It took nearly two decades for the Times to change its tune.

Arnot said that in 1942, Petherbridge became the first Times crossword editor after Arthur H. Sulzberger, the publisher of the paper, grew tired of buying the Herald Tribune just to do the crossword puzzle.

Sulzberger instructed Petherbridge to make the puzzle “newsworthy, not frivolous,” Arnot said. It’s this version that attracted Arnot and generations of solvers like her to the pages of the paper.

Five-letter name of the Berkshires’ top cruciverbalists (ARNOT)

Arnot’s life intersects like the solutions to her favorite puzzles with some of the biggest figures in the crossword’s history.

Arnot was raised in New York by two artist parents. Neither parent had much use of the puzzle but her own natural curiosity drew her toward them.

Previous Eagle articles on Arnot recount the day her high school history teacher noticed she was solving the Times’ daily crossword before class. He told her that he'd constructed that puzzle and she could make puzzles of her own if she contacted the paper’s crossword puzzle editor.

That tidbit sat in her mind until 1977, when her husband Roger Brown challenged her to write and submit a puzzle to the Times. She mailed in her puzzle from Columbia University where she was a graduate student studying French.

Eugene T. Maleska, the third Times crossword editor and then current section editor, paid her $20 for her puzzle, which ran in the paper on June 19, 1978.

Maleska also said he was encouraged by her love of puzzles. He said most of his constructors were retirees and mentioned that one other young constructor had caught his attention — Will Shortz. Shortz , the fourth-ever and current Times crossword editor, would become a friend of Arnot’s later in her life.

Clue: Famous pianist with two-letter name

• By Andrew L. Pincus, Eagle correspondent
• 2 min to read

Arnot mentioned to some of her friends at school about her accomplishment. They told her that Eugene Sheffer, an esteemed professor in Arnot’s department, regularly constructed crosswords and needed an assistant. Sheffer, who had a severe movement disorder called dystonia, regularly hired Columbia students to ghostwrite the crossword puzzles he produced for King Features Syndicate, a Hearst print syndicate.

Arnot, joined the likes of Jack Kerouac as one of a line of Sheffer assistants.

Sheffer would have Arnot pick up five weeks' worth of crossword diagrams — blank arrangements of empty boxes and black squares — at a time and she’d write clues to match them.

While she worked on the crosswords — which Sheffer paid her $5 or $10 to complete per puzzle — Sheffer would talk with her about the history of the crossword. Arnot said she took copious notes. Her mentor also introduced Arnot to Petherbridge.

Sometime in 1978, Petherbridge and Sheffer received the same angry letter from an avid crossword solver. The woman wrote that while she’d loved solving the puzzles in her youth, after taking a break to raise a family, she'd come back and found “the puzzle is no longer as educational as it used to be — it seems frivolous,” Arnot recalled.

Trying to find the answer to the woman’s frustrated “what happened to the crossword,” Arnot visited Petherbridge in her home in 1980. Their conversations about the early days of the crossword — along with her conversations with Sheffer — produced Arnot’s first book, “What’s Gnu? A History of the Crossword Puzzle,” published in 1981.

Arnot left behind her French studies at Columbia and dove wholeheartedly into the world of crosswords. She became the publisher of Kappa Publishing Group, a magazine publisher responsible for more than 100 puzzle publications.

During this time she conducted an extensive series of interviews with famous people who moonlit as crossword solvers. She interviewed opera singer Beverly Sills, actress Celeste Holm and Mets baseball player Keith Hernandez among others.

A love affair with squares: Understanding crossword puzzles

• By Michelle Arnot
• 1 min to read

While working as a publisher she formed a connection with Shortz, who was then doing work for one of the magazines she managed. In 1987, Arnot’s company sponsored Shortz’ annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Shortz founded the annual gathering of crossword fans in Stamford, Conn., in 1978. Arnot is now a regular judge at the competition.

In 1990, Arnot taught a course on crossword puzzle solving for the New School in Greenwich Village. That curriculum became her second book “Crossword Puzzles for Dummies.” In 2008, she published her third book, "Four-Letter Words: Secrets of a Crossword Insider."

“I made my hobby into my career,” Arnot said. “It was unpredictable. I went to Columbia for French, but who would have thought that would lead me to puzzles more deeply.”

A nine-letter word for significant achievement (MILESTONE)

Arnot is more than just an observer of the field, she’s left her own mark too. The one she is perhaps most charmed by came from the pages of the Times.

Along with the crosswords, the Times prints acrostics — word games in which the solution is a quote from a book and first letter of a series of hints helps spell out the book author’s name.

Arnot was reading the Times in 1983 when she found that Thomas Middleton, the former acrostics editor for the paper, used her name and a quote from “What’s Gnu” as the solution.

“It was a delight,” Arnot said.

While her book chronicles the history of the crossword, Arnot hasn't stopped making sure the game's legacy receives its due.

After a gentle lobbying campaign by Arnot, Skyhorse Publishing this week reprinted the original crossword book under the title “The Greatest Crossword Puzzle Book Ever Written.” The publisher had Arnot write the foreword to the centennial reprint as well.

Arnot said she’s happy the puzzle form is still going strong and spurring new offshoots in its wake. She said most of her free moments are spent playing word games like Words with Friends or the Times's Spelling Bee or Connections.

She never misses her daily crosswords, though. Arnot believes strongly in an old adage of Petherbridge's: You forget your troubles when you’re doing a crossword.

In a time of so much tension, division and strife she’s happy humanity has something like the puzzle to turn to.

“I’m addicted to puzzles and I can’t think of my troubles because I have so many puzzles,” Arnot said. “Anyway, it’s cheaper than Prozac.”

Meg Britton-Mehlisch can be reached at [email protected] or 413-496-6149.

• Michelle Arnot
• Arthur Wynne
• Eugene Sheffer
• Margaret Farrar
• Crossword Puzzle
• Simon And Schuster

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A crossword solver is a tool that helps you solve crossword puzzles. It works by allowing you to input a word pattern or partial word, and it returns a list of possible matches based on the letters you have entered. Crossword solvers can be a valuable resource for completing difficult or unknown words in a crossword puzzle. They can also be useful for improving your vocabulary and learning new words. There are many online crossword solvers available, and they can be used for free or with a subscription. Some solvers even offer additional features such as word definitions, anagram solvers, and more.

What is a crossword puzzle.

A crossword puzzle is a word game in which players are given a grid of blank squares and a set of clues. The goal is to fill in the squares with words, so that the words intersect at certain squares in such a way that the clues are solved. The words are usually written in a horizontal and vertical direction and the clues help the player determine what words to write in the squares. Crossword puzzles are popular in newspapers, magazines, and puzzle books, and can also be found online. They are considered a classic form of word puzzle and are enjoyed by people of all ages.

History of the Crossword

The crossword puzzle is a word puzzle that is widely popular across the world. It was first introduced in the United States in the early 20th century and quickly became a staple of American newspapers.

The first crossword puzzle was published on December 21, 1913, in The New York World, a newspaper owned by Joseph Pulitzer. The puzzle was created by Arthur Wynne, a journalist who was trying to come up with a new form of word puzzle that would appeal to readers. Wynne's puzzle was called a "Word-Cross" and was a diamond-shaped grid filled with words that intersected each other.

After its initial publication, crosswords quickly gained popularity and became a regular feature in many newspapers. In 1924, the first book of crossword puzzles was published, and by the 1930s, crosswords had become a national phenomenon.

Crosswords have evolved over the years and now come in many different shapes and sizes, from square grids to circular grids to irregular shapes. The clues for the words can be straightforward definitions, puns, or cryptic clues that require the solver to think creatively.

Today, crossword puzzles can be found in newspapers, magazines, books, and websites, and there are even crossword puzzle tournaments held annually. The popularity of crosswords shows no signs of waning, and they remain a staple of popular culture and a favorite pastime for millions of people around the world.

Types of Crossword Puzzles

There are several types of crossword puzzles, each with its own unique features and challenges. Some of the most common types include:

Standard Crossword: This is the classic type of crossword puzzle, consisting of a square or rectangular grid of white and black squares. The goal is to fill in the white squares with words that intersect at crossword clues.

Themed Crossword: In a themed crossword, all the answers relate to a specific theme or subject, such as history, geography, pop culture, or a particular holiday.

Cryptic Crossword: Cryptic crosswords are a type of crossword puzzle in which each clue is a word puzzle in and of itself. The clues are designed to be cryptic and require the solver to think outside the box to determine the answer.

Word Ladder: A word ladder is a type of crossword puzzle in which the goal is to change one word into another by altering one letter at a time. Each change must result in a valid word.

Acrostic: An acrostic is a type of crossword puzzle in which the answers are arranged to form a word or phrase vertically, reading down the columns.

Double Crozzle: A Double Crozzle is a type of crossword puzzle that consists of two separate grids, with words from both grids intersecting at the same squares.

Arrowword: An Arrowword is a type of crossword puzzle in which the words are placed in the grid so that the answers form arrows pointing in different directions.

These are just a few of the many types of crossword puzzles that exist. Each type offers its own unique challenge and can be a fun and engaging way to test your word knowledge and problem-solving skills.

How to use Crossword Solver?

A crossword solver is a tool or resource that can help you find the answers to crossword puzzles. Here's how you can use a crossword solver:

1. Identify the crossword puzzle you need help with and write down the clues and any answers you have already filled in.

2.  Go to the Crossword Solver by WordFind.org. You can use this tool on both desktop and mobile.

3. Enter the clue or the partial answer into the search bar. Some crossword solvers allow you to enter the clue, while others require you to enter the pattern of letters you have filled in so far.

4. Click on the "Search" button to see the results. The crossword solver will return a list of possible answers for the clue or pattern you entered.

5. Choose the correct answer from the list of results and fill it in on your crossword puzzle. Repeat the process for each clue that you need help with.

It's important to note that crossword solvers are not always 100% accurate and may not provide you with the correct answer. However, they can be a helpful resource when you're stuck and need a little assistance to complete a puzzle.

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2024 Crossword Puzzle Books For Adults - Medium Level: Fun and Engaging Brain Cross Word To Keep Your Mind Sharp and Healthy Paperback – October 24, 2023

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Immerse yourself in the captivating world of crossword puzzles tailored for adults. This book boasts a delightful collection of 100 engaging puzzles, each designed to provide mental exercise and keep your mind sharp and healthy. With a generous 8.5x11-inch format, these puzzles are presented with clarity and spaciousness for your enjoyment.

Key Features:

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• Enjoy the convenience of an 8.5x11-inch format, making solving these crosswords a comfortable and visually pleasing experience.

Benefit of Crossword Puzzles:

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• Keep your mind sharp and healthy with this collection of 100 engaging crossword puzzles.
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• Discover crossword puzzle books that cater to the cognitive needs of grown-ups and seniors.
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Unlock the world of crossword puzzles with "2024 Medium Crossword Puzzle Books For Adults." Whether you're a seasoned crossword enthusiast or new to the crossword-solving realm, this collection promises hours of cerebral enjoyment. Grab your copy today and embark on a journey to keep your mind both sharp and healthy!

• Print length 112 pages
• Language English
• Publication date October 24, 2023
• Dimensions 8.5 x 0.26 x 11 inches
• ISBN-13 979-8865283195
• See all details

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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CM15Q4VV
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (October 24, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8865283195
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.5 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.26 x 11 inches
• #93 in Crossword Puzzles (Books)
• #144 in Logic & Brain Teasers (Books)
• #334 in Puzzles (Books)

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Sontodo publishing.

Sontodo is a publishing company that specializes in producing high-quality puzzle books such as crossword puzzles, sudoku, and word fill-ins. With a commitment to providing stimulating and engaging puzzle-solving experiences, Sontodo has become a trusted name in the puzzle book industry.

Sontodo's puzzle books are designed to challenge and entertain puzzle enthusiasts of all levels. They use high-quality paper that is thick and durable, ensuring that puzzles can be solved without the worry of ink bleed-through or tearing. The puzzles themselves are created by experienced puzzle creators who design unique and intricate challenges that are both fun and rewarding to solve.

In addition to their exceptional product quality, Sontodo is known for their commitment to customer satisfaction. They understand the importance of a positive customer experience and strive to provide excellent service, from prompt shipping to responsive support.

Sontodo is a reliable and trustworthy publishing company that delivers exceptional puzzle books. Whether you're looking for a challenging crossword, a mind-bending sudoku, or a relaxing word fill-in, Sontodo's puzzle books are sure to provide hours of fun and entertainment.

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