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Puzzles for September, 2024
with Constructor comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (3)Editor (5)Jim Horne (13)Hide comments
Sun 9/1/2024 Product Integration
IMSAVEDSHOWSAMBAR
SNOWTIREMARIECLAIRE
SHAREACABFINANCIALAID
TASTERTORTILLASET
EKETIASREEFERRSHED
PAC34WAILSASDOILGA
74DAYSHAILSONFOOT
JPEGJKSIMMONSDANTE
ORNURSETBALLSTAIN
CORNSSTANAHOYMATEY
KVASSFOR58WINKSAXES
SEGACLOUD33AGEESPNU
DELEGATEEHEWSATONE
UNITYFLORACRUISED
SLATSLOTUSTREECEDE
CAMEOSTIGERHANG52
ANYRVLOTGNATS42BIT
BEARUGGSKYYSEEPEMO
DOABOTTOMUPMERLOT
STARPITCHERSFAKENAILS
TIMESSQUAREFLINCHED
YESMOMPINATANDEMS
Mon 9/2/2024
PLATESMOGOFFS
AISHATACOALLA
PETERCOTTONTAIL
IDOLONEONEMET
ISEETAPERS
BROKENRECORD
LEVEEAPUFEDS
ODEPOSTUREGOO
WORMRTELEONA
FIGURESKATER
ARIANAMASS
TOMUNEVENYEAS
HOPSKIPANDAJUMP
OSLOSENDCORER
STYXTEESEBONY

Sala: I could not be more thrilled to be making my NYT debut alongside Emily. We have been on this crossword journey together from the very start, and I feel so lucky that I get to share it with a friend.

This was such a fun theme to brainstorm! So much good stuff SKIPS and JUMPS (dead batteries, dirty CDs, flat stones, skydivers... I'll stop now, but feel to ponder whether a leap day skips or gets skipped).

I would be remiss not to mention my favorite Bob-Ross-happy-accident: the ARIANNA/TOM stack at 53 and 57 across (shout out to my fellow Bravoheads). I originally had them as an echo clue referencing Scandoval, though the games team chose to use a more famous ARIANNA. They did throw me a bone and kept the TOM cluing - so I am calling it a win. (I fully acknowledge that the majority of xwordinfo readers have no clue what I am talking about, but this is for that tiny intersection of the Venn diagram that represents people who construct crosswords and love reality TV.)

I can't wait to continue solving, constructing, and getting to know more people in this community - this is such a better lifelong hobby than golf!!!

Don't hesitate to reach out - I am always open to chatting, potential collabs, and sharing ideas.

Tue 9/3/2024
ASPSARABIDEA
CHOUCOLORMAVS
TUPPERWAREALES
TUPLEMILLANE
PEISOCIALIST
EMBRACECIS
TOOURGEMELEE
TWOPARTYSYSTEMS
ANKHSAMIETIP
ITSGRAVITY
HALLOWEENBIT
ABELILLABORT
VIDIFEDERALIST
EDGETCELLEDAM
SEESTRIOTERI
Wed 9/4/2024
HAJITHEMESNAP
ODOMAIRACEUZI
FUNHOUSRRORRUN
FLAILNSCROSLK
ATSTAKEELAND
FINALANSWER
CAMIACTMOTIVE
AGONYEARSAFES
LENNONRAFRENT
CRUISSSILES
METALLYESOAP
GEESEICYEAGLE
AYNSEMICIRCLES
LETALETAPHERO
ADSMISERSARTS
Thu 9/5/2024
AREASLOSSBIZ
READETENTHODE
TOTHECAMERAROD
SOYUZPAYINTO
ARCCOSLOWNEON
TORUPWITHABOOK
ALOEHUMANA
DOWNBOYETICKET
MALAGAKETO
ATWINDMILLSIOU
MOETMINITISNT
PLAYDOHSMART
SIRONESPOCKETS
UFOSERIFHERON
PENEYESEDSEL
Fri 9/6/2024
BABYSKABANDS
ALIASPEACEDEAL
BUGLEINTHEZONE
UMPTEENTHFENCE
HARMYIPSET
SBAPMSPAC
PORTRAITARTISTS
ITMEANSALOTTOME
THATWASNTMYIDEA
ENDKOIANT
PASEARSAAB
ARMOREPHEMERAL
TEENVOGUEIRENE
SPACERACEDIANA
YARDSALEEDEN
Sat 9/7/2024
LAMAZEDOOFUS
ORIGINSABRUPT
GENEPOOLLOANTO
JOINSFABLEFAN
ALOTMADLYMAKE
MANPERDUDICED
SEASERPENTS
BITTORRENTS
NITTYGRITTY
MIKEYOUNCEMID
ACESCONGOPOCO
SELANDGOBATON
SOARTOSUMORING
INNOUTTURMOIL
FEEBLESEANCE
Sun 9/8/2024 Life Milestones
WHAPSADSLOGANPAPAYA
HENRICOPAPLEAENAMEL
ADDONAMATEURSTANDING
TOOTSRODEOIPAD
INRESUCKYSTONEPIT
FIRSTINCLASSEIDDANO
CATEGORYLLAMABRER
VANDRIVINGCRAZY
TWOPUREDASAAAS
PRATTAGAVECPRIUD
GIVEITTHEOLCOLLEGETRY
AMYMEHMONAEOXIDE
AMIRAIMROOFACU
BARADMISSIONINS
YURTCORFUVHSTAPES
OTOHDENFINISHTHEJOB
BOWLGAMEANNOYREPO
ELIABOOTYMACHU
CENTENNIALSTATEATTIC
ORIENTSMILESATYEESH
DRESSYPANORAMAADDME
Mon 9/9/2024
IBETMIDASDONT
NEROCREDOINFO
SLAPSANDCASTLE
ELSIECLINCH
CHUCKLEHEADEMO
TORGOTLOGGER
SPECNCOSNOONS
HOGHEAVEN
THEEUARIAESPN
HEARTHNSALOU
YETLOBSTERROLL
CLARETTOWEL
THROWSHADEPENS
ROOTEAVESESTE
YEWSDRESSSTAT
Tue 9/10/2024
SEISMGAZESABER
RASTAOVENADELE
OCEANNOTVYEAST
HEMINGWAYESQUE
PAYLSU
EXECUTIVEBOARD
GRADKAMALATEEM
NIXEDLUISLETGO
ACEJFKPLAZARAM
WASABIESPOSA
CONSONANTS
MOTTOTWIXWYATT
ABOUTANTIICHOR
TORAHFERNSHAME
HEELSFROGHOBBY

The theme in this puzzle really blew my mind.

TL;DR version:

  • ~275,000 terms in my dictionary (Jeff's XWordInfo Dictionary)
  • ~3.5 quadrillion possible sets of three terms (~275,000 choose 3)
  • 19 sets obeying the constraint (every consonant, one time)
  • 4 sets that could be laid out symmetrically

Longer version:

Themes are often found by whittling a large set of terms (say 200-300k) down to a smaller subset using some constraint. Loose constraints may allow hundreds of theme entry possibilities, whereas tight constraints may allow only 10 or so. The constraint in this puzzle was about as tight as I've ever seen them come.

For starters, my pool of candidates wasn't the 275k terms in my dictionary, but rather all possible sets of three terms that could be made from this dictionary. So instead of checking 275k terms, I needed to sift through ~3.5 quadrillion sets (275,000 choose 3). How? Python, hash tables, tricks, 3 minutes of data crunching... and voila! With a pool of ~3.5 quadrillion candidate sets, you'd think either no solution set exists, or conversely, many exist... Nope. I was stunned to find only 19 sets that satisfied the constraint, and of these, only four that could be laid out symmetrically with the revealer.

That's four tiny needles in one giant haystack (or maybe… a Sour Patch Kids stack?)

Bonus Puzzle Set:

This set didn't make the cut for symmetry reasons:

EXSQUEEZEME + THEJOYOFCOOKING + ?

Happy puzzling!

Hint: On-site worker?

Answer (Backwards): REPOLEVEDBEW

Wed 9/11/2024
SOBTOODIANE
THENORALENTER
ECHOLIFEOFJAWS
LOANCAPNEEDBE
LOVEOFLABORS
ALIBIERETKOS
OUTSREPSIRE
FORTUNEOFCHANGE
IPASLAYSADE
GILAROTROTOR
LIONSOFPRIDE
OTELLOMUSICAL
ARMSOFCOATNAME
TAMESANTZGRAN
HYATTNEOTET
Thu 9/12/2024
MESSYBERETAMP
ELOPEOTAKULIE
LIFEPARTNERALT
TETESEATRISES
DUHBEAKS
SPAYSFIRSTMATE
HIMBRUNEIBROS
RAINEMBEDSONS
UNTODEADENLEI
GOODBUDDYFALSE
BOTOXELM
BELOWAPOPOHIO
RNAWINEPAIRING
ACTOCTETMAYOR
THEWEEKSPLANE
Fri 9/13/2024
ABSVALIDTAB
CRAPALAMOSORE
MALESIXFIGURES
ENMASSEINANE
DONTANSWERTHAT
ANNUALHORDE
PARTYPARASAILS
EMUSORTSNIL
XENOMORPHSHANE
NOLTECHASED
CITATIONNEEDED
ENACTALPACAS
ACTIONPOSEGONE
SUEDSOFARONCE
ERRAPTLYDEN

Newer constructors are sometimes advised to stay away from themeless puzzles, as they have higher fill standards and a lower demand at outlets. But I've always preferred them, with their wide-open spaces and fascinating word choices. I started constructing puzzles June 2023 and it took me five theme rejections and four themeless rejections until I landed this one. So, I'm thrilled to be one of the exceptions that either proves, or disproves, the rule, depending on how you choose to look at it.

The seed for the puzzle was CITATION NEEDED with the clue [Note for future reference?]. The editing team's clue, [Response to not getting the reference?] is arguably cleaner, but I'm still partial to my original. I think 14s make great seed entries because they're an otherwise awkward length to fit in a puzzle. It seems these days every good spanner has already been scooped, but both CITATION NEEDED and DON'T ANSWER THAT are debuts at the NYT and, to my knowledge, most of the major outlets. Plus, they're standalone phrases that couldn't appear at other lengths with -S/-ED/-ING endings.

I'm happy to report that I currently have another themeless grid in the queue that should be scheduled for publication in the following months! If you enjoyed this one, good news! If you didn't enjoy this one… well, I'd appreciate a second chance.

I love talking about crosswords and you're welcome to reach me at ThetaDelta12 [at] Gmail [dot] com. More than ever constructors these days are encouraged to bring their personal identities into crosswords. As a born-again Christian myself, I'd be particularly excited to hear from other Christians about how they see the overlap between faith and hobby!

Soli Deo Gloria.

Sat 9/14/2024
ASHAMEDFISTS
PHANATICIDAHO
POLYMATHSRENEE
LOTTACOLTSTAX
ESSOOHCOOLATT
WINDOWWASHER
ANNEALSAMARA
CRUSYAYLATS
FITSINTOTALS
ITSADONEDEAL
NYTENAMELCHER
CHUGOPALCRANE
HADITELEPHANTS
ELIZATREEFORT
SLOANSIXTIES
Sun 9/15/2024 One for the Books
ADLIBCHIMPNESGAS
CROCETRACESROLLHUT
HIGHFIDELITYOHIOOSE
EVAONSALEFOODWASTE
SENTRAMERRIAMWEBSTER
HERBERRSUSERS
NCAAEELGEARSTRIDE
THEWEALTHOFNATIONS
HIRERTEEDHITSTIPS
CODASMILALASTSTOP
SOSTHEGIVINGTREESKY
PROFORMAALOEDANAE
AYLAIBISDREWROLFE
NINETEENEIGHTYFOUR
RADNEREWESGOOETNA
LEMONSTEMAPSE
AGAMEOFTHRONESTASSEL
CASSEROLEERASESMRI
ETSDAREFRANKENSTEIN
UTEOTTOOBRIENENACT
PADFEHRISESSTRAY
Mon 9/16/2024
AKINSPAGWBUSH
CISWOMANYELLTO
LALAKERSNEATEN
USEBAKESBRAD
RURALALABAMA
IDIOTSTONY
ADDSGROWNAND
MALALAYOUSAFZAI
BYEUNMETLUIS
FLABSPELLS
VANILLALATTE
ALANGIVERDUE
POMELOLALALAND
ONESECLIMPEDIN
RESTEDELODATA
Tue 9/17/2024
BEATSCOTWORST
REDOALPOENOLA
BLOODTYPOLEDON
SAIDOKLISTS
ICEWINEPUGS
NHLERSSAMEHERO
DALEYCLINEMED
INITBUONOBEND
AGOCALMSCARTE
NOTQUITOGORGES
SELFCOLBERT
EVICTINALIE
HANOILEMONLIMO
USURPMIENLOOP
DEKESSLOGSNIT
Wed 9/18/2024
ETECLASPLIMP
XENASEDERASIA
TRINITADEIMONTI
ORANGPITMASTER
LACUNANORA
MODOMEGAS
WADBOSOMSCITE
ARIELTRIEDHARD
TRADESIESIONIA
TONICROCUSTAN
SWATCHATF
HODAEROICA
HOMEALONEORCAS
THESPANISHSTEPS
MINTRUMPSSIRE
LODESTENTNIT
Thu 9/19/2024
ALIBIADAAESTX
TOTEMSINSMOKER
BASAYEKETPINATA
ATFSOTOLIDTOY
THUSNOUGATMENS
TOWTAMELY
GEISHASLIFETIME
PBLUESAISNUERSES
STEERINGALDENTE
METROSSAT
MIMEWIRERSTSAR
CRYLEOSEGAONE
RIMIERCARTHORSE
INALIEAMAAIRED
BANKSTENSLYLY
Fri 9/20/2024
THEISMPEPPA
SHARPEIEXERTS
SPARROWSRETILE
CONDOSSOPSMAN
OSKARRIPSPENS
TESSAUNTSERTA
GAMINGLOSEIT
SPIRALSTAIRCASE
HAVOCSHOSTEL
ERICHTENTTEMP
BANKJAPEVASCO
ANGLEGOMORTAL
NODDEDINITIATE
GIANNINOSEATS
DYADSTHORNE
Sat 9/21/2024
MOZAMBIQUESAIL
AREYOUNUTSIFSO
ICANRELATETITS
DALANODESACHA
SLOWRETRIAL
MITESSARASOTA
HANDSTANGYNAM
ARTSPETCODAYO
STEMELEECODES
AIRFARESHUGOS
HAMITUPRIBS
ELITEHAITINFL
ALASPOTDECREME
RAMIANTICLIMAX
TWINPEACHEMOJI
Sun 9/22/2024 Breakout Performance
BATHERUMPSSSNSTODATE
UPHEREKEEPSOPENIRONED
SLEWEDUTTERFOOLMANDMS
TOSSEELEXITSHERTYPE
SMHBMXERSEMOPOPDOL
BADAPPLEPUTASABONUS
WONTESCAPEACTBEEF
FISHFINTORNADOHITARUT
UGHFOOTSPAMENSANSENO
SLAVNWAACRESIMSPSST
SONICARTHOVEMUWANES
OKTOYOUTUBECLIPALEE
AMCTNUTNASASTE
SAFEPASSAGETRENCHCOATS
ERRUNOHAHGOP
POORTASTEDOEASIFICARE
TUNNELOUTINDDUCTTAPED
ENDSSOFARUNACHEBEAU
TDSTNTTSAKIDSTP
Mon 9/23/2024
HIALLMETASKY
ADIEUANODELIE
DIRECTTODVDILL
TOEKIRDEIMOP
OMSYEOWNTSB
BORNINTHEUSA
GREENSSISLIAR
NOTREBETHELLO
ATTATISBONDED
WHATSYOURETA
JEEPPOTSTAP
BRADEWUSEIRA
RIMASEASYASABC
ACENERVETAROT
YESTEESSPARS
Tue 9/24/2024
PITAACCEDEBAT
AMASNARROWRUE
VALLEYFORGEATE
EMCEEPADATOM
ELMSNAIR
CHAPFORTYNINER
LEDPAPASESAME
ALICESICPECAN
SLEETSSALTHIT
PAULREVEREPOLS
LAVADATA
CUESECOSCANS
ANTTRAVISKELCE
PINLATENTREAR
ETACLERGYSCAB
Wed 9/25/2024
REDOSOFAFALA
ELANUNIXRUES
TIVOMETEATEAM
ICIMOOSNORRI
RIDGEFREAKSUR
ETHOSFULLSCALE
SOUSASKIATE
RINGTONES
BEDYULEXPAT
SIDENOTESLEVEL
OSUALERTAROMA
STATEDREXCPR
ORRINOWESRATE
ODEAHISSIDED
SOREMISODODO
Thu 9/26/2024
CRUELLAGLOATS
REPROOFHAIRBOW
ASSANGEIMPASSE
ZITSSWARMLATE
IDAPEAKLAT
EUROSAIDIPODS
SETPOINTDRAMA
TARNATION
HAITILASVEGAS
FENCEGIGSLEVY
ORGSARANAN
REEKRUNUPETTA
KILOTONBELLLAP
EGOTISTERASERS
DOUBLEREVERSE
Fri 9/27/2024
BADBEATZESTY
GOTEAMGOIGLOOS
UNTESTEDLOADUP
SEISMGOALMIRO
TILAMADISSECT
ONAUTOPILOTFAA
GISWINSGOLD
MILLQDOBAURLS
AREYOUINILL
NOTVICTORYLAPS
INSTATEHERLAA
ACREORBSICERS
CHOPINCUPCAKES
SELENECREAMERY
FLEETSEALEGS
Sat 9/28/2024
AGATHARECAST
FUNRUNSEXACTO
TECUMSEHAORTAE
ASHEWEIRDINNS
TOTEDGESBOTH
HORCHATARHO
BLAUALCOAMOE
PEETSPATROANS
LETTRINIONLY
UPSSITDOWNS
MODEBACNECBS
BLABBLOGSRUMP
ELNINOWISTERIA
RECKONFORESTS
SNEERSNINTHS
Sun 9/29/2024 The Ayes Have It
CATCAFEUNCAGEZESTS
ADASTRASEASONPANERA
CORNIERSTORIESUNSEAL
ARGYLEWEPTRUGBYWVA
ONETWEENERSEELSHED
STPIDATIRADEIDEALS
SAFARIPOLCENTS
WIRYSIMILEPHARAOH
HOHOSNIXSOUSARAG
ANAPESTUPDOLSDAPED
LIPSTEAMIERCLAIMPOO
EASEAERREBADOOMERS
NOGGUISEEREBINGE
DRIPPANTAXIBIASES
HYENAIDSTUMULT
WAITERMETIERDOTAPP
HUNSTOPGREWINTOOOF
ALBKIWISRIANOPTIMA
TALKIEPLIANTGENIUSES
IGUESSEARNITSUNBELT
FEELSNYLONSSPEEDOS
Mon 9/30/2024
HELMPAIRROSA
MALIAEZRAEPIC
THESISSTATEMENT
VANNIKETANKS
SANITYCHECK
KIDSAMHERST
STALEPALMSEMI
LUGACIDTABTOM
ANALALASOFAGE
VANILLATORI
BUFFALOBILL
CAMELSIRISOU
YOULLPAYFORTHIS
ANTEDIETDRONE
NEEDARTSSIPS
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