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Puzzles for July, 2014
with Editor comments

Tue 7/1/2014
KAPUTAPPTSARCH
ELENAFOLIOMIRA
DONTBECRUELONUS
SENIORTRAMGMT
DONTWORRYBABY
MACYSHANALIL
IRALESTAKETO
DONTSTOPBELIEVIN
INNEEDABCINC
ONEDRNOAROSE
DONTYOUWANTME
EBBALMAHOSTEL
BEAMDONTYOUCARE
ISLEINDIENURSE
TELLETATSTESTS
Wed 7/2/2014
SPAYROBENOISY
ALBAELBAONCUE
PEAKSPIQUEPEKES
SANMANSART
DDAYBROWSE
BOARSBOREBOERS
LINDTANODTRU
ESSAYDANARSON
ASHORITLIARS
PAIRSPAREPEARS
UPKEEPAXLE
ELDOGRECAT
IDYLLSIDLEIDOLS
NEALELIONURSA
SATYRKEPTODOR
Thu 7/3/2014
AAMEDARCSMSGS
CRAVEBOLTOPEL
RENEEONAORTLEA
OONPDAREHA
FLICERRMOSDEF
TEXAOLDEMORO
OWEPARTWIX
MOUNTSTHELENS
WEPTEMILOL
ETAALEYOLSEN
THRAESENOSOSO
TARTGNADSO
WAINGAORETRAES
VESTEVELONONE
ANTIDADSNAPES
POW Fri 7/4/2014
TAKESTOBOATER
ONALEASHIMBUSY
AGRICOLAPIERCE
DEMOSOVIETNAB
SLATEENDPERE
NOVASFUDGE
MARGINOFERROR
BEFOREIFORGET
BATTLESCARRED
ETHELFERMI
STARPOTSALMA
TEDFURROWSAAB
IROBOTIRISHPUB
RUNOUTPETPEEVE
SPEARSSTANLEY

Hi Jeff,

While I don't award "points" to crossword entries (as in your example), your general way of assessing crossword quality is the same as mine.

When I look at any crossword submission, which I prefer to do on paper, I mark up the answer grid — a check mark for an entry I like (on rare occasions two checks for one I really, really like), a minus for an entry I don't, and an "x" for one that's wrong or truly awful. The size of the mark indicates the depth of my feeling about it, so a bit of crosswordese might get a small minus, a stupid obscurity a big one.

When I'm done, I pull back and look at the puzzle overall to make a decision. An "x," of course, almost always means rejection. If there are no x's, then I judge whether there are enough entries that excite me to outweigh the ones that don't.

You're right that too many minuses will sink a puzzle even if there's lots of good stuff. I don't set an arbitrary limit on weak entries, but more than five, especially if they're bad, will put the puzzle in dangerous territory.

The bar for acceptance keeps getting raised. Many of the puzzles I published 10 years ago wouldn't be accepted today. Even marginal yeses of a year or two ago might be nos now.

That said, to me crossword quality is a matter of balance. Unlike some other editors and commenters on the crossword blogs, I will accept some crosswordese and obscurity in a puzzle (assuming it's fairly crossed and clued), if the upside is strong enough. Sometimes I think it's worth having a subpar entry in order to set up other material that's great. The greater the great stuff, a little more subpar there can be. Squeaky clean isn't always best.

My bottom line is that a puzzle should be judged as a whole, as ordinary solvers judge puzzles, not on just the least appealing entries.

Sat 7/5/2014
SCARFRINGBOMBE
TOLERANCEAVAIL
ROLLINGONDINKS
ALSATIADRAFTEE
PHOTONGEAROIL
PERESBARTERS
EATSJIMBEAM
DDSFAKEIDSBAH
DIVEBARMIRO
BOLEROSCANST
NOMERCYSUNGOD
CORINTHGARDENA
ARENAICALLEDIT
STROMCELLULOSE
HESSEKNEEPANTS
Sun 7/6/2014 OH, SAY...
ADINSRESTUPFACTOTUM
BIDETINTONEIRRITATE
ASTORFRANCISSCOTTKEY
SCAPELOFTAHHISERE
EIGHTEENFOURTEENSIR
YTDSEAGREEN
BRITISHPUBSONGADOBES
LIVEILLERCLAIROL
ICYASSETSLENOROSY
SOLSTOAGASOLSOW
THESTARSPANGLEDBANNER
AMIHEMICNCAABIO
PAGEERSTALTAIREEN
ECUADORSOIRSELIA
PEERINWHITNEYHOUSTON
YOKOHAMARNC
ADEPRISONEREXCHANGE
MICAHIRTROBEARIEL
BALTIMOREHARBORPOSTE
INAWHILEOTOOLEPLAIN
TATTOOEDDELTASYENTA
Mon 7/7/2014
BRAGDAWGPOTS
MALEOKIELATHE
WHITEWASHONION
SSSPRICECUT
BELATEDISIT
ELITEERGSTRAP
AIMEPEEUSAUSA
USBMINDSETNPR
THEISTYODAOIL
YARNICEDTRURO
FLEASWEATER
EXTRADRYELS
DROOPHONEYCOMB
EARNSOWEDAREA
NYETPLOYLEWD
Tue 7/8/2014
ARKSRUEDESPYS
MEIRARROZTOOT
INKSHIGHENERGY
DOIAREREATA
SIDESALADSKIMS
TRENCHIRASCAT
SERAORALROTS
OPENSPACE
FERNACHEHUSK
EDURUDIGAPERS
NINJASPORTSNUT
TOITYGISHER
COFFEEROLLLOGE
GUFFNAVELORES
ITSYSPADEBARS
Wed 7/9/2014
DEPOTRANGEBAL
RAJAHUSEINETE
JUSTARRIVEDEOS
STEADEARNS
MADSALESTARGET
OBAMATORTUGA
MADAGASCARTOR
COSTARICA
ADDWISECRACKS
SORORALEASEL
TOURISTAREAAGO
ADMENCOMTE
RLSSTARSTUDDED
TEEESTEEREADY
ESTSEEDSENSUE
Thu 7/10/2014
COUPHILLDAMNS
ALKAOBOEPLAIT
SMARTNESSTANGY
AESTHETESKOHL
SCENESSEESINTO
ENTSELON
CZARWITLIGHTS
DEWPORKPIEUSE
SELDOMOYSFEAT
ELALMISO
MNEMONICSPRING
OOZESALLIEMAE
VERSETREATMENT
INANEELANATOI
EDSELNYPDNAST
Fri 7/11/2014
TASTESBADDODGE
SEWERLINEONEAM
ENERGYBARGUMUP
TEAMOKINGSIZE
SITSFRIDAYJER
EDYROONEYPOPO
BUTTSLEHAR
FACEBOOKFRIENDS
LIONSYEARN
ARNETOWAGEJAY
PFCCEDARSMERE
JOECAMELBARCA
ARDORSKIPARKAS
CCELLSEVENCENT
KESEYAREACODES
Sat 7/12/2014
CPLSCOWLEDBRO
URIEARHOLEOER
TAPPANZEEBRIDGE
LIBATIONBEARERS
ERATOTUGAT
TILTSNOOPLADE
SEMISOFTCHEESES
ALLHAIL
IDONTFEELLIKEIT
NEVAARRASELMO
SPANGCRAIG
EARTHSHATTERING
ARIZONACARDINAL
MTASOLARIAEWE
SSNTWODOORSED
POW Sun 7/13/2014 WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT
CADREGOTLAWABIDES
UNREELORRENERECENT
BOYSWILLBEBOYSORELSE
IDEOGODVANTOMEANA
CERNATMIYAMWHATIYAM
AUNTIERAIDSMERE
WHATSDONEISDONESIDED
EAREDERSTGAMUT
ESTARFMAMAREMARK
VASTELMSRARENOTING
ITAINTOVERTILLITSOVER
LILTERPITAOKRARISE
TERRORSEWSALAESA
ADDERARKSACRES
SLOTSHATERSGONNAHATE
WIRESETONBLOUSE
ITISWHATITISAVGWABE
VEGHURLROERAGSMUT
ERAGONENOUGHISENOUGH
LAMESTRIPEAUTOUSLE
SLIMESSPYRPMSTEER
POW Mon 7/14/2014
SNAPELMSSTEIN
PEDIMEALCOCOA
RAILPAGELAYOUT
ATEASEOPALS
YOUFORGOTMEMPH
FORENTIRE
SUBARUFORESTER
ALSOBICARGO
DOUBLESTUFOREO
DORSALLOA
SPYUFOSIGHTING
ADIMEHURRAH
CONFINEDTOAIDE
INCANGEARISIN
GEORGARONTHAT
Tue 7/15/2014
LABSSCAMBAJA
ELIAUNDOODELL
TEDTURNERRAFTS
BREEZEOVERFED
EONBCESIDEB
DEAREDOETS
YESIKNOWAMAZON
STARSEASOFA
ENMESHBREAKSUP
RAWCAPMVPS
AERIESOPALE
WALMARTLLAMAS
ONTOPSTEVEJOBS
ENOTEIONEAREA
ONESTOTSRELY
Wed 7/16/2014
ATABSCARSOHTO
NAMEPEROTFERN
TMENERASEARIS
WARSCALENEOST
ELITISMATLANTA
RECAPIANSCRAG
PSASSCENTTYNE
ISOSCELES
ROMNEYCRUTCH
ADAGEFLOSPREE
MELTIEUPALF
EQUILATERAL
RESURGEACETATE
STEIGERGAMELAW
TEXTERSENSNARE
Thu 7/17/2014
SUNSCLANNOLTE
ONECOGLEENORM
PMUHWHALERECAP
HEROINCDEFATT
STOOLOATSATTY
LLAFPOSITION
STNTMSELMORE
PROLIFEINASNIT
AURORAUNCSAS
RETRAUQSNEAK
ELHILUISPULPS
TOESTANNODEAL
IVANAYGGIPRIDE
RESINLURKOGRE
ESTEEEPEEWHET
Fri 7/18/2014
YAHEARDFRAIDSO
OPENBARTERRELL
GELCAPSCACKLED
ISLAGEOCOSTAS
SCRUNCHAZO
FIREHOSESAAHED
AGORUSSIANMOB
BEDHOPSIOUAN
TEAMSPORTSSLY
DIODETHEREBELS
ETDSANJOSE
BORAGEOONNAPE
AKIHITOIASIMOV
SAVALASNUTCASE
EYEBATHSTPETER
Sat 7/19/2014
COSMOSAGTELBA
SCHUSSGOALLOUT
HURLERATTITUDE
ALOTWROTEON
RAVIOLIYOUNGER
PRETZELLOOPESA
AMADEUSCRAM
ELISACARGASUP
LARKWARRIOR
AMIFORYOURLOVE
LASSOEDODESSAN
HOTITEMAMID
IMALOSERBEGONE
TALISMANERASER
SPEDEMODINERS
Sun 7/20/2014 MOVING PARTS
ENWRAPSROTEPALMOIL
DARENOTEXONFRIENDS
WHITTLEBEADCOOLEST
TREROUNDUPUND
ICEEMEWSSPECSSUCK
NOTATIONSTASHESPAN
DOODADGAROTTEASTRO
RISOTTOFALLOUT
HERDSPAMALOTMAOIST
ALICKELSSAMEGTOS
GLACIALPATRONS
ALITTLEGIVEANDTAKE
THEMAGITEETERS
SHEDEDITBSATRIAL
MALIGNRECHAINSARTY
OVEREATAGITATE
RAVENSTRETTOASSAIL
ENEEMPRESSNEGATIVE
SANGISITAFIXELRON
RANBURRITOPUP
AFRAMESREALDIECAST
PRIVATENAVEUMPIRES
BABYSATSNITSPEAKER
Mon 7/21/2014
MADAMSDOARATE
AVENUEEINUSSR
CREOLECLAMBAKE
HIDDENVALLEY
ELSEIDIOTERG
SECRETGARDEN
ETDRIASAURA
JOURNALCREWCUT
EIREPROPENS
CLASSIFIEDAD
TENASICSCASE
PRIVATEPARTS
WEBSITESBARHOP
ASISMASBLEARY
SPOTEMOSLATES
Tue 7/22/2014
TIBIALIGHTOMG
ICANTAARONMAN
SYNCHSMELTADA
DRONEBEECREW
CLOSERNUDE
CHEWEDTPROBST
HEADDIEDUSETO
OEDWISHINGARM
ISERECERASTOA
REROLLETDPENS
ALOTBALING
SCAMREFILLED
PANBREAKADOLF
EKERINSEMOWER
DEWRESTSANNOY
Wed 7/23/2014
BOARTALLZESTS
ARTEALTAIQUIT
REOSBODYDOUBLE
TIMEOUTMYNA
ADIEURAETRIO
BACKGROUNDSOUND
SHORNWRITE
AVATOCCATANOS
SITATOMEGA
PERSONALBAGGAGE
SWAKANDEATUP
AIRYDARKENS
BLANKCHECKHALO
LANCEOPIEASAN
TOSEAWAVYNEWS
POW Thu 7/24/2014
SLEWECARTEFDR
YEARNOFEESLEE
NAVECARPETINN
CHECKOUTPNIN
KARTTHEATRE
STARCASEVISOR
ANAOLIAPANT
STARELUDETOAD
BANDCUTSNTO
OPALSSELECEES
GETPASTCRIB
ROTHLETSLIDE
IRESOLANOAKIN
SIRDELVESCENT
HAYISAIAHKAOS
Fri 7/25/2014
MAYOASTISWEPT
ELAMCHINCHILLA
DOWNGOESFRAZIER
SENIORSAUGZAP
PUNOLDGOATS
STARRBOLEYN
TOLEDOOHIOCOSA
DISSENTBIALIES
SLOEATALLCOSTS
NELLIECUEIN
ASHTREESTOD
TEAOASTURNSTO
BRITISHSOLDIERS
ARTICHOKESNAIL
RAITAPASAELMO
Sat 7/26/2014
GETSREALMOVIE
ALITALIAWINONA
STMORITZOCULAR
JOEPESCIWASABI
ERLHOOFTIN
TOYOTAPAUSING
POSTERCHILD
SEACREATURE
JERSEYSHORE
MULATTORUNDMC
ILEINSTOOO
RICRACTENSPOTS
RATEDAATOMIZES
ONENILLOVEBITE
RADONKNOWBEST
Sun 7/27/2014 WHAT'S MY LINE?
BLTSCTRLCHAFFIMED
PRAHAAREAHATLOLALO
SORRYWRONGNUMBERLYIN
ITGORACEINLAWAGITA
SHOWMETHEMONEYPRESET
TENSEIBETTRITE
RAMONAXELDOOZIES
ELILANDAUTARATYCO
DIGONCEUPONATIMEOHI
FEHRYAPNORASAMUEL
ANTICRIPPEDOFFREADS
CAMAROCUBALAOAGUE
ETATHATSALLFOLKSALE
DEKEWOESITWASIIED
DEADENDSHEDNINAS
STOLESEATETHAN
FARFELITSNOTYOUITSME
EMIRSSNEADBERMHOOD
DOGETAKEMYWIFEPLEASE
OCHSALEVEBLURPRMEN
NOTHCEDESALLOSEIS
Mon 7/28/2014
WASTETREEDLGA
IDEASHOWIEOAR
ZEROPERCENTSUM
ALAWUSSOMEN
RIPSAWSGUILTY
DEEPSHEYARNOLD
ATOSOLUSES
STRINGQUARTET
JERKEAUSUE
ANYLONGERBLAND
BEHELDASSYRIA
SARIALMAICU
NCRVOCABLESSON
BEDERROLKNELT
ADSREESEELSES
Tue 7/29/2014
ORCABATEDBIKE
FERNAGREEASIS
FLAGSNAKEPLANT
SOBERSUPPILATE
GLASSMENACES
VIRAGOJERKS
ANAELIOTTWOS
MTSDOGWOODOHM
POSEELOPELSU
SEXTSICEFOG
MESTIZALUCAS
ARMANIMAMASBOY
GOATSBEARDYALE
IDLEISSUEANEW
CELSTOKENSEGS
Wed 7/30/2014
BLTUNMADECBS
LIVSEASONSHEA
OTCCOOKIESHEET
OHHIRINSEOFF
MEASURINGCUP
NAMEOSAGES
CANOPENERSTELA
AVEFUMEDTEX
MELDSMICROWAVE
POSEASAROW
CUTTINGBOARD
GRADEONEDYER
CHAFINGDISHCPA
FINSTURNIPARK
OAKSPASMSROE
Thu 7/31/2014
LOEBCHICAAHAB
EAVEHUNANLOCO
DRAGOLORDBLEW
COMPUTERKEY
USUREREARBOB
STARWARSCANTINA
TOTALOOHSABIN
EVEDAVIDLOG
DESPAIRLESSENS
RISKDEUS
REWORKPBANDJ
AXESSSSSSSARI
ZINGSJABSQUIB
OLDEAGATREE
RESTMERSUDS
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