We all know that classic phrase about making assumptions.
"When you assume, you make an..." Do I even need to finish it? Originating in the '50s and popularized by a 1973 episode of "The Odd Couple," the expletive-laden expression has long been a popular way to warn someone of the consequences of jumping to conclusions. While it's often used in reference to prematurely judging someone's character or putting too little care into a decision, it's actually just as relevant to solving crossword puzzles. Because when you assume a clue's meaning instead of carefully thinking through the options, you often end up feeling a whole lot of regret.
Not positive you know what I mean? Don't assume – allow me to explain.
In easy crossword puzzles, clues are written
very straightforwardly so as not to confuse newer solvers. If the answer is BREAD, the clue might be something like "sandwich ingredient" or "rye or wheat," simple options that leave little for interpretation.
In more challenging puzzles, meanwhile, the clues are typically vaguer. The clue for BREAD might be a fill-in-the-blank like "break _____", and a solver may mistakenly assume the five-letter answer to be DANCE or DOWNS, since "break dance" and "break downs" are far more common phrases than "break bread."
And in truly tricky crosswords, clues are sometimes written with the intent to confuse. The clue for BREAD might be "ATM withdrawal," and while the immediate guess would be MONEY, an experienced solver wouldn't make that assumption. Instead, they'd consider all the various ways the clue could be interpreted, such as money being a synonym for – you guessed it – bread!
It's hard not to make assumptions when solving crosswords, especially when an answer seems glaringly obvious; after all, the Occam's razor principle says that the simplest explanation is often the right one, so why wouldn't that rule apply to crossword puzzles?
Alas, it doesn't – which can understandably lead to frustration when you assume something incorrectly and end up with a mistake-filled grid. But the more puzzles you do, the more your brain will adjust to going beyond the obvious and considering all the possible options instead. After enough practice, you'll be able to read a seemingly simple clue like "track and field" and (at least in a difficult puzzle) realize the answer might not be SPORT, but VERBS.
Not taking clues too literally is key to solving trickier puzzles, but I'll be honest: Even highly experienced solvers and constructors get fooled sometimes by our own wrong assumptions (when I see the clue "part of spring," my mind is going to go to MAY and not the letter ESS, no matter how many times I've seen that trick used before!).
But as aggravating as these moments can be, the satisfaction of figuring out a clue's actual meaning makes it all worth it. And I promise you that statement isn't an assumption – it's a fact.
Rachel Simon is the PLAY writer for USA TODAY, bringing you the inside scoop behind our crosswords, games, horoscopes, and comics. Have thoughts on this story, or want to share your own tips for solving puzzles? Email her at RSimon@USAToday.com andsubscribe to our PLAY newsletter to get more content like this in your inbox every week.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to avoid one of the most common mistakes crossword solvers make
