LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: Title: “You In or Out?” Prompt: This puzzle’s contest answer is an eight-letter word describing most meta-solvers. Answer: STUDIOUS, found by 328 solvers, of which 257 were solo solves More this afternoon, but for now: thanks to Gridmaster J for the graphic below, and read joon‘s solving path here. THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS: This puzzle’s contest answer is an eight-letter word pertaining to travel. Good luck ..read more

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: Title: “Know Your Place” Prompt: This week’s contest answer is a hyphenated 10-letter adjective I hope you’d apply to this crossword. Answer: FIRST-CLASS, found by 232 solvers, of which 147 were solo solves Brief review for now — more coming later this afternoon. Thanks to Gridmaster J for the graphic! NOTE: No extension on the entry deadline this week since the delay was only for an hour. Tuesday at noon ET as usual! THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS: This week’s contest answer is an eight-letter word describing most meta-solvers. Good luck ..read more

Dear Solver, MGWCC #829 will go out one hour late today, at 1:00 PM ET. –Matt ..read more

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: Title: “We Have a Winner” Prompt: This week’s contest answer is one of the 15 solvers who have ever won the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT). Answer: ERIK AGARD, found by 378 solvers, of which 322 were solo solves Which ACPT champ was highlighted in last week’s puzzle? Let’s take a look at our theme entries: 17-A: [U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. of the 1970s] = ANDREW YOUNG. Still with us at 92 years…well, young. 20-A: [Home to the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library (the ampersand seems a bit casual but that’s how they do it)] = YALE UNIVERSITY. Love to h ..read more

Dear Solver, MGWCC #828 will be posted no later than Noon ET on Saturday, April 13th. Apologies for the delay. –Matt ..read more

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: Title: “Sound Alternatives” Prompt: This week’s contest answer is a six-letter word. Answer: CARBON, found by 139 solvers, of which 37 were solo solves A nice Week 5, if I do say so myself (and I guess I just did). Two of its three steps were both novel and interesting, which is about all you can ask of a tough meta! First thing to notice is some odd aspects of the grid before you even solve: a) it’s asymmetric and 21×21; b) six entries are starred, and they’re all long downs; c) those long downs are strangely placed, with four of them scrunched so tightly together on the ..read more

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: Title: “Take a Little Off the Sides” Prompt: This puzzle’s contest answer is a Top 10 hit of the early 1990s. Answer: I GO TO EXTREMES by Billy Joel,, found by 205 solvers, of which 104 were solo solves Running behind today so I’ll finish this post this evening. NOTE: The clues on the regular PDF are a bit small this week, so I’m sending along both the regular one plus a bare-bones version whose clues are a little larger. Use either one you prefer (not a meta trick! Just don’t want to strain your eyes). THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS: This week’s contest answer is a six-letter ..read more

Dear Solver, MGWCC #826 will be posted at 2 PM ET today. –Matt UPDATE: Delay #2, I’m afraid: MGWCC #826 will go out at 4 PM ET today. Random kid emergency here (nothing scary, but requires immediate attention). –Matt ..read more

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: Title: “It Takes One” Prompt: This week’s contest answer is a five-letter part of the body. Answer: ELBOW, found by 258 solvers, of which 167 were solo solves Step 1 last week: Notice that each of the five grid-spanning entries conceals a verb: LEAVES DROPPINGS = EAVESDROP DEATH ROW RECORDS = THROW HOSTESS TWINKIES = WINK WILL SHAKESPEARE = SHAKE THE SCOTTISH OPEN = HOP Step 2: Notice that each of these verbs pertains to a certain part of the body, especially to *one of the pair of body parts performing an action*: You EAVESDROP with one ear (usually) You THROW with one a ..read more

Dear Solver, MGWCC #825 will be posted no later than noon ET tomorrow, March 23rd. Please consider trying my live WSJ meta in the meantime: https://www.wsj.com/articles/never-forget-friday-crossword-march-22-7b6961bd –Matt ..read more