Meet Sam Ezersky the NYT Spelling Bee Editor

Sam Ezersky is the editor of the New York Times word puzzle Spelling Bee which has captivated the minds of many players with its honeycomb shape grid and its deceptively simple game play.

The proud Baltimore-born Sam Ezersky has been the man behind Spelling Bee for around 4 years and it is something he plans to do for a lot longer if given the chance. He is the son of Alan Ezersky and currently resides in New York City, NY. Sam has been involved with puzzles since at least 2012 where he published his first puzzle in LA Crossword, a few months later he also got published in NYT Crossword, the puzzle was co-authored with Victor Fleming. Getting into real crosswords has made it possible for Sam to connect with his crossword hero Will Shortz.

Sam first got into puzzle solving when he was around 6 or 7 years og age. He was at a barbershop and noticed an incomplete Puzzle in a magazine laying on the table. While waiting for his turn he started messing with it and was fascinated by the puzzle logic, there was no clues instead all the answers were alphabetized by their length, the word inter-locking seemed such a cool concept for the young Sam, even though he did not understand what most of the words meant.
“Fill-It-In” was basically a clueless crossword, consisting of just words that you put in the grid.
Completing the grid completely made him love the experience even more so much so, he still remembers parts of it. More than 18 years have passed since then and Sam’s love for puzzle solving has never waned.

From Crossword to SB

Not long ago the words Spelling Bee was associated with school kids competing on Scripps Spelling Bee competitions, on spelling difficult words ‘sfprfuul’ or ‘nalicbekre’. Now Spelling Bee refers to the addictive NY Times puzzle which is played by so many people daily nearly becoming a nation wide obsession for word nerds.

The 28-year-old Sam went to JCC (Jewish Community Center) at a young age and by High School began sending Will Shortz puzzles which were politely rejected several times. Eventually Sam got the attention of Shortz and got published. The first NYT puzzle is framed in his home office along with the acceptance letter and a copy of the check you get as a reward for being published.

Getting hired by the NY Times

In 2017 Sam, freshly out of college was actually hired by the Times as a co-editor for the crossword puzzles. He worked alongside 3 other crossword editors at the time. At the beginning of this it meant Sam had to evaluate, read and edit submitted crosswords, so he had to make them conform to a set of standards regarding clarity, style and of course remain fun to solve. This is something Sam is still does to this date.

A new game was being discussed and in 2018 Sam was told about the now famous Spelling Bee. A honeycomb short puzzle which would challenge you to create as many words as possible from the grid of letters. Sam was proposed the role of being the game editor, and Sam accepted despite the fact that it seemed such a tiny task for him and not something that would define his career.

It later turned out to be the opposite because by the end of 2019 and start of 2020 he realized that the spelling bee was becoming sort of a big deal with an ever increasing popularity and there was a few spelling bee helper sites to help players solve the game when stuck. The puzzles are not made from scratch, he chooses the puzzle from a database and tries to select such words that would make the puzzle as fun as possible for the players, fun to play and not frustratingly difficult. Sometimes when the puzzle lacks clarity or the pangrams are more than a few is not uncommon for twitter to be flooded with people complaining about it.

The Increase in Popularity

Spelling bee might have taken off because of the pandemic where people were bored and looking for some fun time passer during the lockdown – the game is also a diversion from the grim world of negative news around us. It is also a get-together kind of game because as you encounter difficulties you are more likely to ask people around you for help or ideas so it increases the social interactions and could bring people together, to discuss, enjoy, solve, compete or complain (lol).

The Power of Crossword Puzzles: Boosting Memory and Cognitive Skills

Unveiling the Study Linking Crossword Puzzles to Brain Health

Are you prepared to stimulate your mind and embark on a fascinating crossword puzzle journey? Recent research indicates that immersing yourself in web-based crossword puzzles can potentially yield substantial cognitive and brain health benefits, especially for individuals facing mild memory challenges. 

In this article, we delve into the comprehensive study that reveals the inherent advantages of crossword puzzles, and offers valuable guidance on seamlessly integrating them into your daily routine to optimize your cognitive abilities.

Unveiling the Study: Crossword Puzzles vs. Cognitive Games

An informative study published in NEJM Evidence has unveiled the remarkable advantages of crossword puzzles in improving memory and cognitive function, instilling a glimmer of hope for individuals aspiring to maintain sharp and vibrant minds. 

For 18 months, this study focused on participants aged 62 to 80 with mild cognitive impairment, dividing them into two distinct groups:

  1. One that engaged in web-based crossword puzzles and 
  2. A second one that played web-based cognitive games 

The findings were striking! The group that embraced crossword puzzles experienced enhanced cognition and less brain shrinkage (compared to their counterparts playing cognitive games).

Enhancing Cognition: The Puzzle Piece

Over the course of the 12-week study, participants who diligently solved online crossword puzzles witnessed remarkable improvements in their cognitive abilities. On a 70-point scale measuring cognitive performance, crossword solvers gained approximately one point at the 12-week mark, with a further half-point improvement by the 78-week milestone. 

Although seemingly modest, these enhancements carry significant weight. In fact, a two-point difference on this scale served as the basis for FDA approval of memory-enhancing medications for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

 Notably, 37% of crossword enthusiasts demonstrated at least a two-point improvement, highlighting the profound impact of this beloved hobby on cognitive function.

Preserving Brain Volume: A Shield Against Shrinkage

The study delved deeper into the effects of crossword puzzles on brain health, specifically targeting individuals with mild cognitive impairment and those experiencing normal aging. 

In both cases, the brain tends to undergo shrinkage over time. However, engaging in crossword puzzles proved to be a powerful intervention. Compared to individuals playing cognitive games, crossword enthusiasts experienced between 0.5% and 1% less shrinkage in critical brain structures like the hippocampus and cortex throughout the 18-month duration of the study. 

This difference underscores the impressive neuroprotective benefits of crossword puzzles.

How Many Crossword Puzzles Should You Do?

To reap the benefits of crossword puzzles, consider integrating them into your routine. The study protocol recommended working on crossword puzzles for 30 minutes four times a week. The puzzles were designed to be moderately difficult, comparable to a Thursday New York Times crossword puzzle.

The Science Behind the Benefits: Why Crossword Puzzles Work

There are several reasons why crossword puzzles positively impact thinking, memory, and brain health:

1. Mental Workout

Crossword puzzles are inherently challenging and engage our cognitive faculties. Research suggests that engaging in moderately difficult cognitive tasks promotes cognitive and brain health.

2. Multidimensional Brain Activation

Solving crossword puzzles activates multiple regions of the brain as we search for the right words. The interconnections, required between concepts, stimulate new neural connections, strengthening both the hippocampus and cortex. This dynamic process enhances overall brain function.

3. Social Engagement

For many, crossword puzzles are a social activity that fosters connectivity. Gathering with friends or family to work on a puzzle promotes interaction and stimulates communication, benefiting brain connectivity.

Are Crossword Puzzles Universally Beneficial?

Although these findings primarily apply to the specified population, further research is warranted to explore the potential benefits of crossword puzzles for individuals with normal cognitive function. 

Nevertheless, the positive outcomes suggest that crossword puzzles hold promise for a broader range of individuals.

Embrace the Power of Crossword Puzzles for Your Brain Health

The time has come to unlock the hidden potential of crossword puzzles and provide your brain with a well-deserved workout. By incorporating these puzzles into your routine, you can sharpen your cognitive abilities and safeguard your brain from possible shrinkage.

So, grab a crossword puzzle today and join millions on a journey of cognitive enhancement and brain health!

Beginner Tips on How to Solve the NY Times Crossword

Well if you have never solved crosswords before or have done so very rarely, start with a Monday. In the New York Times Monday is the easiest puzzle of the week and gets progressively harder on Friday or Saturday. If you start on Friday or Saturday you are likely to be smashed and quit in frustration.

Start with the Monday.
Fill in what you know.
Find something that you are positive of and build out from there/

Uncommon Letters
It’s a good idea to use the more unusual letters of the alphabet to help you.
For example a K or an F or a Z will be more useful to you in a crossing answer than an A or an E. As said earlier wherever you are build out from what you know and if you get stuck don’t be afraid to guess.

Take a Break
If you really get stuck. Put the puzzle aside. Come back later. You will be amazed how often that trick works, you will get a new answer on the grid and be ready to run again.

“Fill in the blank”.
These clues are very easy and often the best ones to start with because they are easy to spot in a list of clues and often times they have unique answers. So if the clue was
“One [blank] Customer.” you know the phrase is “One to a customer” so go ahead and fill TOA

Crosswordese
If you have been solving crosswords for a while you will know ‘crosswordese’. Crosswordese are those short vowel heavy answers that show up in crosswords way more often than they do in everyday life. For example lets take Brian Eno. He was one of the founders of Roxy Music. Also an important artist in ambient music. So if you see musician Brian you know is gonna be ‘Eno’. Fill that in and work out from there.

Jazz Music References on Today’s Crossword – May 20 2023

Jazz Music Lovers probably were happy to see at least 2 clues related to Jazz Music on Todays NYT Puzzle May 20, 2033.

Although Jazz is a music genre that emerged in early 20th century in America, it is still popular today not only among black Americans but in all other racial groups. It is characterized by a forceful rhythm combined with woood wind instrument (especially Saxophones), Brass and Piano. Singers are known for their improvisation and syncopation. Some notable styles include Free Jazz, Swing, Bebop, Dixieland, Ragtime, Jazz Fusion etc.

The clues making reference to Jazz Music today were
“Ella and ___” (1956 jazz album)

The answer of this clue was LOUIS.

It refers to the album Ella and Louis which is a studio-recorded 1956 album by Ella Fitzgerald sometimes referred to as the “First Lady of Song” and Louis Armstrong the famous American trumpeter and vocalist. They were accompanied by the Oscar Peterson Quartet.

The second Jazz Music clue was
Network behind the Ken Burns docuseries “Jazz”

The answer of this clue is PBS

It refers to the Miniseries TV Documentary named “Jazz” which was broadcasted in PBS Television in the year 2001. This docu-series was directed by Ken Burns. This mini series was nominated for an Emmy. It revealed in a chronological order all the influential figures of the Jazz Music that made history by being innovative composers and musicians.

David one of New York Times Crossword Puzzle Constructors

David Kwong a cruciverbalist and his process of crafting a puzzle for the times.

What is a puzzle?
Well puzzles are all around us, if you think about it there are problems everywhere. A good puzzle makes the player feel smart when solving it.
The task of a crossword maker is to present a challenging puzzle, make you think out of the box and hopefully have that ‘Aha!’ moment when you feel smart. The Aha! moment is when you crack the puzzle. You are solving a puzzle and everything just clicks.

Crossword puzzle is the type of word puzzle where there is always an across and down. Every letter is checked. Which means if you don’t know one way, you can probably figure out the other way. It was invented in 1910s, it’s well over 100 years old and appeared in new york.

David started constructing crossword puzzles while in college. A friend told him how to do it and he started mailing them in the nytimes magazine. The rejections of course followed because you cannot possibly get it right since the first time. He finally broke through and managed to get his submission published, he has been writing for The Times and a bunch of other newspapers ever since.

The first thing you need to do when making a puzzle is come up with your theme – a bit of word play that will run throughout the puzzle. So for example your theme would be ‘Playing Cards’. After you have come up with the theme you need to write down the long answers and these are parallel and length. So if you have a 8 letter answer you will need another 8 letter answer. If you only have one 12 letter answer that is ok – because it can go right in the middle of the grid.
Now the goal of the the puzzle maker would be to hide
JACK
TEN
QUEEN
ACE
KING
inside other words in the grid.

So in this imaginary puzzle we have
peacefulnesses
and if you can see ‘ace’ is right in the middle of it.

another answer would be
viking
and inside that word we would have ‘king’

then in
jackhammer
we would hide ‘jack and so on.

Symmetry
Another thing to consider when making a puzzle is keeping a diagonal symmetry. It is not horizontal, it is not vertical. So if we flip the board 180 degrees the black squares will be in the same position. There are also rules related to black squares because you can’t create a clumpy black squares so you must have nice diagonal lines often.
Black squares also are needed to break up difficult letter combos.

Another rule is that there are now 2 letter answers, the minimum for an answer is three letters and every letter has to be checked both across and down. So if there is a piece of obscure trivia you should be able to access it from the other direction.

So after the grid is set. It is time to write the crossword clues. There are easier clues in the Monday, harder clues in the week.
So lets start with PEACEFULNESS

the clue would be
A state of peace or a state of calmness.

for JACKHAMMER
a possible clue for Monday would be
A hammer to break pavements.
or a Saturday Clue
You could break pavements with it.

And Voila, you now know how to make New York Times Crossword Puzzle.

Bert & Ernie appear on NYT Mini Crossword

On the May 19 NYT Mini Puzzle a clue appeared
Bert’s pal on “Sesame Street”

and the answer of it is Earnie.
Bert and Ernie are two best friend characters who have appeared in multiple episodes of the children’s series “Sesame Street”.

Bert and Ernie live together in a small apartment at 123 Sesame Street. Despite sleeping in separate beds, they are roommates although they sleep in sepparate beds.

How Will Shortz makes a Crossword

While it is not like drugs Will admits that it is an addiction. And it is in fact a beneficial addiction because it is going to make your brain bigger, form new neural paths especially for the part of the brain related to linguistics. And it can very well happen to make you more capable of tackling life challenges you face.

He confesses that he has always been a puzzle head who solved puzzles ever since he was a kid. An interesting fact about him as that he created a whole CV in puzzles and he has the World’s only CD in enigmatology. Enigmatology is a term devised by Shortz himself. While he is not a magician or a talented singer, his ability to craft a puzzle and write clues that will engage people is a special talent too. Tickling the cruciverbal center in your brain is what he jokingly calls it.

While everyday would be a little different for him as the editor of the NYT Crossword, his typical day consists of reviewing the submissions he receives. Generally about 70 to 110 puzzles are submitted in a given week, all of which need to be carefully looked at by Will. As a very hands-on editor who is very much in touch with the puzzle publishing process, half the clues are edited by him. Putting an emphasis on accuracy because obviously everything has to be correct.

He consults his most used reference books: World Almanac, A Collegiate Dictionary, Movie Guides, Proper names, Literature Books. He often needs to find out how common is a word or a phrase thus figuring out if it would make a good crossword entry. Google has a feature that will tell you how common a word is, and let you can see its popularity over time.

When Will decides a puzzle is good enough and accepts it for publication, the first thing he does is choose which day of the week it will be published on. Monday is the easiest puzzle and everyday the difficulty increases with Friday and Saturday being very difficult. After the puzzle is edited they are typeset and sent to 3 or 4 test players, who conduct another test and if necessary provide corrections or comments, so that Shortz will polish the puzzle for publication in The Times Crossword. Every times crossword puzzle is seen, reviewed and played by a lot of people before it is finally published.

Two New Games join NYT Games


New York Times has revealed that players of its Games will be able to play Tiles and Sudoku via the app. If you are a regular you must remember that Sudoku was also added in late January early February of this year.

Little by little or we the NYT games app has been enriched and it now has a diverse portfolio of games for just about any type of player. We must admit that not everyone is a crossword person, but if you are and don’t have the time The Mini is the perfect choice. You might prefer spelling words in the Spelling Bee. You might like a short puzzle like Wordle. Each game is different not only in the in the method of playing but also the difficulty level. The newest addition ‘Tiles’ for example. can be categorized as a Logic Visual Game and beginner friendly.

Sudoku game players worldwide has increased by more than 50%. This is due to the popularity and influence that NYT has. The amount of time the players spend on the app has also increased

Tiles, which The Times introduced in June 2019, is a color and pattern matching game where, using layered patterned squares, players are challenged to create the longest possible sequence of tile pairings with matching components. Tiles has been growing its audience over the past year, with almost one million people playing the game each week.

Offering a breadth of handcrafted puzzle experiences is critical to what subscribers look for in a Games subscription, and we’re pleased to announce that Tiles and Sudoku are now being offered in the NYT Games app.

ABOUT NEW YORK TIMES GAMES
Since the launch of The Crossword in 1942, The Times has captivated solvers by providing engaging word and logic games. In 2014, we introduced The Mini Crossword — followed by Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed, Tiles and Vertex. In early 2022, we proudly added Wordle to our collection. We strive to offer puzzles for all skill levels that everyone can enjoy playing every day.

From Making Crosswords out of Boredom to Being Published in Nytimes

Mike Hobin a real estate agent thought that it would be interesting to start making his own crossword puzzles in the early days of the pandemic. Little did he know that not long after he would get his puzzle published in the New York Times crossword.

He compares the process of creating a puzzle as riding a bike. In the beginning it is a hard exercise then as you do it more, you get used to it and enjoy doing it, figuring playful punny words while brainstorming for ideas. It is no longer a challenge.

To make matters more serious Hobin, bought a crossword making software and dedicated a good amount of time to the puzzles almost every day.

He then started hoping or dreaming about being good enough one day, to be able to get his crossword published by the NY Times crossword. Even though the NYTimes magazine encourages everyone to give it a try, among hundreds of submitted puzzles only a fraction make it to the publication.

And so he did. He dedicated some time to his new goal. Make some crosswords, send them to the times and see what will happen. The rejections followed as you can imagine. But with each rejection came the instructions on how to improve and send a better puzzle. Hobin was very persistent and this puzzle hobby got the hold of him because he started seeing clues everywhere from daily chitchats to songs or movies, everyday he was engaged in this word play you might say. Every hobby you invest yourself to will dictate your daily routine. Then in the last Dec after being rejected more than 20 times Hobin got a new response.

The response was not a yes but it was not rejected either. He was asked to rework it a little bit, make a few improvements here and there and then a few days later he was published and as a Sunday puzzle. The theme of the puzzle was “Bring Your ‘A’ Game”. As you probably already know, each puzzle on the NYTimes comes with a compensation of $1,000 or more. Nobody does it for the money though, it is the pleasure of being published that tops anything else.

Player Wins $2M from Crossword Scratcher

A woman got lucky and won 2 Million Dollars from A Crossword Lottery Ticket.

Ruby Evans a woman from Compton, California bought an Instant Prize Crossword Lottery Ticket at a Donuts shop in her town. Upon scratching the ticket in her car she realized she had won and thought he won the 2000 USD prize. But it was a day of big surprises because Evans had actually won a prize 1000 times bigger than that.

She ran back to the store and scan the ticket only to realize that $2,000,000 was her prize. It is the top prize for this game. The shop owner was happy too because of her win it will receive a $10,000 bonus.

Evans was joyful but not so shocked because it turns out that this was not her first time winning the lottery. She had won before at least three times.

She also won another $100,000 lottery ticket back in 2013.
Well we guess we could say the lightning can strike twice in the same place – even thrice.

She considers it a big blessing and it will obviously help her pay her bills and mortgage but she admits that she enjoys the game – it’s not only about the money. She has played the game for a long time and not long ago she won the 5,000 prize as well. Some friends even tease her for this, jokingly saying Ruby have you not won enough?