Alright, so today I decided to tackle the NYT Crossword puzzle – but with a twist. I wanted to see if I could “employ” it, meaning use it for something beyond just a fun pastime. My goal? To boost my vocabulary and maybe learn a few random facts along the way.
Getting Started
First things first, I grabbed the puzzle. You can find these online. Today, I am using Sunday’s crossword.
The Process
- Read the Clues: I started by scanning through all the clues, both Across and Down. Some were immediately obvious, others…not so much.
- Fill in the Obvious: I filled in any answers I knew right away. This gave me a few starting letters for the intersecting words, which is super helpful.
- Work the Intersections: This is where the real work began. I focused on areas where I had a few letters filled in and tried to figure out the connecting words. Sometimes, I had to guess and see if it fit.
- Use the crossing words:If I get stuck,I would look at the words that intersect with the word.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Guess(then check it):I wasn’t sure, I’d pencil in a guess lightly.
- Take Breaks: Seriously, staring at a crossword for too long can make your brain melt. I took short breaks to clear my head.
What I learned
After I had completed the crossword.I would go back through and make a list of words I did not * I learned a new word, “EPEE”. It’s some kind of sword, so that was a big win for me.
And that’s about it! It was a bit of a mental workout, but I feel like I actually accomplished something. I definitely recommend giving this a try if you’re looking for a fun way to learn a little something new.
