former new york times crossword editor will

“The question is not whether ILLEGAL as a noun has become common through usage. Then, once he posted the results, he got a stream of reactions. He says he solved the puzzle, as he usually does, in a matter of minutes, but had received emails from readers even before he had a chance to post the results. Michael Sharp, an English professor at Binghamton University who solves the puzzle daily and writes a popular blog about it, says the clue made him cringe. The response was first evident among some of fans who devotedly complete The New York Times crossword puzzle on a daily basis. The term, when used as a noun or as short-hand for “illegal immigrant,” has been a topic of discussion for some time, particularly because of its regular and often malicious use by anti-immigrant groups. What’s no surprise is that many people took offense. 54 Across, read: “One caught by border patrol.” The answer: ILLEGAL. On Thursday last week, that theme – in a way that turned out to be both ironic and fitting – was ERROR.Īt issue was a clue that caught many readers and close followers of the immigration debate by surprise. It’s not uncommon for crossword puzzles in The New York Times to have a theme.

The New York Times Crossword Editor Will Shortz admits a clue in Thursday’s puzzle was a mistake. (Michael Sharp, Rex Parker)

Former new york times crossword editor will