Does this crossword puzzle lack integrity?

Question

My library recently had free hard copies of a New York Times crossword puzzle which I decided to try. I did fairly well with this one. However, when I searched for the solution online I found that in some of the answers, the word "on" was part of the answer, as in "on the ice". However, there were only 7 boxes available so I said to myself, "that can't be the answer". After I read the article about the puzzle online, it said that the puzzle was designed that way but there is no warning about it on the print out. I find this puzzle to lack integrity as it has rules that are not stated anywhere to warn the person.
Is this how the New York Times crossword puzzles are? Full of unfair surprises?

Here is the link to the completed puzzle and the article written about it:
http://crosswordkathy.net/2010/11/28/a-shining-moment/

Answer 1

The New York Times crossword puzzle usually has some sort of theme or trick to certain clues (usually denoted with an asterisk or some other way).



The fun is in solving the secondary "puzzle" as well as the crosswords!

Answer 2

That s the real challenge of the puzzle: finding the puzzle within the puzzle.



NYT gets harder from Monday thru Saturday. The Weds/Thurs versions are the ones with those kind of "tricks" embedded.



I remember whose various answers were checkbook, checkmark, checkmate, etc. But there was only one box for the 5-letter portion of the word "check". You were supposed to insert a check-mark there.



This isn t an integrity issue. Buyer beware!

Answer 3

Maybe you should complain to the New York Times and see what they say? They might clarify things so at least you'll understand.

Hope that helps.