Substance, So to Speak
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TUESDAY PUZZLE — In order to share how charmed I was by the answers in today’s grid, I have to share something else first: I’m Canadian, now living in the United States. Even though I’ve trained myself to check the weather in Fahrenheit and measure in inches, I still experience a pang of pride whenever Canadian terminology makes an appearance in a puzzle.
There are two such references in this crossword, which is brought to you by Grant Boroughs (his second for The New York Times). Its theme is simply delightful, and it requires only a willingness to pronounce things a little differently.
Today’s Theme
You might find today’s theme rather divisive. What I mean is that each themed entry might look like a single word, but it must be divided to satisfy the conditions of the clue. For example, 65A, “Neckwear reserved for fancy occasions?” The answer is SPECIALTIES, which might look odd until you realize it’s meant to be read as SPECIAL TIES.
Similar epiphanies occur in the other themed entries. At 26-Across, “Flute-playing Greek god makes an effort?” may make you realize that PAN TRIES; at 40-Across, the cooking directions in the clue are teaching you how to PREP PIES. I found 17-Across particularly absurd, but that made me smile. Here, smile along with me.
Source: The New York Times
