Mallika Sherawat in 'Murder' [Part 3]
The Friday, September 12, 2025 puzzle, constructed by Joe Marquez and edited by Will Shortz, represents a classic end-of-week test. Friday puzzles are traditionally "themeless," meaning they rely on wide-open grids, fewer black blocks, and maximizing high-value, conversational long answers rather than a centralized pun or wordplay gimmick.
Constructed by Parker Higgins, the September 12, 2024 puzzle was a Thursday creation. Thursday puzzles are infamous for incorporating mechanical rule-breaking, such as rebuses (multiple letters packed into a single square) or structural visual gimmicks. new york times crossword 0912
Every puzzle is a collaboration between the constructor and the editors, currently led by . The goal is "illumination"—as one columnist noted, "filling a grid is all well and good, but half the fun... is learning things you didn't know" [10]. The Friday, September 12, 2025 puzzle, constructed by
: The joy of the 0912 puzzle often lies in the "aha!" moments found in wordplay. For instance, a clue like "They'll make it up to you" might cleverly resolve to LIARS —people who "make things up"—rather than people offering atonement [11]. is learning things you didn't know" [10]