What’s the Best Way to Crossword: Pen, Pencil, or Digital?
Pen or pencil? In pre-Web days, that was the question crossword solvers asked one another.
Now, in the era of the Internet, it's a different question: paper or digital?
There are pros and cons for both. Paper gives you a better view of the grid and clues, which is admittedly less of an issue with smaller-sized puzzles like the Daily Beast's; you can make notes on the page as you solve, like ticking off clue numbers once you have their answers; and it feels old-school and relaxing, reducing your screen time today by a couple of percentage points.
But with digital, it’s a faster solve (top speed-solvers regularly solve much faster digitally than on paper), convenient (don't need a printer), and environmentally-friendly (one less sheet of paper out there).
Of course, it comes down to personal preference, so if you haven't printed a puzzle out in a while, give it a shot. The Daily Beast's puzzles are printable (just hit "Print" in the puzzle's upper-right), and you might find you dig going non-digital, at least occasionally. And you can always access the digital-only functions if you need them by jumping back online (Reveal Letter/Word/Grid, Check Letter/Word/Grid, etc.).
Paper or digital, and if paper, pen or pencil? Tell us how you solve by tweeting it to #beastxword.
Play today’s puzzle and sign up for our weekly crossword newsletter on the bottom of the puzzle page.
READ MORE ON CROSSWORDS
What to Do When the Crossword Grid Has Stumped You
Using Sounds as Puzzle Clues Can Make a Crossword More Fun
Using Sounds as Puzzle Clues Can Make a Crossword More Fun
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