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About Morning Crossword
Morning Crossword is a free daily crossword site with a new 5x5 mini and a new 7x7 Midi every day, a free archive of every past puzzle, step-by-step hints for every clue, and no account or paywall.
Two puzzles every day
- The mini is a 5x5 crossword with about ten clues. Most people solve it in one to three minutes.
- The Midi is a 7x7 crossword with 14 to 16 clues and answers up to seven letters long, for a longer coffee break.
Both come out at midnight in your own time zone. The Midi gets harder through the week: Monday and Tuesday are easy, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday are medium, and Friday and Saturday are hard. The mini stays easy for now and follows the same schedule from November 21. Every puzzle shows its level next to its date.
How each puzzle is made
Every puzzle is new and made for Morning Crossword. Before one can go live, it has to pass these steps:
- A theme from this week. Puzzles follow the calendar: holidays, seasons, sports and everyday life, so the puzzle feels like it belongs to today. The title above the grid hints at the theme.
- A grid from our own word list. About 32,000 everyday English words, each rated for how well known it is. Obscure words, and words that are offensive or upsetting, are left out.
- Fresh clues. Every clue is written for its grid. Clues are never copied from other crosswords.
- A blind test-solve. Each clue is solved from the clue alone, without seeing the answer, and the whole grid is solved again from scratch. A clue that cannot be solved fairly is rewritten, and a grid that fails is thrown out.
- A fact check. Any clue that states a fact, such as a date, a name or a record, is checked against sources.
- A fairness score. Every clue is scored for accuracy, fairness and fun, and a puzzle below the bar does not go out.
- Hints and notes. Three step-by-step hints are written for each clue and checked so they do not give the answer away too early. Trickier answers get a short note, shown once you solve.
When we get one wrong
If a clue looks wrong, open Hints in the puzzle, or the card you see when you solve it, and tap Report a problem with a clue. We read every report and fix the puzzle if it needs it. You can also write to [email protected].
What we promise
- Free. Every puzzle and the whole archive, with no paywall and no account.
- Your data stays yours. Your progress and streak stay in your browser. See the privacy policy.
- Easy to read. Large squares, strong contrast in light and dark mode, and Atkinson Hyperlegible Next, a font designed for readers with low vision.
Who we are
Morning Crossword is an independent site, made for people who like a short word puzzle with their morning coffee. It is not affiliated with The New York Times or any other publisher, and its puzzles are its own.