Editing Crossword (section)

====Abbreviations====
{{Main|Crossword abbreviations}}
The constraints of the American-style grid (in which every letter is checked) often require a fair number of answers not to be dictionary words. As a result, the following ways to clue abbreviations and other non-words, although they can be found in "straight" British crosswords, are much more common in American ones:
* Abbreviations, the use of a foreign language, variant spellings, or other unusual word tricks are indicated in the clue. A crossword creator might choose to clue the answer ''SEN'' (as in the abbreviation for "senator") as "Washington bigwig: Abbr." or "Member of Cong.", with the abbreviation in the clue indicating that the answer is to be similarly abbreviated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://crosswordhobbyist.com/how-to-make-a-crossword-puzzle|title=How to Make a Crossword Puzzle|website=crosswordhobbyist.com}}</ref> The use of "Var." indicates the answer is a variant spelling (e.g., ''EMEER'' instead of ''EMIR''), while the use of foreign language or a foreign place name within the clue indicates that the answer is also in a foreign language. For example, ''ETE'' (''[[wikt:été|été]]'', French for "summer") might be clued as "Summer, in the [[University of Paris|Sorbonne]]". ''[[Rome|ROMA]]'' could be clued as "Italia's capital", whereas the clue "[[Italy]]'s capital" would indicate the English spelling ''[[Rome]]''.
* The eight possible abbreviations for a [[points of the compass|position on a compass]], e.g., ''NNW'' (north-northwest) or ''ESE'' (east-southeast), occur with some frequency. They can be clued as simply "Compass point", where the desired answer is determined by a combination of [[logic]]—since the third letter can be only E or W, and the second letter can be only N or S—and a process of elimination using checks. Alternatively, compass point answers are more frequently clued as "XXX to YYY direction", where XXX and YYY are two place names. For example, ''SSW'' might be clued as "New York to Washington DC dir.". Similarly, a clue such as "Right on the map" means ''EAST''. A clue could also consist of objects that point a direction, e.g., "[[weather vane|vane]] dir." or "[[windsock]] dir.".
* [[Roman numerals]], and arithmetic involving them, frequently appear as well; the clue "IV times III" (4×3) would yield ''XII'' (12).
* In addition, partial answers are allowed in American-style crosswords, where the answer represents part of a longer phrase. For example, the clue "Mind your _____ Qs" gives the answer ''PSAND'' (Ps and).
* Non-dictionary phrases are also allowed in answers. Thus, the clue "Mocked" could result in the grid entry ''LAUGHED AT''.