Designing Crosswords

The issue of designing crosswords for younger solvers is a hot topic among crossword creators. It's generally believed that the majority of solvers are over forty (and female). Add to that the fact that very few constructors are under thirty and the result is puzzles that don't relate to teenagers and young adults. For this popular pastime to appeal to a new generation of solvers, constructors will have to update the cultural references in their puzzles. Here are some things to consider.

The Beloit College Mindset List For The Class Of 2007

Most students entering college this fall were born in 1985. To them:

 1. Ricky Nelson, Richard Burton, Samantha Smith, Laura Ashley, Orson Welles, Karen Ann Quinlin, Benigno Aquino, and the U.S. Football League have always been dead.
 2. They are not familiar with the source of that "Giant Sucking Sound."
 3. Iraq has always been a problem.
 4. "Ctrl Alt Del" is as basic as "ABC."
 5. Paul Newman has always made salad dressing.
 6. Pete Rose has always been a gambler.
 7. Bert and Ernie are old enough to be their parents.
 8. An automatic is a weapon, not a transmission.
 9. Russian leaders have always looked like leaders everyplace else.
10. The snail darter has never been endangered.

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