PSC from Australia would have been the first in at 10:28 but for wrong solutions at 22 and 27 across. The January Genius (No 151, set by a newcomer, Soup) again got off to a bad start, the original submission form lacking some solution numbers. In passing, though, I have to be honest and say that the modest element of misdirection, in causing some sexist solvers to jump to the assumption that the answer to the clue ‘actor’ must be a man, seemed to be fair fun in a crossword. I should be grateful for any views that would help me regain an island of stability in these shifting sands of style. The trouble with common sense is that it can too easily be used as justification by this crossword editress or that crossword editor to suit their personal purpose. It cites as a failure to do so the subbing of a piece about the film director Carlo Ponti that caused a sentence to say that, in his early career, he was ‘always a man with a good eye for pretty actors’. The Guardian’s view is that actress comes into the same category as authoress, comedienne, manageress, “lady doctor”, “male nurse” and similar obsolete terms that date from a time when professions were largely the preserve of one sex (usually men).’ So far, so clear.īut my style bible then prevaricates by adding: ‘As always, use common sense’. The style book is definite on this point: ‘Use actor for both male and female actors … except when in name of award, eg Oscar for best actress. 1993 (6,7)’ was the clue for AUDREY HEPBURN. More difficult, though, is the problem of when is an actor an actress, raised by Quick No 14,235 on 23 December. If I were writing an article for the paper on African diseases, I should always, of course, obey the style book and write ‘tsetse’ but my view, given such solid dictionary backing, is that it is fair to cut the poor setter a little rope and allow TZETZE to fly occasionally, if needs must. However, against that Collins has ‘tzetze’ as a legitimate alternative and both the full Oxford English Dictionary and the 1-volume Chambers (much beloved of setters) offer not only ‘tzetze’ but also ‘tzetse’. Here I was on rather less strong ground, because the style book does come down firmly for ‘tsetse’. A reader, who had lived for many years in Zambia, was certain beyond any doubt that this insect is the TSETSE FLY and not the TZETZE FLY, which was what was needed in order for the solution to fit the grid. Parker on this effort and redouble our editorial process so that there is a stronger second level of review,” Universal Uclick said in a statement.Next up ( Quick No 14,255 for 16 January) was ‘Insect that spreads sleeping sickness (6,3)’. Parker will confirm that his process for constructing puzzles uses the best available technology to ensure that everything he edits is original. Parker will take a three-month leave of absence as editor of the Universal Crossword puzzle. No puzzles that appear in Gannett/USA Today Network publications are being edited by Timothy Parker nor will they be edited by Timothy Parker in the future,” Gannett communications VP Amber Allman said in a statement.ĭespite USA Today cutting ties with Parker, it appears he will keep his job after a three-month punishment. Timothy Parker is not, nor ever has been, an employee of USA Today. We conducted our own investigation and we are satisfied with how Universal Uclick has responded to the situation. “USA Today continues to take this matter very seriously. USA Today will continue to get its crossword puzzles from Universal Uclick but issued its own statement distancing the paper from Parker. Gannett will not feature puzzles by Parker in any publications going forward, as first reported by FiveThirtyEight. USA Today’s parent company, Gannett, has been in the news lately after its attempt to purchase Tribune Publishing was rejected. Content syndicate Universal Uclick creates the puzzles for USA Today and followed up with its own investigation.Īlso Read: Tribune Approves 'Poison Pill' to Fend Off Gannett Takeover USA Today will no longer run any crossword puzzles edited by Timothy Parker, who is accused of duplicating puzzles from The New York Times, among other publications.įiveThirtyEight launched an investigation in March, exploring allegations of plagiarism against Parker by using a database of tens of thousands of existing puzzles. USA Today has ended its relationship with its longtime crossword puzzle editor after an investigation by ESPN’s FiveThirtyEight exposed on-going plagiarism.
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