The story of how cryptic crosswords crossed the Atlantic

After an interval, the alphabetical jigsaw puzzle is back

Did you know that some of Britain's Brightest (Young) Brains tackle the Quick crossword?

'Temporary' Genius arrangements explained and a lovely tale from Toronto, Canada

Hugh Stephenson celebrates the things that one learns in solving (and editing) crosswords

Hugh Stephenson: Last month again saw one of those instances where a word has a general meaning in common usage, as well as its technical one.

Hugh Stephenson: What a difference a little comma can make

Hugh Stephenson: It is wishful thinking to believe that there is only one 'correct' way to spell a word

Hugh Stephenson: There seems to be support for the view that, in certain circumstances, a koala can happily be called a koala bear.

Hugh Stephenson: When is a bear not a bear? When it's a koala bear

Hugh Stephenson: Experts don't like technical words and phrases being used out of context

Solvers seem to think that something has changed with the Quick crosswords. Hugh Stephenson wonders why

Hugh Stephenson: Trying to please all of the people all of the time

When do old conventions in cryptic clues become too dated and how soon can new words be accepted, asks Hugh Stephenson

Many words have specialised definitions but also have looser meanings used in common parlance (and in crosswords)

Was this a bloody mistake, or just another linguistic misunderstanding?

Hugh Stephenson: For over 55 years John Graham's puzzles entertained (and educated and informed) generations of Guardian solvers

C.P. Snow's Two Cultures continue to cause problems with word meanings in crosswords

Dictionaries are increasingly giving their seal of approval to the secondary popular meaning of specialised words.

New words are invented all the time and the meanings of old ones develop. How should crosswords keep up with these changes?

Further reflections on the adjustments that we are all having to make as a result of American dominance of the new media

When it comes to crosswords and spelling it is a mistake to think that there is no alternative

Crossword editors can no longer defend their decisions by invoking Chambers as the ultimate authority on all crossword questions.

Replies from last month's request for feedback seem to indicate that for most solvers our crosswords are hitting the spot most of the time - which is nice!

Guardian crossword policy has not changed significantly in the last 20 years. Is it meeting the expectations of its solvers?

This year marks the centenary of a publishing event in New York that has given all cruciverbalists cause for celebration.