You’re staring at it aren’t you. That little string of blank white squares in the New York Times crossword. The clue reads “ones getting good marks” and your brain is just spinning in circles. You’ve tried every possible synonym for success or praise. Nothing fits. It’s one of those clues that makes you question everything you thought you knew about the English language and frankly it’s a little annoying until you see the trick. It’s a classic bit of crossword misdirection.
The answer you’re looking for, the one that’s causing all this trouble, is “A STUDENTS”.
Yep. “A STUDENTS”. Not “students” in general but specifically “A” students. Those who get the letter grade A. Now that you see it it seems so obvious. But that’s the whole point. The puzzle maker isn’t just testing your vocabulary. They are testing your ability to look at words and phrases in a slightly weird, sideways kind of way. This whole thing is about that little moment of discovery.
Let’s really break this down and look at how these clues are built. And maybe, just maybe, you won’t get stuck on one like this again. Or at least you’ll know what kind of game is being played.
Why That “A STUDENTS” Clue Works So Well
The thing is, the clue “ones getting good marks” is grammatically designed to send you down the wrong path. Your brain immediately sees “marks” and thinks of grades. That part’s correct. But then it sees “ones” and processes it as a plural pronoun, referring to people. People getting good grades. So you start thinking of words like PRAISEES or HONOREES or something along those lines.
But the constructor is being sneaky. They are using “A” not just as a letter but as a word itself. It is the type of mark that is good. So, the people getting these marks are “A” students. The clue is a literal description. It’s not a synonym. This is a huge category of crossword clues, the literal description that sounds like a synonym-based clue.
It’s a little bit of a mental leap. You have to stop thinking about the meaning of the phrase as a whole. You need to start looking at the individual words and how they can be reinterpreted. It’s a pun, really. A very dry, clever pun that fits perfectly into a grid. This is what separates a Monday puzzle from a Thursday or Saturday one, typically.
Thinking Like the Person Who Made the Puzzle
To get better at solving these, you sort of have to get into the mind of the puzzle constructor. These people are word nerds of the highest order. They love language and all its little quirks. Their job is to create a fun challenge, and a big part of that challenge is misdirection. They want you to have that “aha!” moment.
They are not trying to be impossible. They are just trying to be clever. It is considered to be a fair game but the rules are a little different than normal conversation. They’re playing with the double meanings of words, the sounds of words, and even the way words look on the page.
The Art of the Misdirect
This is their number one tool. The “A STUDENTS” clue is a prime example. The phrasing suggests one thing while the answer relies on another interpretation. A clue like “It might be in a jam” isn’t talking about preserves. It’s probably talking about a CAR or TRAFFIC. The whole game is about seeing past the most obvious reading of the clue.
Wordplay is Everything
Puns are everywhere in crosswords. So are anagrams, where letters get mixed up. Sometimes a clue will even hint at it, with words like “scrambled” or “messy”. You have to be ready for the clue to not be straightforward. The words are pieces of a game. They are not just definitions. This is a point that many new solvers miss. They treat it like a vocabulary test. It’s more of a logic puzzle that uses words.
Common Traps You’ll See in the NYT Puzzle
Once you’ve been doing the NYT crossword for a while, you start to see the same kinds of tricks pop up over and over again. It’s like learning the special moves in a video game. Getting familiar with them can make a huge difference, especially as the week progresses and the puzzles get harder.
Here are some common things to watch out for:
Abbreviations: The clue will use a full word but the answer is an abbreviation. A clue like “Mister in Mexico” is looking for SENOR, or SR. If the clue has an abbreviation in it, the answer probably will too.
Fill-in-the-Blanks: These look easy, like “\\\ a time”. The answer is “ONCE UPON”. They’re usually straightforward but can sometimes have a twist.
Question Marks: A question mark at the end of a clue is a giant red flag. It screams “This is wordplay!” A clue like “A fine mess?” could be a punny answer like TICKET. The question mark is your friend, telling you to think outside the box.
Roman Numerals: If you see a clue about a “King Henry” or a “Super Bowl”, be ready to think in Roman numerals. They love to use answers like VIII or LII. It’s just a thing you have to know.
Foreign Words: The NYT puzzle assumes a certain amount of general knowledge, and that includes some common words from French, Spanish, or Latin. Words like ETE (summer in French) or AMIGO are very common.
Knowing these patterns doesn’t solve the puzzle for you. But it does give you a better toolbox to work with. You’re not just guessing randomly anymore. You’re making educated guesses based on the style of the puzzle.
What to Do When You Are Completely Stumped
Listen, it happens to everyone. You’re staring at a half-finished grid and your brain has just turned to mush. There’s no shame in it. Looking up the answer for “ones getting good marks” is what brought you here. That’s not cheating, it’s learning.
The first thing to do is walk away. Go get a drink, look out a window, do something else for ten minutes. It is amazing how often you’ll come back to the puzzle and an answer will just pop right into your head. Your brain was working on it in the background.
Another strategy is to focus on the “crosses.” Instead of banging your head against the long, tricky clue, work on all the shorter words that intersect with it. If you can fill in a few of those, you’ll have some letters in your problem answer. Those letters can be the spark you need to see the full word. Sometimes just one letter is all it takes for the whole thing to click into place.
And if all else fails, look it up. Seriously. The goal is to have fun and learn. If you’re getting frustrated, you’re not doing either. Look up the answer, understand why it’s the answer, and you’ll be better prepared for the next time you see a clue like it. Every solved puzzle makes you a better solver.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NYT crossword answer for ones getting good marks?
The most common answer for this clue is A STUDENTS. It’s a play on words, referring to students who receive the grade of “A”.
Why is “A STUDENTS” the answer?
It’s a form of wordplay. Instead of interpreting “good marks” as a general concept, the clue is being very literal. The “good mark” is the letter “A”, so the “ones getting” them are “A” students.
Is this kind of wordplay common in the NYT crossword?
Yes, extremely. This style of clue, which relies on a pun or a literal interpretation, is a staple of puzzles, especially from Wednesday onwards in the week when they become more difficult.
How can I get better at solving these types of clues?
Practice is the biggest thing. The more puzzles you do, the more you’ll start to recognize these kinds of tricks. Also, when you get stuck and look up an answer, take a moment to understand the logic of the clue.
What day of the week would a clue like this appear?
A clue like “ones getting good marks” would normally appear in a mid-week puzzle, like a Wednesday or Thursday. It requires a mental leap that’s a step above the more straightforward clues found on Monday and Tuesday.
Key Takeaways
The answer to “ones getting good marks” in the NYT crossword is “A STUDENTS”.
The clue is a literal pun, not a synonym. This is a very common trick in puzzles.
Think like the constructor: they use misdirection and wordplay to create a challenge.
Look for common traps like abbreviations, Roman numerals, and clues with question marks.
When you’re stuck, try working on the intersecting words or simply take a break. Looking up an answer is a way to learn, not a failure.
