By Siam 
Ever had one of those golden Saturday mornings? You’re curled up with a coffee, the weekend sprawled out before you, and the New York Times crossword puzzle is just begging to be solved. You’re cruising along, filling in answers left and right, feeling like a bona fide genius. Then, you hit a wall. The clue reads: “Ditto for us.” You stare. You scribble. You erase. What on earth could that mean?
If this sounds familiar, welcome to the club. You’ve just encountered one of the crossword world’s most classic and occasionally frustrating tricks: the Latin abbreviation. But don’t worry, you’re not alone in this. By the end of this article, that “Aha!” moment will be yours, and clues like “Ditto for us NYT crossword” will never stump you again.
Let’s cut right to the chase. The answer to “Ditto for us” in the NYT crossword is almost always IDEM.
“Idem” is a Latin word meaning “the same.” It’s the scholarly, footnoting cousin of “ditto.” While “ditto” is the casual term we use in everyday speech, “idem” is what you’ll find in academic papers and, you guessed it, crossword puzzles. It’s a concise way for writers to say, “This same source I just mentioned? Yeah, that one again.”
But why do crossword constructors love this so much? Crosswords are a game of economy. They need to pack meaning into a tiny grid. A short, common word like IDEM (just four letters!) is pure gold for a puzzle maker. It fits neatly into corners, helps link longer answers, and adds a touch of classic wordplay.
Other Latin Crossword Shortcuts:
- e.g.: Stands for exempli gratia, meaning “for example.” (Clue: “For example,” in footnotes)
- i.e.: Stands for id est, meaning “that is.” (Clue: “That is,” to a proofreader)
- etc.: Stands for et cetera, meaning “and the rest.” (Clue: “And others,” briefly)
- et al.: Stands for et alii, meaning “and others.” (Clue: “And others,” in citations)
- ibid.: Stands for ibidem, meaning “in the same place.” (Clue: “Ditto, in footnotes”)
See the pattern? These little bits of Latin are the secret handshake of the crossword world.
Knowing IDEM is one thing, but how do you apply this knowledge to solve puzzles faster? Think of each clue as a mini detective story. Here’s your investigative toolkit.
1. Decode the Clue’s Wording:
The phrasing is everything. “Ditto for us” is a brilliant clue because it breaks down perfectly:
- Ditto = the same.
- For us = a sneaky way to hint at the Latin origin. “Us” isn’t you and me; it’s a play on “U.S.” (United States) vs. “Latin.” It’s the constructor saying, “This isn’t an English word.”
Other clues for IDEM might be:
- “The same, in citations”
- “Footnote shorthand”
- “Same as above, in footnotes”
2. Count the Squares:
This is your most practical tool. Is the answer space three letters long? Then IDEM can’t be the answer (but ETC or E.G. might be). Is it four letters? IDEM is a prime suspect. Always let the grid guide you.
3. Use Cross-Checking Letters:
You don’t have to know every answer right away. Often, you’ll guess one word because the letters from a crossing word force your hand. If you have a four-letter space for “Ditto for us” and the second letter is a ‘D’, you can be almost certain the answer is I-D-E-M.
Before vs. After: Your Crossword Confidence
| Before Knowing the Trick | After Knowing the Trick |
| Staring blankly at the clue. | Smiling because you’re in on the secret. |
| Frantically guessing “SAME” or “COPY”. | Confidently penciling in I-D-E-M. |
| Feeling stuck and frustrated. | Using the clue as a stepping stone to solve others. |
It’s a fair question. As language evolves, do these dusty old Latin terms risk becoming obsolete? The short answer is: probably not anytime soon.
The crossword puzzle, especially the NYT puzzle, is a tradition. It’s a conversation between the constructor and the solver that spans decades. These Latin abbreviations are a fundamental part of that shared language and history. They are the puzzle’s DNA.
While modern puzzles certainly incorporate newer slang, tech terms, and pop culture references, the core vocabulary remains. Knowing these classic answers is like learning the basic chords on a guitar—it allows you to play a countless number of songs. So, fear not. Your knowledge of IDEM will serve you well for many crossword-filled mornings to come.
- Embrace the Classics: Make a flashcard for the common Latin abbreviations mentioned above (idem, e.g., i.e., etc., et al., ibid.). They are your new best friends.
- Practice, Practice, Practice: Don’t just do the Monday puzzles. Challenge yourself with a Tuesday or Wednesday. The more you see these clues, the faster you’ll recognize them.
- Join the Community: Stuck on a clue? Jump online. There are fantastic forums and blogs dedicated to dissecting the daily NYT crossword. Seeing how others reason through a clue is incredibly educational.
So, what was the last crossword clue that stumped you? Was it “Ditto for us” or another tricky bit of wordplay? Share your experiences in the comments below—let’s solve these puzzles together!
Q: What does “Ditto for us” mean in the NYT crossword?
A: It’s a clue for the Latin word IDEM, which means “the same.” It’s commonly used in footnotes and citations to refer to a source mentioned immediately before.
Q: Are there any other possible answers for this clue?
A: While IDEM is by far the most common answer, very rarely a puzzle might have a different trick. However, in 99% of cases, especially in the New York Times crossword, you can confidently answer with IDEM.
Q: Why do crossword puzzles use so much Latin?
A: Latin abbreviations are short, specific, and part of a long-standing academic and literary tradition. Their concise nature makes them perfect for fitting into the constrained space of a crossword grid.
Q: Is it cheating to look up answers online?
A: That’s entirely up to you! Many solvers see looking up an answer as a way to learn and expand their puzzle-solving toolkit for next time. The goal is to have fun and engage your brain.
Q: What’s a good way to remember that IDEM means “the same”?
A: Think of the English word “identical.” It comes from the same Latin root, so IDEM and identical both point to sameness.
Q: What day is the NYT crossword hardest?
A: The puzzles increase in difficulty throughout the week, starting easiest on Monday and becoming most challenging on Saturday. The Sunday puzzle is larger but typically has a difficulty level around a Thursday.
Q: Besides Latin, what other “crosswordese” should I know?
A: Common crossword filler includes words like ESNE (an Anglo-Saxon laborer), OLEO (margarine), and ATE (a Greek goddess of mischief). Learning these can be a big help!