Hooked on Phonics

Formerly known as the “Sunday Summer Substitute”, editor Cap'n Rick now takes the helm for 'Smooth Sailing Sundays'. As The Commodores sang about Sunday morning, the SSS will focus on easier metas. SSS will also support smaller grids and will mentor new constructors on request. Puzzles released each Sunday around 8am Eastern. Nudges released same day at Noon Eastern. New constructors are welcome.
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Bird Lives
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Hooked on Phonics

#1

Post by Bird Lives »

The autumn equinox, and hence the end of summer, will happen on Saturday, so this is the final Summer Sunday Substitute. But do not despair. I hear that plans are afoot to keep it afloat. Maybe it would be better to think of today and its puzzle as the first Sunday of 5784. Le shana tova.

Like the first SSS, this one too had to be salvaged by the addition of numbers in parentheses, but these are much easier to interpret. In fact, as the title implies, you should find the puzzle itself as simple as abc. And if not, look for nudges later today.

The answer is the basis of phonics.

Thanks as always to Editor-in-Chief @Abide and to CTO @Joe Ross or whatever their titles are in the new Muggles corporate structure.


Hooked on Phonics crosshare

Hooked on Phonics PUZ

Hooked on Phonics PDF

Hooked on Phonics spreadsheet


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Jay
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BarbaraK
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#2

Post by BarbaraK »

Sssolved! Nicely done!
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.

(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
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benchen71
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#3

Post by benchen71 »

SSSolved! Ooh, that was a good one!!
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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Bob cruise director
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#4

Post by Bob cruise director »

HHHHM - this is the antithesis of the WSJ meta this week.

Pretty sure I am out of the bag, off the couch and on the beach. Awaiting confirmation
Last edited by Bob cruise director on Sun Sep 17, 2023 8:57 am, edited 2 times in total.
Bob Stevens
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Cap'n Rick
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#5

Post by Cap'n Rick »

Sssolved! Nice one, Jay!
Ahoy! Check out my meta puzzles here! Check out "Smooth Sailing Sundays" here!
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boharr
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#6

Post by boharr »

SSSolved. Fun puzzle. Thanks Jay.
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Meg
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#7

Post by Meg »

Sssolved. I totally enjoyed it!
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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SamKat9
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#8

Post by SamKat9 »

Sssolved, very nice, thank you!
Shannon 🐱
PS: If you want help with a meta, PM what you have so I can help without spoiling too much. I've received lots of help in the beginning and I love to pay it forward!
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ChrisKochmanski
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#9

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

SSSolved.

Gneiss!

Thanks, Jay!
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Darth
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#10

Post by Darth »

SSSolved. Excelente, Sen~or Jay! 8-)
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KayW
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#11

Post by KayW »

:crossed_swords: :rabbit: :snake: SSSolved. Fun - thanks, Jay!
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woozy
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#12

Post by woozy »

Whoa! Stumbled upon (did not remember) and managed to solve before the 9AM nudges. I love it when I can pull that off.

Fun puzzle. (But one corner of the grid was pretty hard... had to use the meta answer to finish the grid).
Latest meta: Surround Sound

"No, this is Thompson with a P, __ __ psychology"
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CPJohnson
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#13

Post by CPJohnson »

Sssolved! Thanks, Jay!
Cynthia
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Bird Lives
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#14

Post by Bird Lives »

Here are the nudges, so you can get this one out of the way before kickoff.

As the intro says, the numbers are there to make up for a flaw in the construction, which otherwise would violate one of the meta rules. That rule is . . .The answer must be spelled out in order in the grid or in the clues.

Phonics starts with learning to read out loud. It’s much more helpful than silent reading.

The way Fisher-Price puts it is “See and Say.”

The answer is what you are seeing and saying.
Jay
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Cinny
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#15

Post by Cinny »

Sssolved - no nudges. Thanks, Jay!
Cindy Heisler
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Dow Jones
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#16

Post by Dow Jones »

Sssolved. Fast and Fun, Jay ! Thanks.
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ajk
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#17

Post by ajk »

Fun one, thanks. :)
Check out this very cool project by many of your favorite muggles to raise money to fight cancer. You get a fun puzzle bundle and good causes get $. Win-win: Crosswords for Cancer
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whimsy
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#18

Post by whimsy »

Untitledzzsnak.png

Sssolved.
Thanks, Jay!
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HeadinHome
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#19

Post by HeadinHome »

Sssolved, and no nudges necessary… Perfect length and ease for a Serene Sleepy Sunday afternoon. Thanks for the fun!
The other Wendy. :roll:
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ReB
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#20

Post by ReB »

Ssolved
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