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NYT Policies on Puzzle Clues Right from Editor Will Shortz himself: abbreviations (July 6, 2002) Abbreviations that aren’t pronounced i.e., work by spelling only (ADJ, FRI, BLVD, etc.) are always signaled. This can be done by inclusion of another word in the clue that isn’t usually abbreviated or by “Abbr.” itself. Abbreviations in which the individual letters are pronounced, though (RNA, TNT, PHD, etc.), aren’t necessarily signaled, especially if the short form is much commoner than the spelled-out form. In this case the short form is treated as a regular word. This is particularly so in a harder puzzle, like a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. (Apr. 4, 2004) … The Times has a specific style about the use of officials’ titles. For example, the senator from Mississippi in today’s puzzle is to be rendered “Sen. Cochran,” not “Senator Cochran.” Another style: State names after city names are supposed to be abbreviated as in Moline, Ill., not Moline, Illinois. Further, some familiar long nam
