You’re staring at a grid. It’s a Wednesday. Maybe a New York Times puzzle or the LA Times, and you see it: "Via" or "Through" or maybe just "Per." You scan the clues and there it is, that specific phrasing that feels a little archaic but perfectly functional. By way of crossword clues are the connective tissue of the puzzling world. They aren't just filler. Honestly, they are the linguistic hinges that let a constructor pivot from a boring literal definition to something that actually makes you think.
Crosswords are weird. We all know it.
They use a language that nobody actually speaks in real life. When was the last time you used the word "ETUI" or talked about an "ALEE" ship? Never. But the phrase "by way of" is different because it shows up in two distinct ways: as the answer itself (think VIA) or as a hint in the clue to point you toward a transit-related answer. It’s a classic. It’s reliable. And if you’re trying to finish a Friday grid without cheating, you sort of need to master how these prepositional phrases function in the logic of a constructor’s brain.
The Three-Letter King: Why VIA Rules the Grid
If you see "By way of" as a clue, there is a roughly 90% chance the answer is VIA.
It’s the ultimate short-word savior. Every constructor—from veterans like Will Shortz to the new wave of indie puzzlers—relies on these three letters to get out of a corner. Because it starts with a V and ends with an A, it's a "glue" word. It helps connect difficult vertical stacks. Sometimes the clue is just "By way of." Other times, it gets a bit more clever, like "By way of, to Caesar" or "Heading through."
But let’s look at the nuance.
In the New York Times crossword database, "By way of" has appeared hundreds of times. It’s a staple because it’s unambiguous. However, if the grid is feeling spicy, the answer might not be VIA. It might be PER. Or, if you’re looking at a longer entry, THROUGH. The trick is checking the crosses. If you have a 'V' from a vertical word like "VAMP," you’re golden. If you have a 'P' from "PLOP," you’re looking at PER.
It’s basic. But it’s the foundation of speed-solving.
When the Clue Gets Creative
Constructors hate being boring. If they used "By way of" for VIA every single time, we’d all finish the Monday puzzle in two minutes and feel nothing. So they dress it up. You might see "By way of a detour" or "By way of the Panama Canal."
This is where the prepositional logic matters.
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Sometimes, the clue isn't looking for a synonym like VIA. It’s looking for a Mode of Transit.
- "By way of the sea" -> ASEA or NAUTICALLY
- "By way of mouth" -> ORAL
- "By way of an example" -> SAY
Wait, let's talk about "SAY." That’s a nasty one for beginners. When a clue uses "by way of an example," and the answer is only three letters, solvers often hunt for abbreviations. But in Crossword-ese, "SAY" is the go-to for any example-based clue. It’s a bit of a meta-hint.
The Geography Trap
A lot of "by way of" logic involves map-speak. You’ll see clues like "By way of London" or "By way of O'Hare." These are almost always looking for VIA. But what if the clue is "By way of a certain Italian city"? Now you’re looking for VENICE or ROME, depending on the letter count.
Geography is the backbone of mid-week puzzles.
Think about the word EL PASO. It literally means "The Pass." In a crossword, "By way of the pass" could be a clever pun for that Texas city. This is the difference between a "straight" clue and a "cryptic" or "punny" clue. A straight clue wants a synonym. A punny clue wants you to realize that "way" actually means a physical road or a mountain gap.
Why Do We Even Use These Phrases?
It’s about the "Latex" of language. Not the material—the stretch.
Short words like VIA, PER, and AS are difficult to clue because they have so few meanings. You can’t really make a "pun" out of VIA easily. So, constructors rely on the "By way of" phrasing because it's the most natural way to describe the word's function.
Honestly, the history of the crossword is a history of trying to find new ways to clue the same 500 words. Since the 1920s, when the craze first hit the New York World, editors have been grappling with this. Margaret Petherbridge Farrar, the first NYT crossword editor, was famous for tightening up these rules. She insisted that the clue and the answer must be the same part of speech.
If the clue is "By way of," a prepositional phrase, the answer must function as a preposition.
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This is a rule you can take to the bank. If your answer feels like a noun but the clue is "By way of," you’re probably wrong. Rethink the grid. Look for the prepositional fit.
Beyond VIA: The Longer Alternatives
Sometimes "By way of" is part of a much larger answer.
You might see a 15-letter span like TRANSCONTINENTAL. The clue might be "By way of the whole country." Or you might see ROUTED. "By way of, as mail."
- AS A: Often used in "By way of a gift."
- THRU: The shortened, informal version used when the constructor is in a tight spot.
- ALONG: Used for "By way of a path."
These variations are what separate a "Monday" solver from a "Saturday" solver. On Saturday, "By way of" won't lead to VIA. It’ll lead to something obscure like BYDENTOF (by dint of) or a weirdly specific Latin phrase.
Deciphering the "Route" Clue
Let’s get into the weeds of the "Route" clues.
Often, a clue will read "Route by way of." The answer here is frequently ITER. This is a classic "crosswordese" word. It’s Latin for journey or way. You won't see it in a newspaper headline, but you'll see it in a crossword at least once a month. It’s the ultimate "by way of" word because it literally defines the path taken.
If you see four letters and the clue involves a route or a journey "by way of," and VIA doesn't fit? Put in ITER.
Advice for the Struggling Solver
If you’re stuck on a "by way of" style clue, stop looking for synonyms for a second.
Look at the punctuation. Is there a question mark at the end? If so, the clue is a pun. "By way of a scale?" might not be about transit at all. It might be DO RE MI (the musical scale). If there’s no question mark, it’s literal.
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Check the "Era" of the puzzle. Older puzzles (or those in magazines like The New Yorker) might use more formal phrasing. Newer "indie" puzzles like Crossword Club or A-to-Z might use "by way of" to lead to a slang term or a modern tech reference.
Common "By Way Of" Answer Key
To make this practical, here are the most common hits you'll find in the wild.
Three Letters
- VIA: The gold standard. 90% of the time, this is it.
- PER: Often used when the "way" involves a person or a specific medium.
- THU: Rare, but happens in grids with "rebus" squares or weird abbreviations.
Four Letters
- THRU: The "drive-thru" spelling. Common in informal puzzles.
- ITER: The Latin route. A favorite of constructors who need to fill a "vowel-heavy" spot.
- ROAD: When the clue is "By way of the ___."
Five Letters plus
- ROUTE: The actual path.
- ACROSS: When the "way" is transverse.
- BYSAYING: As in "By way of an intro."
Strategic Tips for Your Next Puzzle
Don't just guess. Crosswords are a game of certainty.
- Look for the 'V'. In almost every grid, if "By way of" is the clue, the first letter is a V. If you can confirm that V from a cross-word, just pen in VIA and move on.
- Count your letters. This sounds obvious, but "By way of" can be three (VIA), four (THRU), or six (THROUGH). Never commit until you check the length.
- Think about the "What". By way of what? If the clue is just those three words, it's a preposition. If the clue is "By way of a [Noun]," the answer is likely an adjective describing that noun.
- Watch for Latin. If the puzzle feels "academic," lean toward VIA or ITER. If it feels "street," lean toward THRU.
Solving is about pattern recognition. Once you see "By way of" enough times, your brain stops reading it as a phrase and starts reading it as a signal. It’s a signal that the constructor is trying to link two ideas. It’s a bridge.
Next time you open your app or grab the Sunday paper, keep an eye out for this phrasing. It’s one of the most consistent "easy wins" in a grid. Mastering it won't just help you finish faster; it’ll help you understand the internal logic of how these puzzles are built.
The best way to get better at crosswords is simply to do more of them. Experience is the only thing that turns a "frustrated guesser" into a "fluid solver." Focus on the short connectors—the Vias, the Pers, the Iters—and the long, impressive 15-letter answers will start to reveal themselves naturally.