You're staring at the grid, three letters in, and the clue says something like "Choice word." You type in "AND." Wrong. You try "BUT." Still nothing. Then it hits you—the answer is "OR." This is the bread and butter of the this or that crossword style clue, a linguistic trap that constructors have been using since the days when the New York Times crossword was edited by Margaret Farrar.
It's frustrating. Honestly, it’s supposed to be.
Crossword puzzles aren't just tests of vocabulary; they are battles of lateral thinking. When you see a "this or that" construction, your brain naturally wants to find a synonym for the whole phrase or perhaps a specific example of a binary choice. But in the world of professional puzzling, the "this or that crossword" clue usually points toward the conjunction itself or a very specific set of cultural pairings that have become "crosswordese" over the last eighty years.
✨ Don't miss: Why Age of Alchemy Mahjongg is Still the Most Addictive Version of the Game
The Logic Behind the Binary Clue
Why do constructors love these? It's about the pivot. A good clue provides a "misdirection," a term of art used by legendary editors like Will Shortz. When a clue presents a "this or that" scenario, it's often asking you to identify the relationship between the two things rather than the things themselves.
Take the clue "Apple or pear." You might think of FRUIT. You might think of SHAPE. But if the answer is three letters, it’s almost certainly EAT. Why? Because you "eat" an apple or a pear. The "this or that" is a distractor. It’s a way to make a simple verb feel like a complex riddle.
If you've spent any time on platforms like Wordplay or the Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle blog, you know that veterans have a love-hate relationship with these. They are "fillers." They help bridge the gaps between the high-value "themeless" entries or the clever "revealers" in a Tuesday puzzle.
Common "This or That" Variations You'll See
Sometimes the clue isn't about a choice at all. It’s about a sequence.
Consider "This and that."
The answer is often ODDS. As in "odds and ends."
Or maybe ETC.
Then there's the "Either/Or" trap. If the clue is "Either's partner," the answer is OR. If it's "Neither's partner," it's NOR. It feels simple when you see it written out like this, but when you're twenty minutes into a Saturday Stumper and your brain is fried, these three-letter staples feel like impenetrable fortresses.
The Rise of the Modern "This or That" Clue
Crosswords have evolved. In the 1990s, clues were more literal. Today, we’re seeing a massive shift toward "punning" and "cultural relevance." A "this or that crossword" clue in 2026 might reference a TikTok trend or a specific meme format.
For instance, a clue might read: "The 'this' in 'I was today years old when I learned this.'"
The answer? FACT.
This requires the solver to not only know English but to be plugged into the digital zeitgeist. It’s a far cry from the days when you just needed to know the names of obscure operatic singers or European rivers (looking at you, Oise and Ems).
Why Your Brain Struggles with Simple Choices
Cognitive load is a real thing. When you see "this or that," your prefrontal cortex starts weighing options. You are literally performing a mental "search" through a database of binary pairs.
- Tea or Coffee? (Answer: CAFE)
- Credit or Debit? (Answer: CARD)
- North or South? (Answer: POLE)
- True or False? (Answer: TEST)
Notice how the relationship changes in every single one of those examples? One is a location, one is an object, one is a category. That lack of consistency is what makes the this or that crossword clue so devious. You can't just apply one rule and call it a day. You have to stay fluid.
Expert Tips for Cracking the Code
If you want to stop getting stuck, you have to start thinking like a constructor. People like Brendan Emmett Quigley or Elizabeth Gorski don't just pick words; they pick "letter counts" that fit a grid and then work backward to find a clue that is just difficult enough.
Check the Tense and Number
If the "this or that" clue is plural—"Apples or pears"—the answer must be plural. If it's "Eating or drinking," the answer will likely end in -ING. It sounds basic, but you’d be surprised how many people forget this when they’re rushing to finish a Monday puzzle in under three minutes.
Look at the Crosses
Never fight a "this or that" clue in isolation. If you’re unsure if the answer is AND, OR, or BUT, look at the vertical words intersecting it. In crossword jargon, these are "crosses." Usually, one of the letters in the cross will be a "hard" letter—a K, X, or Z—that gives away the game immediately.
The "Hidden" This or That
Sometimes the "or" is invisible.
Clue: "Paper, plastic."
Answer: BAGS.
The "or" is implied. This is the hallmark of a mid-week puzzle (Wednesday or Thursday). The constructor is stripping away the conjunction to make the link even more abstract.
👉 See also: Why the History of MTG Standard Still Defines How We Play Today
Common Fill for "This or That" Scenarios
Let's look at some of the most frequent fliers in the crossword world. These are the words that appear hundreds of times a year because their vowel-to-consonant ratio is perfect for tight grids.
- AREA: Often clued as "This or that _____." (e.g., "Rest area," "Gray area").
- ELSE: Clued as "What ____?" or "Or ____!"
- ALSO: A common answer for "And this too."
- ALOT: Often used in "This or that _____." (Though usually two words, in older or less strictly edited puzzles, you might see it pop up).
- NONO: Clued as "This or that, to a parent." (A "no-no").
The Evolution of Difficulty
Monday puzzles are the easiest. The "this or that" clues will be very literal.
"Sugar or cream" -> ADD.
By Saturday, that same three-letter slot might be clued as "Option for a chooser."
The answer is still ONE. Because if you are choosing between this or that, you pick one.
See the jump? It’s not about the words; it’s about the distance between the clue and the definition. Saturday clues are like a long-distance relationship; you have to work really hard to stay connected.
Beyond the Grid: Why We Love the Challenge
There's a psychological satisfaction in solving a this or that crossword clue. It’s that "Aha!" moment. Research into "Insight Problem Solving" suggests that when we solve a riddle, our brain releases a small burst of dopamine. It’s the same feeling as finding your keys or finally remembering the name of that actor from that one movie.
Crosswords are a low-stakes way to prove to ourselves that we are still sharp. In an era of AI and instant answers, the crossword is one of the few places where you have to rely on your own gray matter. Or, at the very least, your ability to suss out the weirdly specific way a puzzle constructor thinks.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Puzzle
Stop overthinking. Seriously. When you see "this or that," follow these steps:
- Count the squares first. If it's three letters, think AND, OR, NOR, BUT, ANY, ONE.
- Identify the category. Is the "this" and "that" a pair of nouns, verbs, or adjectives? The answer will almost always match that part of speech.
- Look for the "Revealer." If it's a themed puzzle, the "this or that" clues might all be related to a larger pun hidden in the longest across-answer in the middle of the grid.
- Say it out loud. Sometimes your ears recognize a phrase that your eyes don't. "This or that... This or that..." might lead you to "Give or take" or "More or less."
The this or that crossword isn't an obstacle; it's a waypoint. It's the constructor giving you a little nudge. They aren't trying to hide the answer; they're trying to see if you're paying attention to the way language actually works. Next time you're stuck, take a breath, look at the crosses, and remember that sometimes the most obvious answer is exactly what they’re looking for.
Happy solving. Keep your pencil sharp and your eraser handy. You’re going to need it when the "this or that" turns out to be a "neither/nor" in disguise.
Recommended Resources for Leveling Up
- The Crossword Solver's Dictionary: A classic, though some say it's cheating. I call it research.
- XWord Info: A massive database of NYT crossword stats that shows you just how often certain "this or that" clues appear.
- Cruciverb: The professional mailing list and community for those who want to understand the architecture of the grid.
Start by tackling the "Monday" archives. Build your vocabulary of "crosswordese"—those weird words like ETUI, ALEE, and AREA—and you'll find that the tricky "this or that" clues start to feel like old friends rather than confusing enemies.