If you just spent twenty minutes staring at a grid, swearing at a five-letter gap, you aren't alone. It happens to the best of us. You’re working through the New York Times Crossword—maybe it’s a tricky Thursday or a grueling Saturday—and you hit that one clue that feels like a riddle wrapped in an enigma. Specifically, the prompt that brings up a prior topic NYT solvers frequently encounter. It’s a classic misdirection.
Crosswords are basically a battle of wits between you and the editor, Will Shortz, or the various constructors who spend their lives finding new ways to describe "OREO" or "ALOE." But the "brings up a prior topic" style of clue is different. It’s meta. It requires you to think about the structure of language rather than just synonyms. Sometimes the answer is RECAP. Other times, it’s REHASH. If the constructor is feeling particularly mean, it might even be ECHOED.
Why does this specific phrasing trip people up? Because "brings up" is a phrasal verb with about a dozen meanings. You can bring up a child. You can bring up your lunch. You can bring up a legal motion. In the NYT world, "bringing up" usually means revisiting or reminding.
The Mechanics of the "Brings Up a Prior Topic NYT" Clue
Let's look at how the NYT Crossword actually functions. It isn't just a test of vocabulary; it's a test of pattern recognition. When you see a clue like "Brings up a prior topic," your brain should immediately start scanning for prefixes. RE- is your best friend here.
In the world of professional crossword construction, certain words are "glue." They hold the harder, more interesting words together. Words like REITERATES or RECAPS are the bread and butter of the mid-length fill. Honestly, it’s kinda fascinating how a single clue can have five different valid answers depending on the day of the week. On a Monday, the answer is likely something simple. On a Saturday? It might be a phrase you’ve never used in actual conversation.
Think about the word REHASH. It has a slightly negative connotation, doesn't it? Like you're beating a dead horse. But in a crossword, it’s neutral. It’s just five letters that fit between "HE-MAN" and "SASSY."
The Evolution of NYT Cluing Style
The New York Times crossword hasn't stayed the same since the 1940s. It’s evolved. Under the editorship of Margaret Farrar, clues were very literal. If the clue was "Brings up a prior topic," the answer would be a direct dictionary definition. Today? Not so much.
Now, we see puns. We see "question mark" clues that signal a joke. If you see Brings up a prior topic?, the answer might be REGURGITATES. Gross? Maybe. Accurate for a Saturday puzzle? Absolutely.
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You’ve got to understand the "NYT Voice." It’s sophisticated but playful. It’s the voice of a person who knows a lot about 1970s jazz but also keeps up with TikTok trends. This duality is why the "brings up a prior topic" clue is such a staple. It bridges the gap between formal rhetoric and everyday speech.
Common Answers and Their Grid Context
When you're stuck, you need a list of suspects. Here are the heavy hitters that usually fit this specific clue:
- RECAP: This is the most common four-letter answer. It’s short, punchy, and fits almost anywhere.
- REHASH: The five-letter go-to. It often shares a "H" with "HIVES" or "HANOI."
- REVISITS: A longer option for when the constructor needs to fill a seven or eight-letter slot.
- REMINDS: Less common, but it pops up when the "prior topic" is a person rather than a subject.
Wait, there's more. Don't forget MENTIONS. It’s a bit of a "green paint" answer—crossword slang for a phrase that is technically correct but a bit boring—but it appears more often than you’d think.
Basically, if the clue involves "prior topics," look for that RE at the start. It’s a statistical goldmine.
Why the NYT Crossword Still Dominates Our Mornings
There’s a reason we don’t just Google the answers immediately. Well, most of us don't. The dopamine hit of finally cracking a clue like "brings up a prior topic NYT" is real. It’s a small victory in a world that often feels chaotic.
Crosswords provide a sense of order. You start with a blank white grid. You end with a completed masterpiece. It’s a microcosm of problem-solving. Researchers like those at the University of Exeter have even suggested that regular word puzzles can keep your brain "ten years younger" in terms of cognitive function. That’s a pretty good excuse to ignore your emails for another ten minutes while you try to figure out if the answer is RESTATE or RETOUCH.
Actually, the NYT crossword is a culture. It’s "Wordplay," the documentary. It’s the Twitter threads (or X threads, whatever we’re calling them now) where people complain about the "Natick"—a term coined by Rex Parker for a spot where two obscure words cross, making it impossible to solve unless you just happen to know the trivia.
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The "Aha!" Moment
That moment when you realize "Brings up" isn't about parenting but about RECITING? That's the "Aha!" moment. It’s a mental shift. You stop looking at the clue as a sentence and start looking at it as a set of constraints.
If you have _ E _ A _, and the clue is "brings up a prior topic," you aren't thinking about conversations anymore. You’re thinking about the letter R. You’re thinking about the letter H. You’re thinking REHASH.
How to Get Better at the NYT Crossword
If you're struggling with these kinds of clues, you need a strategy. Stop guessing and start analyzing.
First, check the tense. If the clue is "Brings up a prior topic," the answer must end in S or be a present-tense verb. If the clue is "Brought up a prior topic," you’re looking for ED. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many people try to shove "RECAP" into a slot that needs "RECAPS."
Second, look at the day of the week.
- Monday/Tuesday: The answer will be literal. Probably RECAPS.
- Wednesday/Thursday: Expect a bit of a twist. Maybe a pun.
- Friday/Saturday: All bets are off. The clue might be "Again, with the again-ness?" (Okay, maybe not that bad, but close).
- Sunday: It’s all about the theme. If the "prior topic" relates to the puzzle's title, the answer might be a themed pun.
Third, use the "crosses." If you're 100% sure that 14-Across is APPLE, then the first letter of your "brings up" clue has to be A. If none of your "RE-" words work, it’s time to rethink the whole section.
The Role of the Constructor
We should talk about the people who make these things. People like Robyn Weintraub or Brendan Emmett Quigley. They don't just pick words out of a hat. They use software like Crossword Compiler or Crossfire to build the grid, but the clues are all human.
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When a constructor uses a clue like "brings up a prior topic," they are often trying to balance out a very difficult word nearby. If they have an obscure 18th-century poet in the North-East corner, they’ll give you an easier clue like RECAP to help you get a foothold. It’s a mercy. Sorta.
But sometimes they use it to trick you. They know you’ll think RECAP, so they make the answer ADDUCE. That’s the high-level play. That’s why the NYT is the gold standard.
Real Examples from the Archives
If you dig through the NYT Crossword archives (which you can do if you have a subscription, and honestly, it’s worth it), you’ll see this clue variation everywhere.
In a 2018 puzzle, the clue was "Brings up again." The answer? REHASHES.
In 2021, we saw "Brings up for discussion." The answer? RAISES.
Notice the difference? "Prior topic" is the key. It implies it has been talked about before. That "prior" is your biggest hint. It almost guarantees a RE- prefix.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Solve
Next time you open the app or grab the Sunday paper, keep these points in mind:
- Pencil in the "RE": If the clue mentions "prior," "again," or "back," go ahead and lightly put RE in those first two boxes. It works 80% of the time.
- Count the letters: RECAP (5), REHASH (6), RESTATE (7), REVISIT (7), REITERATE (9). Know your lengths.
- Look for the "S": Most NYT clues for "Brings up" are third-person singular. If the clue isn't "Bring up" (plural/infinitive), make sure your answer ends in S.
- Don't get married to an answer: If RECAPS isn't working, be willing to delete it. Crosswords are a test of flexibility, not just knowledge.
- Read the clue literally: Sometimes "Brings up" literally means moving something to a higher floor. If you're stuck, ask: "Could this be about an elevator?"
The NYT crossword is a conversation between you and the ghosts of language. When it brings up a prior topic NYT style, it’s asking you to remember that words have layers. They have histories. And they have very specific lengths that have to fit perfectly with the word "ALDA" or "ERNE."
Don't let a five-letter word ruin your morning. Use the prefix, check the crosses, and remember that even the experts get stuck sometimes. Happy puzzling.
Final Pro-Tips for the Persistent Solver
If you find yourself constantly hitting a wall with the NYT crossword, consider joining a community. The "Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle" blog is a legendary (and often grumpy) place to see how others handled the day's trickery. There’s also the "Wordplay" column by the NYT itself, which explains the logic behind the more "out there" clues.
Learning the meta-language of crosswords is like learning a secret code. Once you know that "flower" can mean "something that flows" (like a river), or that "brings up" is a signal for a RE- word, the whole grid starts to open up. You aren't just guessing letters anymore; you're reading the constructor's mind. And that's where the real fun begins.