Crosswords are always an interesting combination of wordplay, cleverness, and cultural awareness. Of all the many types of clues you will encounter, some are straight definitions, but others are based on puns, idioms, or cultural references. One such clue that is apt to crop up all too often in crossword forums is “ditto for us.” When it does so in the New York Times Crossword, it generally leaves solvers stumped because of its somewhat cryptic nature and all the different ways one might interpret it.
The expression “ditto for us” essentially means “same here” or “we agree.” When you chat informally, if you say something and you reply with “ditto,” you’re saying the same thing using their words. In crossword fashion, however, this casual abbreviation is abbreviated into something clever, wherein the solver needs to see past the literal application of the word “ditto” and associate it with a more suitable phrase.
The Definition of “Ditto” in Language and Crosswords
To better understand how it works in crossword puzzles, let’s first learn the meaning of “ditto.” The term is derived from the Italian “detto,” which means “said.” In the past, “ditto” was employed in writing to show repetition, usually indicated by quotation marks or a double mark. For instance, if a list had “apples, oranges, bananas,” and then another line repeated those same ones, “ditto” was used rather than rewriting the whole thing.
In informal conversation, “ditto” developed as an abbreviation for “same here.” When you say, “I love pizza,” and you reply with “ditto,” you’re affirming that you feel the same. Crosswords often play on this abbreviation because everyone is familiar with it, but it can have many answers when crafted cleverly.
So if the New York Times Crossword gives you something like “Ditto for us,” what you’re looking for is probably something like “same here,” “us too,” or “so do we.” These are social equivalents to “ditto.”
Why It’s Tricky for Solvers
If one reads the clue “ditto for us” first, one is likely to think of the word “ditto,” but not always. The puzzle most often expects a more spoken expression than the exact word. That is where the test comes in: distinguishing between the short form “ditto” and the phrase it is used to fill in when spoken.
For example:
Clue: Ditto for us
Possible Answer: “us too” (short, concise, common).
Alternate Solution: “same here” (another very common expression).
The solver has to use the number of boxes provided in the crossword grid to determine which of the conversational phrases will fit. If there are five letters in the grid, then “us too” fits. If there are eight, then “same here” could be the answer. The challenge is that both solutions convey the same meaning, so it’s a matter of making the words fit the puzzle’s design.
The NYT Crossword Cluing Style
The New York Times Crossword is famous for treading that thin line between being easy and clever. Its clues are usually friendly, conversational, or just slightly ambiguous, which is part of the excitement in solving it. A clue like “ditto for us” is a great example—it’s informal, it reads like spoken language, and it has solvers think in conversational terms, not dictionary terms.
This type of clue falls under what solvers call a “conversational clue.” These aren’t about technical knowledge or obscure trivia; instead, they’re about how people speak in everyday situations. The fun lies in recognizing that the crossword is mimicking how we’d respond in casual conversation.
Solving Strategies for Conversational Clues
If you are presented with a clue like “ditto for us” in the NYT Crossword, there are some strategies that can be helpful:
Speak in Common Language – Ask yourself: if somebody has just said something, what do I say? The answers happen to be plain speech like “me too,” “us too,” or “same here.”
Count the Letters—Since there might be more than one solution to a clue, always look and see how many boxes you have. That will narrow the possibilities quickly.
Check Crossings—Crossword puzzles are designed such that the crossing answers will provide a hint. If you’re between “us too” and “same here,” the letters on the crossing words will guide you to the correct one.
Remember the Puzzle’s Mood—The NYT Crossword likes to assume a conversational or playful mood. So use relaxed, earthy language and avoid stilted or technical language.
Why We Love Clues Like This
Part of the enduring charm of crosswords, especially in the New York Times, is that they catch the language we employ daily. A clue like “ditto for us” does not test remote knowledge of science or history. Instead, it revels in the frailties of ordinary speech, taking something mundane, a pleasant little “aha” experience to solve.
Crossword puzzle enthusiasts prefer these clues because they are more relatable and conversational. You don’t have to know your mythology or your literature to solve it—you just need to know how human beings communicate. It’s a bridge that makes you remember puzzles aren’t all about information; they’re also about amusement and communication.
Final Thoughts
The response “ditto for us” to the New York Times Crossword is a perfect example of how playfulness, language, and culture come together in the puzzle form. The solution may seem confusing at first glance, but it is normally as simple as with the likes of “us too” or “same here.” These answers are reflective of our common conversational shortcuts, and they highlight the crossword’s ability to render ordinary language as clever.
Finally, solving a clue like this is not so much about marking in boxes—it’s about noticing the general patterns of how we communicate. And just as “ditto” is abbreviated for agreement, so too does the crossword clue present us with a brief but reflective glance at how we connect using words.