Among the thousands of clues published by The New York Times Crossword over the decades, certain ones stand out not because they are the hardest, but because they capture the wit, culture, and humor of modern life. One such clue is “Corrected autocorrect, say.”
At first glance, it’s just another seven-letter mystery. But under that small surface lies a reflection of how language, technology, and puzzles intersect. This clue doesn’t merely test vocabulary—it nods to the digital age, where machines try to “help” us write and we often end up correcting their corrections.
In this article, we’ll explore what “Corrected autocorrect, say” means in the context of the New York Times crossword, why its answer RETYPED works so well, and how it mirrors our modern relationship with technology and language. We’ll also look at the broader cultural significance of autocorrect, the evolution of crossword clue writing, and what makes this kind of puzzle clue both clever and meaningful.
Understanding the Clue
Breaking Down the Phrase
The clue “Corrected autocorrect, say” invites solvers to think carefully about what happens when technology makes a mistake and humans fix it. The inclusion of “say” in crossword language typically signals an example rather than a strict definition—it’s shorthand for “for example.”
So, the clue is essentially asking: What is something one might do after autocorrect has gone wrong?
Autocorrect, by definition, is supposed to fix typos automatically. But when it fails—when it replaces “ducking” with something you didn’t intend or turns “its” into “it’s”—you often need to fix it yourself. And what do you do then? You retype it.
The Answer: RETYPED
The answer RETYPED perfectly fits both the clue’s logic and the seven-letter requirement. It describes what happens when a person types something again—usually because the first version was wrong or altered by autocorrect.
It’s a simple word, but one that captures a shared experience of the modern digital age: the endless loop of typing, correcting, and retyping.
Why the Answer Works
The clue’s beauty lies in its fairness and subtle humor. It doesn’t rely on obscure trivia or outdated idioms—it’s grounded in a universal modern annoyance. Whether you’re typing on a phone, tablet, or laptop, you’ve likely “corrected autocorrect” at least once today. That everyday recognition gives solvers a satisfying “aha!” moment when they realize that the answer isn’t exotic at all—it’s something they do daily.
The Crossword Context
A Snapshot of the NYT Crossword
The New York Times Crossword has been a cultural institution since 1942, evolving from traditional, literature-filled grids to modern, witty reflections of contemporary life. The puzzles are edited to a high standard and arranged by difficulty through the week: Mondays are approachable, Saturdays are devilish, and Sundays are larger, more playful.
This particular clue—“Corrected autocorrect, say”—appeared in one of the NYT daily puzzles in August 2025. It quickly caught attention on crossword-solver blogs for being both modern and relatable.
The Shift to Digital Language
Over the past decade, crossword constructors have increasingly drawn inspiration from the digital world: texting, memes, social media, apps, emojis, and autocorrect all find their way into the grids. These clues connect the puzzle to the present moment.
“Corrected autocorrect” is emblematic of this shift. It merges the old-fashioned act of typing—a classic crossword subject—with the new digital twist of phone-based autocorrection.
Why “Corrected Autocorrect” Is a Perfect Modern Clue
It’s Instantly Relatable
Almost everyone who uses a phone or computer understands the frustration of autocorrect errors. The clue uses that shared annoyance as the foundation for humor and wordplay. When you solve it, there’s an immediate recognition: “Oh yes, I do that all the time.”
It’s Fair and Balanced
In crossword construction, “fairness” refers to clues that don’t require obscure knowledge or leaps of logic. “Corrected autocorrect, say” is perfectly fair—it uses common vocabulary, everyday experiences, and a logical answer that fits both definition and word length.
It Uses the “Say” Elegantly
The word “say” in crossword language is a signal. It implies that the clue is an example rather than a direct definition. “Corrected autocorrect, say” therefore reads as “something you might do that could be described as correcting autocorrect.” That structure allows flexibility and playfulness without misleading unfairly.
It Reflects Modern Communication
Crosswords have always reflected how people communicate. A few decades ago, clues referenced “typewriters,” “carbon copies,” and “faxes.” Today, they reference “autocorrect,” “texting,” and “DMs.” The presence of autocorrect in a clue shows how seamlessly our digital habits have entered the language of puzzles.
The Layers of Meaning Behind “RETYPED”
Literal Meaning
At its simplest, “retyped” means “typed again.” You might retype a sentence if your first attempt had an error. It’s straightforward and easy to grasp.
Figurative Meaning
In a figurative sense, retyping represents taking back control from the machine. Autocorrect tries to anticipate what you mean and sometimes gets it wrong. Retyping becomes a small rebellion against automation—a human reclaiming their words from the algorithm.
The Word Structure
The prefix “re-” means “again,” and “typed” comes from “type.” Together, they form a clear, intuitive compound. It’s the kind of simple construction that makes for elegant crossword entries: a single, common verb turned into a precise past participle.
How Solvers Approach a Clue Like This
Step 1: Noticing the Wordplay
Solvers often start by parsing the clue grammatically. “Corrected autocorrect, say” looks like it might describe an action or result—so they might immediately think of verbs like “fixed,” “edited,” or “retyped.”
Step 2: Considering the Hint “Say”
The word “say” alerts experienced solvers that the answer will be a general example, not a literal definition. That helps narrow down possibilities.
Step 3: Counting the Letters
Crosswords always indicate the number of letters for each answer. Knowing that this clue requires seven letters rules out shorter possibilities like “fixed” or “edited” and points toward “retyped.”
Step 4: Checking Cross Letters
As solvers fill other clues, the intersecting letters begin to confirm or deny hypotheses. Seeing an R or a Y in the right spots would quickly confirm “RETYPED.”
Step 5: The Aha! Moment
When everything fits, solvers experience that satisfying click—when logic, humor, and experience align. It’s not just about filling in boxes; it’s about solving a linguistic riddle.
The Broader Symbolism: Humans vs. Machines
Autocorrect as a Mirror of Our Era
Autocorrect has become a metaphor for modern technology—helpful but imperfect, efficient but intrusive. It tries to make writing easier but often makes it ridiculous. Social media is full of screenshots of “autocorrect fails,” turning innocent texts into comic gold.
By invoking autocorrect, the clue taps into that collective cultural experience. It’s a microcosm of our love-hate relationship with technology: we rely on it, mock it, and constantly fix its mistakes.
The Human Element of Retyping
Retyping is manual correction—it requires awareness, precision, and intention. Where autocorrect acts automatically, retyping is conscious. The act of retyping is almost symbolic: it’s the human reasserting control over language.
In that sense, the clue “Corrected autocorrect, say” is a tiny philosophical statement about human agency in an age of automation.
Crosswords as Cultural Artifacts
Reflecting the Times
Crosswords have always been time capsules. In the mid-20th century, they referenced telegrams and record players. By the 1990s, email and fax entered the grid. In the 2020s, we see clues about apps, tweets, memes, and autocorrect.
Each era’s puzzles quietly document what technologies and habits defined communication at the time. “Corrected autocorrect, say” belongs to an era where texting dominates written communication and typing happens mostly on glass screens.
The Editor’s Perspective
The New York Times crossword editing team carefully curates clues that balance modern relevance with timeless solvability. References to digital culture appear more often now, but they still need to be accessible to solvers of all ages.
Autocorrect is a perfect choice—it’s modern but universal. Nearly everyone uses it, whether on phones or computers.
Crossword Construction as Word Art
Behind each clue lies a craft. Constructors (the puzzle creators) must fit answers symmetrically in a grid while keeping language natural. To make a clue like “Corrected autocorrect, say” fit with “RETYPED,” the constructor likely needed other intersecting answers that shared the right letters. Balancing that grid symmetry while maintaining wit is what makes crossword design an art form.
Language, Mistakes, and Meaning
Why We Love Correcting
Humans have a fascination with fixing errors—especially linguistic ones. Typographical mistakes feel personal, because language is tied to thought and identity. When we fix an autocorrect error, we’re not just changing text—we’re restoring our intended meaning.
That tiny act carries satisfaction. It’s a moment where precision triumphs over chaos, even in a small digital space.
The Psychology of Retyping
Retyping also satisfies a deeper psychological need: control. When autocorrect changes something, it overrides our intent. Retyping gives us back authorship. It’s a simple yet empowering action—one reason the clue resonates so strongly with solvers.
In the puzzle, that moment of recognition mirrors the satisfaction of solving itself: both are acts of regaining clarity through effort.
The Humor of Autocorrect
Everyday Comedy
Autocorrect has been a source of humor since the dawn of smartphones. Online forums and social media are full of screenshots of absurd or embarrassing autocorrections. This shared laughter makes autocorrect a lighthearted cultural reference point.
By referencing it, the crossword clue not only nods to modern communication but also invites a small chuckle. Everyone has their own “autocorrect fail” story.
The Irony
There’s also an elegant irony in the phrase “Corrected autocorrect.” It’s almost redundant—the correction of a correction. That recursion makes it funny. The clue works because it reflects this loop of human and machine trying to out-correct each other.
Similar Clues and Thematic Relatives
“What Autocorrect Corrects”
A related clue, “What autocorrect corrects,” has appeared in NYT Mini puzzles, with the answer TYPOS. That clue represents the machine’s role, while “Corrected autocorrect, say” represents the human’s role. Together, they form a thematic pair: one about what machines fix, the other about what humans fix after machines err.
“Typed Again” and Other Variants
Crosswords occasionally use similar structures—“Typed again,” “Redid text,” or “Entered anew.” These clues all connect to the same human act of redoing digital input. The recurrence of these themes shows how central typing remains in our daily lives.
What Makes It a Model NYT Clue
- Timeliness – It reflects present-day technology.
- Fairness – It’s solvable with common sense, not trivia.
- Word Economy – Just three words, perfectly balanced.
- Humor – Subtle irony and self-reference.
- Accessibility – Works for solvers across generations.
In short, “Corrected autocorrect, say” represents the gold standard of modern crossword clueing—clever without being contrived, modern without being alienating.
Broader Linguistic and Cultural Insights
Autocorrect and Modern Literacy
Autocorrect has changed how we think about spelling and grammar. For many users, typing accuracy has declined because machines silently fix mistakes. That reliance sometimes leads to errors going unnoticed or messages being distorted.
Clues like “Corrected autocorrect, say” indirectly comment on that dependency. The need to “retype” what autocorrect changed implies both the benefit and the flaw of automation.
Machines Learning Language
Behind every autocorrect system is an algorithm trained on millions of words. But language evolves faster than any dataset can capture—new slang, names, and phrases appear daily. Humans, with intuition and context, remain better editors. The act of retyping is thus symbolic of human superiority in nuance and meaning.
Crosswords as Mirrors of the Human Mind
Solving a crossword is not just about words—it’s about pattern recognition, memory, and reasoning. The clue “Corrected autocorrect, say” mirrors this perfectly. It’s about identifying a familiar situation, translating it into language, and recognizing the right structure.
Just as autocorrect predicts text based on probability, solvers predict answers based on linguistic patterns. But while machines guess, humans understand. The act of solving—like retyping—is fundamentally human.
Lessons for Solvers and Writers
For Crossword Solvers
- Embrace clues that reference daily life; they often have simple answers.
- Watch for signal words like “say,” “for instance,” or “maybe.”
- Don’t overthink modern clues; often the answer is straightforward.
- Appreciate the humor—crosswords are puzzles, but also entertainment.
For Crossword Constructors
- Draw inspiration from real-world digital habits.
- Balance wit with clarity.
- Use modern references that have become universal.
- Keep clues concise; brevity enhances elegance.
The Enduring Charm of Modern Clues
Crosswords have evolved, but their essence remains: connecting meaning, language, and logic. Clues like “Corrected autocorrect, say” remind us that even in an era of artificial intelligence and predictive text, human wit still reigns.
They also remind us that puzzles can be both a game and a commentary—a way to laugh at our own digital quirks while exercising the mind.
Final Reflection
“Corrected autocorrect, say” is a small masterpiece of modern crossword writing. It captures humor, familiarity, and linguistic precision in just three words. Its answer, “RETYPED,” is not flashy or obscure, but elegant in its simplicity.
In those seven letters lies an entire story: a human, a machine, a mistake, and the act of fixing it. It’s both funny and philosophical—a tiny parable about the constant interplay between automation and intention.
The New York Times crossword continues to evolve, incorporating the vocabulary of the present day while preserving its classic wordplay roots. This clue proves that great puzzles don’t need to rely on difficulty—they thrive on resonance.
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