Does some summing - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Does some summing," is a classic example of a straightforward, definitional clue often found in early-week crossword puzzles. It's a great entry point for new solvers and a quick fill for veterans, serving as a solid anchor to build out a section of the grid.

Clue Analysis

The clue is a verb phrase: "Does some summing." Let's break it down:

• "Does...": This signals that the answer will be a verb in the third-person singular present tense (e.g., he/she/it does something).
• "...some summing": This is the core of the clue. The word "summing" refers to the mathematical process of finding a sum, which is the result of addition.

Putting it together, the clue is asking for a verb that means "to perform the act of summation." The most direct and common verb for this is ADDS.

Thinking Approaches

For a clue like this, solvers can arrive at the answer in a few ways:

1. Direct Association: The most immediate approach is to connect the word "summing" directly to its corresponding mathematical operation: addition. The verb form is simply ADDS.
2. Synonym Ladder: You could think of synonyms for the action. What does one do when summing? They total, they calculate, they tally up, or they add. The answer ADDS fits the grammatical structure and common usage perfectly.
3. Using Crossings: Because this is a very common four-letter word, even getting one or two crossing letters would make the answer pop out. If you had A _ _ S or _ D D _, the answer becomes almost undeniable.

Background Context

Short, common verbs related to everyday actions or concepts are staples in crossword construction. Words like ADDS are particularly useful because they contain common letters (A, D, S) and can be clued in many different ways, from the mathematical ("Puts two and two together") to the more general ("Tacks on" or "Contributes to"). This clue's directness is typical for a Monday puzzle, which is designed to be accessible and build a solver's confidence for the week ahead.

Conclusion

"Does some summing" is a textbook example of a clean, concise, and fair crossword clue. It tests a basic vocabulary concept without any tricks or wordplay. By recognizing the direct link between "summing" and the act of addition, solvers can confidently fill in ADDS and move on to the next challenge.

Hints

1. Hint 1: Think about basic arithmetic operations.
2. Hint 2: It's what you do when you find a total.
3. Hint 3: This action is the opposite of subtracting.
4. Hint 4: The answer is a four-letter verb ending in 'S'.

The answer is ADDS.