You're staring at the grid. Six letters. Maybe five. The clue says sweeping stories crossword clue, and your brain immediately goes to a broom. Or maybe a dustpan. Then you think about "sweeping" as an adjective—like a sweeping romance or a sweeping epic. Honestly, it’s one of those clues that makes you want to toss your pen across the room because it’s so intentionally vague. Crossword editors like Will Shortz at the New York Times or Mike Shenk at the Wall Street Journal live for this kind of wordplay. They want to trip you up.
The reality is that "sweeping stories" is a classic example of "crosswordese" or clever misdirection. In the world of puzzles, a story isn't always a narrative with a plot and a protagonist. Sometimes, a story is just a place where you stand.
The Most Common Answer: SAGAS
If you’re looking at a five-letter space, the answer is almost certainly SAGAS.
Why? Because "sweeping" is the quintessential adjective for a saga. Think about it. We talk about sweeping family sagas that span three generations and four continents. It’s a trope. In the puzzle world, "sweeping" acts as a huge neon sign pointing toward long, heroic, or multi-generational tales.
But wait. There’s a catch.
If the clue is "Sweeping stories?" with a question mark at the end, the game changes entirely. That little punctuation mark is the editor's way of saying, "I’m lying to you." In this case, they aren't talking about literature. They're talking about architecture.
When the Answer is TIERS or FLOORS
Crosswords love the double meaning of the word "story." In a building, a story is a level. What do you do to a level or a floor? You sweep it.
If you see sweeping stories crossword clue and the answer is TIERS, FLOORS, or even LEVELS, you’ve been hit by a pun. The "sweeping" isn't an adjective describing the depth of the narrative; it's a verb describing the act of cleaning a physical space.
It’s devious. It's annoying. It's why we play.
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I’ve seen this pop up in the LA Times crossword and the Universal Crossword multiple times over the last few years. Usually, if it's a weekday puzzle (Monday or Tuesday), they'll keep it simple with SAGAS. If it's a Friday or Saturday, prepare to think about janitorial work.
Breaking Down the Variations
Crossword clues are a language of their own. You have to learn the shorthand.
Take the word "sweeping." Depending on the grid, it could lead you down several different paths:
- EPICS: Similar to sagas, these are long stories. They are "sweeping" in scope.
- CLEANING: If the clue is "Sweeping, perhaps," the answer might be ADAY (as in "a day's work") or CHORE.
- BROOMS: Sometimes the clue refers to the tools used for sweeping stories (floors).
Look at the surrounding letters. If you have an "S" at the end, SAGAS is your best bet. If you have an "F" at the start, you're looking at FLOORS.
Crossword puzzles are basically just a giant game of "What am I thinking?" between you and the constructor. People like Elizabeth Gorski or Brendan Emmett Quigley are masters at this. They know you’ll see "stories" and think of books. They want you to forget that you're currently sitting on the third story of an apartment building.
Why This Clue is a "Misdirection" Classic
In linguistic terms, this is a "polysemy" trap. One word, multiple meanings. "Sweeping" can be a gerund (the act of sweeping) or an adjective (wide-ranging).
Most solvers get stuck because they commit to one meaning too early. You fill in SAGAS, and then suddenly the "G" doesn't work with the down clue. You're convinced the down clue is wrong. It's not. You just fell for the "sweeping" trap.
Experienced solvers—the ones who compete at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT)—train themselves to see both meanings simultaneously. They see "stories" and their brain registers "books/levels" instantly.
Common Answers Based on Letter Count:
- 4 Letters: TALE (less likely for "sweeping"), EPIC.
- 5 Letters: SAGAS, TIERS, FLOOR (singular).
- 6 Letters: FLOORS, EPICS.
The Evolution of the Crossword Story
Back in the early days of the New York Times crossword, clues were much more literal. A "sweeping story" might have just been "long tale." But as the audience grew more sophisticated, constructors had to get meaner.
Nowadays, we see clues that are almost entirely meta. You might see "Sweeping stories?" and the answer is EPICS. Then, two days later, the same clue appears and the answer is ATTICS. Why? Because attics are stories (levels) that often need sweeping because they're dusty.
It’s a rabbit hole.
How to Solve it Next Time
If you're stuck on the sweeping stories crossword clue, stop looking at the clue. Look at the crossings.
- Check the plurals. If the clue is "stories," the answer is almost certainly plural. Look for that "S" at the end.
- Search for the "rebus." Is it a Sunday puzzle? There might be multiple letters in one square. "Sweeping" could be part of a larger theme.
- Say it out loud. Sometimes saying the words helps your brain break the association. "Sweeping... stories... sweeping... stories."
Honestly, sometimes the answer is just weird. I’ve seen DYNASTY used for sweeping stories in a British cryptic crossword. It’s all about the context of the specific publication you’re solving. The NYT is going to be more "clever-punny," while a themed puzzle from a site like Matt Jones's "Jonesin'" might be more pop-culture-heavy.
Practical Steps for Crossword Success
Don't let a single clue ruin your streak. If you're hit with a "sweeping" clue and you're drawing a blank, move to the shortest "down" clues intersecting that area. Usually, three-letter words are the keys to the kingdom. If you can confirm a "G" or an "F" in the middle of that mystery word, the "sweeping" mystery solves itself.
Keep a mental list of these "tricky" words. Story, lead, wind, tear—these are all words that change meaning depending on how you pronounce them or how you use them. In a crossword, they are never what they seem at first glance.
Next time you see "stories," think "floors" first. It’ll save you five minutes of staring at a blank grid.
Go back to your puzzle. Look at the letters you have. If there's an 'A' and an 'A', you're looking at SAGAS. If there's an 'O' and an 'O', you're looking at FLOORS. Fill it in, move on, and don't let the constructor win.
Check the date of the puzzle too. Saturday puzzles are the hardest of the week in the NYT. If it's a Saturday, it's almost certainly the "floors" pun. If it's a Monday, just write in SAGAS and keep going.
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Crosswords are supposed to be fun, even when they’re trying to trick you into thinking about brooms when you wanted to think about literature.