That’s something I’ve argued with my friends about a lot. I used to be all about never looking up the nyt crossword answers because I thought it was cheating and made the puzzle less fun. But, honestly, I’ve started checking them when I’m really stuck and it kinda helps me learn new tricks, like weird wordplays or phrases I never heard of. Especially when they give a little explanation or a hint why "INAILEDIT" fits for "Bravo, me!"—like, now I remember for next time!

I think it depends on how you use it. If you just copy-paste every answer, yeah, you’re not learning much and the whole challenge is gone. But if you struggle first, then peek at one or two clues and actually read the explanation, it helps you get better. Plus, you’re still getting that “aha!” moment instead of feeling stuck forever. No shame in a little help—I’ve even seen pros admit they peek sometimes.