"And stuff like that": Abbr. nyt crossword clue

The clue “And stuff like that”: Abbr. refers to an abbreviation commonly used in informal writing and speech. The key phrase to focus on here is "and stuff like that," which can be abbreviated as "etc." This abbreviation stands for "et cetera," a Latin phrase that translates to "and other things" or "and so forth." So, with the known letters from the clue likely not specified, if we apply typical crossword conventions, a common abbreviation you would fill in based on the context would be: **Answer: ETC** ### Solving Process: 1. **Identify the Context**: The clue conveys a casual expression, suggesting an informal abbreviation. 2. **Key Phrase Recognition**: Recognizing that how “and stuff like that” is a way of suggesting continuation beyond the explicitly stated items leads to focusing on an abbreviation known for that purpose. 3. **Abbreviate**: Knowing common abbreviations used to represent phrases, I arrive at "etc." which is very recognizable. ### Tips and Strategies: - **Familiarize with Common Abbreviations**: Many crossword puzzles use a limited set of common abbreviations (e.g., etc., aka, i.e., etc.). Getting familiar with these can save time. - **Understand Context**: Sometimes clues are more straightforward than they appear if you can grasp the essence of the clue's language. - **Keep in Mind Cross References**: Often a later clue may contain the letters you need to solve the abbreviation—so playing both forward and backward in a puzzle can be advantageous.