Crossword Help Forum
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Whatever works ... quickest way with two symmetrical halves ... I took as 1 vertical and 2 horizontal ...

Quisling, I think your cuts do not obey the instruction to follow the shortest possible route! Note that you can make the cut following single vertical and horizontal cell borders and make a different adjustment to reveal the key phrase. We are not obliged to leave real words in the final grid.

That’s interesting, g9p. Thanks for the reply. I didn’t think I had an optimal solution, but I can’t see a better one. Are you saying that 1) all your horizontal cuts are one cell long, and 2) you have a single cut that divides the grid into two symmetrical pieces, i.e. 19 lines cut, and 3) that the key phrase is displayed in two straight vertical lines? Apologies for being so slow!

Perhaps I should clarify: 3) … two straight vertical lines so all three theme words are visible at the same time. I can satisfy all bar the phrase in italics.

Quisling, yes! A single cut divides the puzzle into two symmetric parts. The cut changes direction after each single cell border. You don’t pull the parts apart to make the three words …