Editing 2896: Crossword Constructors

{{comic
| number    = 2896
| date      = February 19, 2024
| title     = Crossword Constructors
| image     = crossword_constructors_2x.png
| imagesize = 285x388px
| noexpand  = true
| titletext = Also, we would really appreciate it if you could prominently refer to it as an 'eHit'.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a THREE-LETTER WORD THAT STARTS WITH B - Add meanings of words given, if any. Also check whether any of these words are albums or songs already. Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is inspired by a common situation when people try to make {{w|Crossword#American-style crosswords|US-style quick crossword}} puzzles (where the grid is [[media:CrosswordUSA.svg|almost completely filled]] with words). Here, [[Cueball]], [[Hairbun]], and [[White Hat]] are {{w|crossword puzzle}} constructors, but some of the words they would like to use would result in awkward sequences of letters which are not English words or familiar names, such as "aete", "eni", etc. However, they have an idea to write a letter to persuade prominent singers ({{w|Taylor Swift}}, {{w|Ed Sheeran}}, {{w|Nicki Minaj}}, {{w|Ariana Grande}} and {{w|The Weeknd}}) to choose these awkward sequences of letters as titles of their future albums, thereby letting Cueball, Hairbun, and White Hat write clues about those albums and use those letter sequences as answers.   

The particular sequences of letters that are selected are notable for their exclusive usage of the {{w|Letter frequency|most common English letters}}. They also all begin and end with a vowel. These are two features that are common in "crosswordese", i.e., words which appear significantly more often in crosswords than in reality. Examples of crosswordese that are actually used include the words "{{w|OREO}}", "{{w|Épée|EPEE}}", and "{{w|Yoko Ono|ONO}}". However, none of these words are actual common English words {{cn}}.

The title text lists another sequence of awkward letters, "eHit". Here, Cueball, Hairbun, and White Hat ask these singers to refer their hits (popular songs) as "eHit"s, adding the "e" for electronic such as in e-mail and e-dating. This is also a reference to common crossword entries like "E-TAIL" or "E-MAG" which are often criticized for using the prefix "E" to create words that no one really uses.

===Possible unintended meanings of words===
*aete: {{w|Apple_event#Object_Model|AppleEvent Terminology Extension}}
*eni: {{w|Eni|Eni S.p.A.}}, Italian multinational energy company; the name of an {{W|Eniola_Aluko|England footballer}}
*oreta: ''{{w|Oreta}}'', moth genus in family {{w|Drepanidae}}
*aroe: {{w|Aroe}} may refer to: The Aru Islands Regency, islands in eastern Indonesia; Aroe, an alternative name for Aroi, Patras, in western Greece
*oine: {{w|Kusumoto Ine}}, also known as O-Ine, Japanese physician
*aen: {{w|AEN}} may refer to: Acute esophageal necrosis, a rare esophageal disorder; and more
*enta: ''[[wikt:enta|enta]]'' (French verb) third-person singular past historic of ''[[wikt:enter#French|enter]]'' (to graft, to implant)
*aerae: ''[[wikt:aerae|aerae]]'' (Latin noun) genitive/dative singular and nominative plural of ''[[wikt:aera#Latin|aera]]'' (era)

''{{w|Enta da Stage}}'' is the debut album by American East Coast hip hop group Black Moon.<br/>
''öine'' means nocturnal/nightly in Estonian, and features in the titles of a number of albums by artists from that country.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is sitting in an office chair at a table and typing on his laptop, with small movement lines above his hands indicating typing. White Hat and Hairbun are standing behind him and looking at what he writes. The text he writes can be seen above them. The list of words at the end are written in two columns with four words in each. Here below, the second column of words is written below the first:]
:Dear Ms. Swift, Mr. Sheeran, Ms. Minaj, Ms. Grande, and Mr. Weeknd,
:We are a group of crossword puzzle constructors, and we would like to suggest some titles for your future albums:
:*Aete
:*Eni
:*Oreta
:*Aroe
:*Oine
:*Aen
:*Enta
:*Aerae

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]