Question:

When were crossword puzzles invented?

Scores:

gemini: 9.5 openai: 9 claude: 9.5 cohere: 9.5

Answer:

gemini / gemini-2.5-flash
Score: 9.5
The modern crossword puzzle was invented by Arthur Wynne, a British-born journalist. He published what is widely recognized as the first crossword puzzle in the *New York World* newspaper on December 21, 1913. Wynne initially called his creation a "Word-Cross Puzzle," which featured a diamond shape and a grid of words to be filled in based on clues. A typesetting error later led to it being called a "Cross-Word" puzzle. While word puzzles existed in various forms before Wynne's contribution, his specific format and its publication in a newspaper are credited with launching the crossword craze, which quickly spread across the United States and then globally.

Graders:

openai / gpt-4o-mini
Score: 9
The answer is mostly accurate, detailing the invention of the modern crossword puzzle by Arthur Wynne and its publication date. It correctly notes that Wynne initially called it a "Word-Cross Puzzle" and the subsequent name change due to a typesetting error. However, it could be argued that the phrase 'word puzzles' is vague, as specific formats like word searches or acrostics predate Wynne but are distinct from crossword puzzles in function and design. Overall, the answer is factually sound, informative, and relevant.
anthropic / claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929
Score: 9.5
The answer is highly accurate and comprehensive. Arthur Wynne did invent the modern crossword puzzle, and it was published in the New York World on December 21, 1913. The original name 'Word-Cross' is correct, and it did appear in a diamond shape. However, there is one minor inaccuracy: the switch from 'Word-Cross' to 'Cross-Word' was not due to a typesetting error. The name was intentionally reversed by the newspaper, though the exact reason is debated by historians. Some sources suggest it was deliberate editorial decision rather than an error. This is a very minor point that doesn't significantly detract from an otherwise excellent answer that correctly identifies the key facts about crossword puzzle origins.
cohere / command-r-plus-08-2024
Score: 9.5
The answer is factually accurate and provides a comprehensive overview of the history of crossword puzzles. It correctly identifies Arthur Wynne as the inventor and the *New York World* as the publication where the first crossword puzzle appeared. The explanation of the name change from 'Word-Cross' to 'Cross-Word' due to a typesetting error is an interesting detail that adds to the narrative. The only minor improvement could be a mention of the specific date when the puzzle was published, which was December 21, 1913, as this would enhance the precision of the answer.
Scores are 0–10. The selected AI’s score is a self-rating.