Criminal patterns, for short crossword clue
25 Across · WSJ Crossword, July 24, 2026 · 3 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Criminal patterns, for short” is MOS. It appears as 25 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of July 24, 2026, a Friday puzzle titled “It All Adds Up” by Gary Larson & Amy Ensz, and it fills 3 squares running left to right from row 4, column 1 of the 21×21 grid.
The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials rather than a full word. The entry begins with M and ends with S, and contains 1 vowel and 2 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Down entries should be enough to lock it in. Friday puzzles are the Journal’s contest crosswords with a hidden meta answer, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
Clues in other WSJ puzzles with the answer MOS:
- Criminal patterns, for shortAug 14, 2026
- Cal. dozenMay 23, 2026
This exact clue has also run on:
- WSJ Crossword August 14, 2026answer was MOS