| 8. Hidden Words: With this wordplay, the solution is found in its entirety--without modification, inside the clue. This sounds simple, but the hidden word solution is often the last one found! A puzzle constructor will try to hide the word carefully, so that it blends into the phrase of the clue. For example: Long-term renting found in Brockville, as in Gatineau. (7) (answer: Leasing) Look at the clue again. The word leasing appears "in" Brockville as in Gatineau, and is the answer to the clue, "Long-term renting." A good cryptic author will never 'pad' the clue with extra words, so as to distract from the solution. He or she may choose indicator words such as in, within, contains, found in, displays, shown by, etc... Another variation on this type of clue is called stitching. This means the author will 'stitch' bits of words together to form the solution. He or she must clearly indicate this method by using an indicator word like capitals, heads of, couples from, trios of, ends, and so forth. Here is an example: Couples from Nepean & Stittsville make birdhouse. (4) (answer: Nest) "Couples", i.e. Ne & St, "make" up the word nest. Birdhouse is a play on words, also meaning "nest." |
| 9. Deletions: To solve this type of clue, you must delete the letter or letters of a word or phrase, as indicated by the author. The new word that is formed is then entered into the grid. For example: Endlessly gaze at celestial body. (4) (answer: Star) To "gaze at" something is to stare. If you drop the last letter ("endlessly"), it then becomes star, or another name for a "celestial body." In a deletion clue any part of the word can be dropped, but the author will include an indicator in the form of words or phrases like heartlessly, missing a tail, beheaded, hollowed-out, don't start, don't finish, and so-on. 10. The & Lit! Clue: Very rarely a cryptic author comes across a word that lends itself to a special type of clue called the & Lit! Short for "and it is literally so!," this clue does two jobs at once. It is both a direct definition of the word being indicated and a form of wordplay for the solver to unravel. This clue is always followed by one exclamation mark, although after creating one, the author is tempted to put three or four! Here is an example: Elaborately organised! (9) (answer: Grandiose) "Elaborately organised" is another way of saying grandiose. It is also an indicator to rearrange the letters in "organised," as one definition of "elaborately" is having interwoven parts. |
| Note: There is one other type of clue that doesn't fit into any of these categories, but rather combines the features of two or more. These actually make up a fair share of those found in the typical cryptic crossword, as many words simply cannot be clued properly with just one method. Containers can be combined with reversals, anagrams with deletions, and so on. There are countless possibilities. I hope that doesn't discourage you from trying your hand at these weekly puzzles. If you are a beginner, you'll do well to solve even one clue at first. The first time I looked at a cryptic, I refused to believe anyone could make sense of its twisted phrases, but after solving just one clue, I was hooked! I hope you will be too. Happy puzzling! |
| SOLVER'S GUIDE CONT'D... |
| 7. Reversals: In a reversal clue, the solution or its definition appears backward, in the form of another word or phrase. The author will always suggest this reversal by indicators such as backing, backward, from the east, returned, etc... In the case of a Down clue, he or she may use additional indicator words like overturned, up, climbing, and so forth. Here is an example of a reversal clue: Feeling anxious for returning sweets. (8) (answer: Stressed-----If you 'return' a word meaning "sweets", i.e. desserts, then you have your answer.) Note: A variation on the reversal clue is the palindrome, a word that reads the same way backward and forward. With this type of clue, the author does not have to use any wordplay except the indicator. However, don't let this discourage you, as palindrome clues are relatively rare. Here is an example: One way or another, she's running a brothel. (5) (answer: Madam-----The word is spelled the same "one way or another.") |
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