Anagrams are probably the most basic cryptic clues — often the simplest to recognize — and easiest to solve.

There are usually three, and sometimes four, parts of an anagram clue.  These parts are put together, ideally, in a somewhat grammatically-correct way, to make up the clue.

1.  The definition

2.  An indicator — word or words that tell you to scramble letters on either side of the indicator (I’ve seen this component referred to as an “anagrind” — anagram indicator)

3.  The words or letters you must scramble — sometimes referred to as “fodder.”

4.  Linking words — throwaway words to connect the definition to the indicator and fodder.

The first indication that you are looking at an anagram clue is clumsy construction.  While creative use of anagram indicators, and occasionally extreme luck finding fodder that makes some sense, alleviate some of this problem for the creator, there is usually no hiding the funny-looking words used as fodder.

What does an anagram indicator look like?

Look for words that signal that you should scramble something, or that something is out of order, or simply “not right.”  A few examples of common anagram indicators:  mixed, disrupted, in error, convert, terrible, rebuilt, hidden, in chaos or chaotic, spinning, strange, weird, modified, adjust, revolutionary, improper, inappropriate, stupid, silly.  The list can go on for pages.

Note that different tenses and forms of these indicators can used to suit the syntax of the phrase or sentence of the clue.  Many of the indicators can be easily changed from verb to adjective to adverb and, in some cases, to nouns, comparatives and superlatives as well.  An indicator that appears to be a noun can even be made into a plural.  For example:  disruptive, converting, terribly, rebuilding, spun, strangely, modification, adjusting, revolutionaries, inappropriately, silliest.

Cryptic convention dictates that the words/letters  to be scrambled — the fodder — must appear in the clue immediately before or after the indicator, and no extraneous words or letters can be included in the fodder.

Here are some simple examples of anagram clues:

Goat dressed in a robe (4)

Here the answer is “toga.”  “Goat” is the fodder.  “Dressed in” is the indicator.  “A robe” is the definition.

For longer answers, the puzzle designer often looks for multiple words to use as fodder.

Last chance toss at seed rep (9)

Here the answer is “desperate.”  “Last chance” is the definition.  “Toss” is the indicator.  “At seed rep” the fodder.”

Concentrate to redesign catalogue (9)

Here the answer is “coagulate.”  “Concentrate” is the definition.  “Redesign” is the indicator.  “Catalogue” is the fodder.

In future posts, we will discuss some examples of clues that use anagrams in combination with other indicators.