Monthly Archives: July 2013

Charades

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A very common clue type is the “Charade.”  Named after the parlor game, Charade clues break the solution down into its component parts and define each part using various types of wordplay.  The separate clues are reconstructed, leading to the solution.

Charade clues typically contain:

1.  Standard definition
2.  Separate component definitions – discreet definitions of each part of the solution
3.  Sometimes the clue contains position indicators

The components of charade clues may include various types of cryptic clues, including abbreviations, reversals, containers, anagrams, etc.  When appropriate, each part of the clue will include its own indicator.

Examples of Charade clues:

Stop the French gold exhibition (7)

The answer is “tableau.” “Stop” = tab, “the French” = le, “au” = gold.  “Exhibition” defines tableau.

Cheers character, Alfred, and Young pitcher find formula (8)

Answer is “normalcy.” “Cheers character” = norm, “Alfred” = al, “Young pitcher” = cy.  “formula” defines normalcy.

Sounds like one is sure about following sad orderly (8)

Answer is “bluenose.” “Sounds like one is sure about (‘knows’) = nose, “following” informs the solver that “nose” comes after the next part of the clue, “sad” = blue, “orderly” defines bluenose.

 

Acrostics/Sequences

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Some parts of clues, or entire clues, refer to the positioning of letters which, when examined, yield an answer or part of an answer.  These clues are known as “acrostics.”

There are usually two parts to an acrostic clue:

  1. Definition
  2. Indicator that says that the clue is referring to a sequence or positioning of letters
  3. “Fodder” – the words that are to be examined/used for the sequence or positioning

Once you can identify an acrostic indicator, solving the clue is relatively easy, as the letters in the answer are generally present in the “fodder.”

Some Acrostic Indicators

Some indicators instruct the solver to use the first letter, or letters of the fodder:  beginnings (of), initially, leaders (of), at the start, first

Some indicate that some letters should be dropped from the fodder:  not even, even(s) out, lacking odd(s)

Or, some indicates only odd, or even, letters of the fodder should be used: evens, odds, every odd, every even

Some refer to the first and last letter or letters of the fodder: edge(s) of, extremes, first and last, top and bottom

Some clues instruct to remove the first or last letter of the fodder: without head, without first, tails off (of), without initial(ly), no final, missing last or first (of)

Some Simple Examples of Acrostic Clues

Close to night without end (5)

Answer: “nigh” (This clue might also be called a “deletion.”)

Those in front of Pairs Of Idiots Never Touch summit (5)

Answer: “point”

Lacking alternates, shallots can be used as seasoning (4)

Answer: “salt”

Every other Abraham can make a farmyard sound (3)

Answer: “baa”

Bridget loses first and last crown (5)

Answer: “ridge”

 

Double Definition Clues

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A very basic clue type is the “double definition.”  As implied by the name, double-definition clues are made up of two definitions for the answer.   These clues are usually used to define “homographs” — words that are spelled the same way, but have different meanings.   In cryptic design, this type of clue comes in especially handy for answers that can be two different parts of speech — noun and verb, noun and adjective, etc.   Obviously, double definitions also work with two of the same part of speech – noun/noun, verb/verb and even proper noun/noun.

There are usually two parts to a double-definition clue:

1.  First definition

2.  Second definition

Sometimes, but certainly not always, the definitions are connected by linking words.  Double-definition clues may legitimately use linking words like is, becomes, was, are, etc., among others.

Some Simple Examples:

Mug Gertrude (5)

Answer: “stein”

Envision proposal (7)

Answer: “project”

Practice surgery (9)

Answer: “operation”

Spoil corruption (5)

Answer: “decay”

Identifying Double Definition Clues

1.  The clue is often short

2.  There may be an obvious separation between the two definitions

Keep in mind that, in double definition clues, there typically is no “indicator.”

 

Containers

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A common clue type is the “container.”  When the answer is made up of one word inside another you have a “container.”

Some simple examples:

lawless = tool (awl) among smaller (less) . . .

pageantry = closet (pantry) around old (age) . . .

Container clues may be made up of abbreviations:

forged = organization (org) inside federal (fed) . . .

And, containers can also use “directions” as to either definition:

ashamed = embarrassment (shame) between ends of agitated (a-d) . . .

Components of a Container Clue

There are typically four parts to a container clue.

1.  The definition

2.  Definition of the outside word (the container)

3.  Definition of the inner word (sometimes called the “content”)

4.  Indicator – the indicator directs the solver to put one word around the other, or one word inside the other.  (The container clue may use either of two sequences – outside first, then inside; or the reverse – inside, then outside.)

a. Here are some indicators that instruct the solver to put the inner word inside the outer: inside, flanked by, sheltered by, buried in

b. Here are some indicators that instruct the solver to put the outer word outside the inner: outside, covering, containing, around

Some simple examples of container clues:

Trespass around L.A. dead (5)

Answer is “slain” –- trespass = sin, L.A. = la, dead = slain

Hide blade in hard drive (5)

Answer is “hoard” –- blade = oar, hard drive = hd, hide = hoard

Aloof around synthesizer work group (7)

Answer is “carpool” –- aloof = cool, synthesizer = arp, work group = carpool

Place Al in retirement phase (5)

Answer is “realm” –- Al = al, retirement phase = REM, place = realm

 

Construction and Surface Sense

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I am, I hope, a cryptic purist.  I have evolved to the point in my construction where I am not predisposed to throwing in linking words solely for the sake of a nicer surface reading of the clue.  It is always my goal to avoid using unnecessary linking words that do not have a legitimate use in the clues.  If one takes a little time with the design, one can come up with a clue that not only reads smoothly, but also does not confuse unnecessarily.  Sometimes this approach results in clues that may come across as terse.  Yet, I hope my clues don’t force the solver to spend time trying to determine which words need to be discarded before the real work figuring out an answer can begin.

A few examples:

Big fans of buddies without resistance (6)

or

Fans buddies without resistance (6)

In this example, the first draft of the clue included the word “of” to provide some flow, but there was no legitimate use for “of.”  And, when it was redrafted, it actually read better.  (The solution here is “fiends” — buddies = friends, without r = resistance )

When I write clues, I try to avoid using and, by, with, is, of, from, in, to, for, at, or about, (and even a) as linking words – to connect the wordplay to the definition — unless they serve a legitimate purpose in the clue.

“For” is a word that is often misused in clues.  Yet, it is fine to use “for” as a linking word, as long as the wordplay precedes “for,” and “for” is followed by the definition of the answer.

Examples:

Valid for professional sign editor (6)

(Answer:  “proved.” (professional = pro, sign = v, editor = ed.)  This one reads just fine, but the placement of “for” is not acceptable, as it comes before the wordplay.

Better would be:

Professional sign editor is tested (6)

Another one:

Support with angle for argument (5)

Answer:  “brawl.”  (Support = bra, with = w, angle =l.)  While this construction is acceptable, it leaves “unrest” hanging at the end of the clue, and is a signal that it is the definition of the answer.

Better construction would be:

Support with long dispute (5)

“That” is another linking word that I have tried to do without.  For instance:

Someone told me to regret that Streisand spat on the field (7)

This is just as good, and avoids the extra word:

Someone told me to regret Streisand spat on the field (7)

The key is taking the time when drafting a clue to make sure that the result is a clue that reads well, but does not confuse unnecessarily.