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”

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.”

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

Most of you viewing this page know just what a Cryptic Crossword puzzle is.  Yet, you might find it challenging to concisely describe the way such a puzzle works.  Indeed, for most, it might also be difficult to provide an answer to the question, “Why would you want to try to solve these things?”  To respond by saying, “I have nothing better to do” is certainly not a way of suggesting that the time we spend working on these puzzles isn’t rewarded by a great deal of satisfaction.  Solving well-crafted cryptics gives me an immense amount of pleasure.

For me, solving cryptics, or at least attempting to solve them, is a pastime that yields, in varying amounts, frustration, delight, a few laughs and, maybe most important, a number of those “A-HA” moments.  When, after staring at a clue for sometimes many minutes, that light finally goes on, there is, for us, the folks with the twisted minds we must have to enjoy these puzzles, a sense of “I’ve got it!”  It feels like a small victory, often immediately followed by, “I can’t believe this guy thinks like this.  How does he come up with this stuff?”  (I wonder if you also think:  “Wow, I got that one.  Am I as twisted as the guy who wrote that clue?”)

So, What are They?

Cryptics are set up like typical crossword puzzles — in a grid, conventionally 15 x 15 squares with black spaces between the words, and numbers at the beginning of each word.  The clues are laid out in a way that everyone will recognize, numbered clues, across and down, containing definitions for the answers (usually followed by the number of letters in the answer, where appropriate separated by commas [for multiple word answers], or hyphens).  The answers are, almost without exception, well-known words, phrases, possibly abbreviations, titles, geographical names, personalities, authors, and the like.   That is, however, where the similarities stop.  Instead of a single definition, cryptics are characterized by clues that contain two hints at the solution.  Half of each clue is made up of an arguably standard crossword “definition,” which, theoretically, could be adequate to provide an answer to the word that fits into the grid at the appointed position.  In each clue is also a “cryptic” component, which usually comes before or after the “definition” (sometimes referred to as “wordplay”).  This is where the fun begins.

The cryptic portion of the clue is intended not only to provide a second hint at the solution, but also often serves to distract the solver from the relatively simple definition.  Indeed, a good cryptic clue requires that the solver determine which part is the standard definition, and which is the cryptic.

In drafting good cryptic clues, the creator of the puzzle should provide what looks like a sentence or a phrase, using, within reason, somewhat proper syntax, spelling and usage.  (Of course, at this point, it must be said that there are always exceptions.)

The cryptic part of the clue often contains a “signal” or “indicator” that tells the solver what to do with the rest of the words in that part of the clue.  For instance, the indicator might instruct the solver to scramble the letters/words on either side of the indicator.  These clues are known as “anagrams.”

For instance, anagram clue might say:

“Celebrity in mixed arts (4)”

The answer here is “star,” where “celebrity” is the definition, and “mixed” is the indicator that says “scramble the adjacent letters” (a r t s).  Here, “in” is the word — in essence, a throwaway — that links the two parts of the clue; a “connector.”

Or:

“Unstable earth’s center (5)”

Here, the answer is “heart,” where “center” is the definition, and “unstable” signals the solver to scramble the letters in “earth.”  (Hint: one convention of cryptics is that an “s” after an apostrophe may be ignored.)

Or, the indicator must suggest that some words or letters, or words that fit a definition in the clue, should be read in reverse (known as “reversals).  Another example:

“Go back to strike your friends (4)”

Here, the answer is “pals,” where “go back” signals that “strike” (which defines “slap”) should be read in reverse, yielding “pals” (friends).

These examples illustrate only two of the many types of cryptic clues used by puzzle creators.  The best puzzles contains clues not only of differing types, but also of varying complexity, and difficulty.

So much for my brief introduction to cryptic crosswords.

In other posts, I will will discuss some of the other indicators which cryptic creators use.