Introduction to Cryptic Crossword Clues

1. Introduction to Cryptic Crossword Clues Wei-Hwa Huang January 2011 Silicon Valley Puzzle Fest

2. Warning! • This slide was added a few minutes ago • This presentation is mostly the same as last year’s • It is very unlikely that I will finish this in 30 minutes (50 is probably more like it) • The “lunch break” on the schedule is from 12:30 to 1:45 (when the next presentation is) • It’s okay if you want to leave early

3. Crossword puzzle with “cryptic” clues that use wordplay heavily Found in most major UK newspapers and a few major Canadian and US publications Uses a “sparse” grid where only half the letters in each word cross What is a Cryptic Crossword?

4. Easiest: Lovatts Cryptic Crossword Magazine http://www.lovatts.com.au/ Australian (has slightly different style than American or British cryptics) Excellent tutorial on their website Easy: “101 Cryptic Crosswords” edited by Fraser Simpson Originally appeared in The New Yorker from 1997-1999 American Where to Find Easy Cryptics

5. Types of Cryptic Clues (“Tricks”) • Cryptic Definition Clues • Double Definition Clues • Hidden Word Clues • Reversal Clues • Reversal Hidden Word Clues • Charade Clues • Container Clues • Homophone Clues • Anagram Clues • Deletion Clues • Initialism Clues • “& lit.” (And Literally So) Clues

6. Cryptic Definition Clues

7. Cryptic Definition Clues • Earliest type of clue • Evolved from normal crosswords • Clue has a misleading “surface reading” but gives the correct answer when interpreted the right way • Rarely seen in American cryptic crosswords, but still common outside the US • Often is signified by ending with a question mark

8. There may often be a more natural answer that won’t fit in the grid Soldiers often get them cut short (6) LEAVES The (6) is called an “enumeration”; it tells you how many letters the answer has SHORE LEAVES would get the enumeration (5,6) Harder crosswords may omit the enumeration

9. Double Definition Clues

10. Double Definition Clues • Clue can be split into two parts • Each part is a definition of the answer • Style: the two meanings of the word are unrelated or, better yet, have different etymologies

11. “Surface reading” might not be a valid definition Saucy structure in St. Louis (4) ARCH Saucy = ARCH structure in St. Louis = ARCH

12. Trick: Different parts of speech Having a ball (7) BEARING Having = BEARING(verb) a ball = BEARING(noun)

13. Trick: Different pronunciations River blossom (6) FLOWER River = FLOWER(something that flows) blossom = FLOWER

14. Connector words Holder for writing implement (3) PEN Holder = PEN for = (connector) writing implement = PEN

15. (Digression) Connector Words • Connector words (or link words) separate the two “halves” of the clue • Generally mean “is” • Examples • (definition) is (definition) • (definition) – it’s (definition) • (definition) as (definition) • (definition) for (definition) • (definition) becomes (definition) • (definition) or (definition) • (definition)’s (definition)

16. Hidden Word Clues

17. Hidden Word Clues • Clue can be split into two parts • One part is a “straight definition” (may be cryptic) • Other part has the answer “hidden” inside it, with an indicator that there is hiding going on • Uncommon in British crosswords

18. Tip: Easiest type of clue to find Callous engineer has bug (5) LOUSE CalLOUS Engineer= fodder has = hidden word indicator bug = LOUSE(definition)

19. Two parts can come in either order Car in immense danger (5) SEDAN Car = SEDAN(definition) in = hidden word indicator immenSE DANger= fodder

20. Tip: Ignore capitalization, punctuation, spaces Salesman: “I sell hides, spice” (5) ANISE SalesmAN I SEll = fodder hides = hidden word indicator spice = ANISE(definition)

21. Style: Cryptic and surface readings have to make sense! Salesman: “I sell hides or spice” (5) Bad style: ANISE is not “or spice” Something hidden by “salesman I sell” or spice (5) Bad style: Surface reading makes no sense

22. Some Hidden Word Indicators • (fodder) has (definition) • (fodder) hides (definition) • (fodder) hiding (definition) • (fodder) hid (definition) • (fodder) conceal(s/ing/ed) (definition) • (fodder) display(s/ing/ed) (definition) • (fodder) exhibit(s/ing/ed) (definition) • (fodder) display(s/ing/ed) (definition) • (fodder) featur(es/ing/ed) (definition) • (fodder) provid(es/ing/ed) (definition) • (fodder) smuggl(es/ing/ed) (definition) • (fodder) veil(s/ing/ed) (definition) • (fodder) secreting (definition) • (fodder) helping to make (definition) • (fodder) has hidden (definition) • (fodder) has internal (definition) • (fodder) characters • (fodder) content • (fodder) extract • (fodder) letters • (fodder) in part • (fodder) partly • (fodder) selection • (fodder) somewhat • partial (fodder) • some (fodder) • (definition) in (fodder) • (definition) from (fodder) • (definition) within (fodder) • (definition) inside (fodder) • (definition) of (fodder)

23. Reversal Clues

24. Reversal Clues • Clue can be split into two parts • One part is a “straight definition” (may be cryptic) • Other part has “fodder” and an indicator to “reverse” the fodder • Fodder may be direct (literal) or indirect (defined)

25. Brag about clothing (4) GARB Brag= fodder about = reversal indicator clothing = GARB(definition)

26. Down clues may use “up” as indicators; Across clues might use “left” Bundle up components (5) PARTS Bundle= STRAP up = reversal indicator components = PARTS(definition)

27. The fodder might be multiple words High-powered vehicle upended garbage truck (7) TRACTOR High-powered vehicle = TRACTOR (def.) upended = reversal indicator garbage = ROT(noun) truck(verb) = CART

28. Some Reversal Indicators • about, around, round, brought about, coming around, going round • back, backed, backing, backward, back-to-front, coming back, going back, looking back, sent back • retreat, retreating, retrograde • counter, revolutionary, turn, turns, turning, turned • flipped, flipping, in reverse, reversed • from the east, going west, westbound • from the right • over, overturned (Down clues only) • ascending, raised, raising, rising, lifted • up, upended, upset • brought up, coming up, looking up, sent up, shown up, written up • from the bottom • from the south, going north, northbound

29. Reversal Hidden Word Clues

30. Reversal Hidden Word Clues • Clue can be split into two parts • One part is a “straight definition” (may be cryptic) • Other part has the answer “hidden backwards” inside it, with an indicator that there is hiding and reversal going on

31. Priestess always holds back blessings (6) ASSETS PriesteSTESS Always = (fodder) holds = hidden word indicator back = reversal indicator blessings = ASSETS (definition)

32. (Digression) See a Pattern? • Clue can be split into two parts • One part is a “straight definition” (may be cryptic) • Other part is a “cryptic half”, with indicators that there is some sort of wordplay going on • Wordplay is often some sort of action (“indicator word”) being done to some text (“fodder”) • Fodder can be direct (“use these letters”) or indirect (“find your own letters”) • Good Style: Hidden words must be direct! • Surface reading should make sense!

33. Charade Clues

34. Charade Clues • Most common type of Clue • Named after the game of Charades • Pieces of the answer are clued • Unlike the game, it is the letters that are clued, not the sounds

35. Good Style: The charade “parts” and the actual word should be unrelated Declare delay can be avoided (9) AVERTABLE Declare= AVER delay = TABLE(verb) can be avoided = (definition)

36. Abbreviations are common, as well as grabbing parts of words Around start of lunchtime, love soft sound of horse’s hoof (4) CLOP Around = C(“circa”) start of “Lunchtime” = L love = O (tennis score) soft = P (music, “piano”) sound of horse’s hoof = (definition)

37. Some fodder may be literal Morning in Oregon is key (1,5) A MINOR Morning = A.M. in = IN Oregon = OR is = (connector) key = (definition)

38. Some Abbreviations • Chemistry: “sodium” = NA; “temperature” = T • Geography: “Idaho” = ID; “Switzerland” = CH (Confoederatio Helvetica); “Australia” = OZ • Money: “bob” = S (shilling); “coin” = D (denarius); “debt” = IOUS • Games: “knight” = N (chess); “duck” = O (cricket) • Jobs: “doctor” = MD ; “copper” = PC (police constable) • Roman numerals: “six” = VI; “grand” = M • Measurements: “pound” = LB; “inch” = IN • Slang: “car” = T (Model T); “sweat” = BO (Body odor) • Music: “key” = B; “note” = MI; “loudly” = F • Latin: “about” = C (circa); “this month” = INST (instante mense); “right eye” = OD (oculus dexter) • British abbreviations: “gunners” = RA (Royal Artillery); “jolly” = RM (Royal Marine); “king” = GR (King George, Rex); “medal” = OBE (Order of the British Empire); “posh” = U (Upperclass); “Ulster” = NI (Northern Ireland)

39. Knowledge of foreign language may be helpful Plaster the French fortress (6) CASTLE Plaster = CAST(noun) “the” French = LE fortress = (definition)

40. The charade need not be in order as long as the clue indicates it Happy boy follows gram (4) GLAD Happy = (definition) boy= LAD gram = G(unit of weight) LADfollowsG = GLAD

41. Container Clues

42. Container Clues • Fodder is put inside other fodder • Indicator suggests some sort of containment • Good Style: both fodders should be unrelated to the answer

43. Russian money in tome is inconvenient (11) TROUBLESOME Russian money = ROUBLES tome= (fodder) ROUBLES in TOME = T(ROUBLES)OME is = (connector) inconvenient = (definition) • Could have used “book” instead of “tome” to make the clue even harder • ROUBLES is plural, but cryptic reading requires singular; fortunately, “money” is usefully ambiguous

44. Fodder may often be single letters Head of pig found in excellent meal (6) SUPPER Head of “pig” = P excellent= SUPER P found in SUPER = SUP(P)ER excellent meal = (definition)

45. Charades, containers, and reversals are often combined “Two From Virginia Holding Back Attack,” editor confirmed (8) VERIFIED Two From VIrginia = VI Attack = FIRE BackFIRE= ERIF VIHoldingERIF= V(ERIF)I editor = ED confirmed = V(ERIF)I+ED (definition)

46. Some Container Indicators (“contents” side) • aboard, boards, enters • penetrates, pierces • breaks, divides, interrupts, parts, separates, splits • content, contents, fills, lines, occupies, packs, stuffs • amidst, inside, internal, within • “ing” form of verbs (“stuffing,” “piercing,” etc.) • passive form of “container” verbs (“admitted,” “beseiged,” etc.) (“container” side) • admit, allow, contain, take in, introduce • about, around, box, circle, encircle, frame, ring, round • besiege, capture, catch, flank, surround • clutch, embrace, enfold, envelop, grasp, hold, swallow, wrap • bridge, harbor, house, shelter • cover, external, outside, without • passive form of “contents” verbs (“entered by,” “splitted by,” etc.)

47. Homophone Clues

48. Homophone Clues • Fodder sounds like the answer word • Indicator suggest some sort of sounding out • (Strictly speaking, these should be called “heterographic homophone” clues, as the fodder and the answer should have different spellings)

49. Sounds like oil country (6) GREECE Sounds like = homophone indicator oil = GREASE country = (definition)

50. Fodder might be multiple words My lizard is said to be small (6) MINUTE My lizard = MY NEWT is said = homophone indicator to be = (connector) small = (definition)