Cryptic Crossword Conventions

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1. Anagrams - plain
2. Anagrams - mixed or complex
3. Straight forward
4. Heads and Tales
5. Missing Letters
6. Openers & Initials
7. Foreign
8. Before your eyes
9. Sounds like ...
10. Numbers
11. Back up
12. Question marked clues - *Telegraph*

Very important to remember that sometimes, the evil compilers in particular, will very sloppily create their clues (not unlike this sentence). Whilst not too often, they will, on occasion, need an extra letter or two to complete the clue, and they just put in any word they fancy that starts with that letter(s). Furthermore, rarely, they will give you a clue that feels incomplete, i.e. occasionally they will not construct the full word. Be aware that not all clues are perfect. Having stated that, follow the conventions below and you will complete most puzzles.

Best of luck to you and may Joss be your companion

One of the most common conventions, several appearing on most day's crosswords. Anagrams are usually telegraphed (bad pun I know) by an anagram-indicator, though not necessarily helped by the fact that there are hundreds of such indicative words (If in doubt, think anagram first). Some words to look out for: turn, about, new, out, replace, change, mix, alter, round ... etc. - basically anything that can imply motion or change. NB - While about and round are good anagram indicators, they can also indicate that the letters of a given word will be placed around some letters within (see first example in Foreign section).

Examples
e.g. Located statue I'd misplaced (8) - Situated
e.g. Exotic Argentine fruit (9) - Tangerine
e.g. Deal arranged by a Spartan Queen (4) - Leda
e.g. Character in Hamlet grunted lines out (12) - Guildenstern

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• Units of Measurement

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This guide was created by Paul Aubrey-Rees and developed by Woof. Please let us have any feedback you wish.

Multiple anagrams or anagrams combined with other conventions and / or key words.

Examples
e.g. Foreign owl in broken lens, looks puffed up (7) - Swollen
e.g. On route where trains made bad time(7) - Transit (here the 't' is a shortening of 'time')
e.g. Oil, non-starter in diesel swirling (7) - Linseed (here the n is the start of 'non')
e.g. Prudence as firm's admitted to money changing (7) - Economy (here the co is a shortening of company - 'firm')

This is the simplest convention there is. Basically both the first and the last sections of the clue indicate the answer. Be aware that occasionally more than one answer can be correct. If you get stuck, double check.

Examples
e.g. Scheme for a small piece of ground (4) - Plot
e.g. Bound to be short of cash (8) - Strapped
e.g. Superior but unsuited (9) - Matchless
e.g. The dying embers of a former passion (3,5) - Old Flame
e.g. Dangerous ball requires such a doorman (7) - Bouncer

The clue instructs you to take certain letters to help build up the answer. In most cases these words are: head, tail, end(s), first, last, mid, half, almost, nearly all ... etc can be used to indicate the first, last or middle letter(s) of a clue word. You then, most of the time, need to add these letters to the other components of the clue. The convention works thus - egghead, redhead, tail end (either or both), midday, first h, Last minute, half deaf (sometimes af - you can only tell by either context or testing both possibilities) ... etc.

Examples
e.g. Photograph of tailless pig in the water (5) - Sepia (pi from pig surrounded by sea)
e.g. Thought I'd half of each (4) - Idea
e.g. It is, again, nearly all true (4) - Real ('again' often means re as in redo - see crossword vocabulary)

Words such as without, left(out), missing ... etc. can be indicators of letters to be removed from clue words. This convention is used particularly in conjunction with anagrams.

Examples
e.g. They catch Alistair who lost his head and ran (7) - Lariats
e.g. Louise I left, coming from the capital (5) - Seoul
e.g. Unfinished card game causes ill-feeling (5) - Pique(t)
e.g. Figure of endless torture after last month (7) - Decagon(y) (last month means the last month in the calender - December)
e.g. Make certain run out is to follow (5) - Ensu(r)e
e.g. Setback, getting heartless roles in show (8) - Rever(ole)sal
NB 'Without' may also indicate that one word encircles another. e.g. Take the plunge without hesitation and gain from it (6) - Derive ('hesitation' often means er - see crossword vocabulary)

The above words themselves, along with Start, ~ing, ~ers, ~ed ... etc. usually indicate that the first letter of the preceding or following word will be used. Sometimes, but rarely, more than one letter or the first letter of a number of words preceding or following will be used.

Examples
e.g. Footballers' machine initially wrecks everything (8) - Millwall
e.g. Comfortable but shy about Sunday opening (4) - Cosy
e.g. Welshman Richard started becoming shy (4) - Rhys
e.g. Listen out by employing devices initially - like ears (5) - Lobed

Often crossword setters will use very simple (i.e. schoolboy basic) foriegn words, usually articles, to help construct the answer. The most common versions (most frequent listed first in the row) are:

• the French - le, la, les, l
• the German - der, die, das
• The Italian - il
• the Spanish - el, las
• of the French - de, des, du
• one/a French - un, une

Examples
e.g. The Spanish about to label paint (6) - Enamel
e.g. The French secretary, last character in the city (2,3) - La Paz
e.g. Smart fellow the French take into account (4) - Alec
e.g. Object of French examination (6) - Detest

One of my favourite clues as I always forget them until after some time has passed, grrrr. The answer to the clue can actually be found nestled within the clue itself. Words that help to signify this convention include: some, in, includes, from, part, within ... etc.

Examples
e.g. Some beggar begging from habit (4) - Garb
e.g. In time a German gets most enthusiastic (5) - Eager
e.g. Priest from whom Samuel imbibed wisdom (3) - Eli
e.g. Insect found amongst the micrococci, cad announced (6) - Cicada

Like an intellectual charades, you need to find the right synonym. Often indicated by the following words and phases: heard, say, spoken, sounds like ... etc. Occasionally it is difficult to work out which synonym is the answer. In these circumstances, fill in the common letters and try to confirm with clues which cross through. If this does not help, make your best guess.

Examples
e.g. Two fruit, from the sound of it (4) - Pair
e.g. Sound sense of position (4) - Site
e.g. Blew, we're told, down (4) - Blue
e.g. Criticises VAT, say (7) - Attacks
e.g. Chemical used in dark ceremony, we hear (7) - Nitrite

If the number in a clue is unlikely to be a Roman Numeral it may be a reference to the answer to an Across or Down clue. Sometimes, or if ambiguous, a suffix will be attached.

Examples
e.g. With less 26, it's second rate (3,2,3) - Not so hot (26a - Chilli)
e.g. He'll effect some improvement in cutting 15 dn (7) - Refiner (15d - Refer)

These clues indicate that part of the answer is spelt backwards. Often signposted by the words: up, back, turned, reversed ... etc.

Examples
e.g. Phooey! Light up (4) - Rats
e.g. Up market transport (4) - Tram
e.g. Walker turned to jelly (3) - Gel
e.g. Paid one back for the article (4) - Item
e.g. I look back on journey in port (7) - Tripoli

Basically, take the clue as a whole. Yes this is slightly quirky, but the clue is not usually intended to be broken down into abbreviations and conventions etc. Thus if you see a question mark, then think holistically.

Examples
e.g. How neck brace gives one confidence? (5,4,4,2) - Holds One's Head Up
e.g. Theatre Royal? (6,2,5) - Prince Of Wales
e.g. Weather forecast for the Andes? (4,5) - Long Range
e.g. Guns not used at the front? (4,4) - Side Arms
e.g. G E G? (9,3) - scrambled egg

If you have any thoughts, questions or comments, please email me.