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Cryptic Crossword Guide

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Crosswords, mots croisés, Kreuzworträtsel, cruciverba, crucigrama, korsord, cruzadas - bloody good fun, so, give it a go (if the Jedi mind trick has failed, then read on).

When first learning how to do a crossword, it helps to understand how cryptic crosswords work. I always imagine an equation - A + B = C - or similar. Basically, a cryptic crossword clue will tell you, if you can see the logic, how to solve it.

The key is to look at the crossword and look at how the sentence(s) fit togther. Look for shortenings, or alternative words (see examples in the crossword vocabulary). There are general rules that will help you to solve a crossword, and a number of conventions. The rules are:

  • Look for words that can be abbreviated or have recognised abbreviations
  • Look for words that have short synonyms (usually 4 letters or fewer)
  • Most clues have the word(s) indicating the answer at either the start or end - This can be particularly useful if both ends of the clue indicate a plural, 'ing' or 'ion' ending. This ending (or any other assumed letters) can be used to help with adjoining clues
  • Don't treat the clue as a sentence, punctuation can sometimes mislead. Consider each word or phrase as an object for manipulation, clue to a convention or potential synonym
  • Don't spend too long on one clue. Flit around until you have a few answers - every letter helps
  • The compilers don't always follow the rules rigidly. Whilst this is uncommon, you may be surprised once in a while and it is then regarded as common practice to stick pins in the wax effigy of the compiler you created earlier when watching Blue Peter.
  • Sometimes you wil get clues wrong (they can occasionally have more than one answer). Be aware this can happen as you may discard another right answer on an adjoining clue. Be ready to reconsider
  • The best way to build an understanding, is to review the answers the following day
  • Top Tip: Back Engineering - Guess the answer (educated or otherwise), then see if it fits the clue! Sometimes you just 'see' the answer and then work it out as correct.

We have found about 11 conventions comman to most cryptic crosswords, and one that is at least used by the Telegraph crossword. These are:

  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*

Futhermore, to help there are links adjacent to information types that often help, e.g. Roman Numerals, Chemical Symbols, Measurements, Abbreviations, Rivers, Names etc.

Finally, to help you get started, there is a list of many of the most commonly used words and their synonyms or abbreviations. This is not a comprehensive list, but a great beginnning. Most are fairly obvious when you think about it, only a few a slightly more esoteric.

Best of luck to you and may Joss be your companion

Links to sites with useful frequent abbreviations and useful knowledge:

I will occasionally check the above links to check that they still live, but if you come across any better sources then please let me know.



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

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