rec.puzzles.crosswords FAQ (part 2 of 3)
James A. Lundon
Last-modified: 10 June 1997 by James A. Lundon
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for rec.puzzles.crosswords
Version 6.0 - part 2
Compiled and edited by
James A. Lundon (james dot lundon at dscie dot com)
(FAQ continued...)
2.1) What are some standard tips for solving a cryptic crossword?
A copy of Cox and Rathvon's "Clue-Solving for Beginners" can be
found in the Crossword Archive in the file coxrathvon.txt.
The description outlined below was written by Stephen Koehler
(koehler at sctc.com).
++
This is a brief set of instructions for solving cryptic crossword
puzzles for those of you who are intrigued by these puzzles, but
have not known how to begin solving them. For a more complete
introduction, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to The
Atlantic Puzzler, 745 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.
The characteristic common to all cryptic crossword puzzles is the
format of the clues. Each clue is a miniature word puzzle
consisting of a straight definition of the answer and a cryptic
definition of the answer. For example,
Axle is poorly splined (7)
yields SPINDLE. Axle is the straight definition. The cryptic
definition (poorly splined) indicates an anagram of "splined". The
number in parentheses is the number of letters in the answer.
Punctuation and capitalization may be ignored in interpreting the
clues.
There are *only* (really?) eight categories of clues, as follows:
1. Anagram
An anagram is a word formed by mixing up the letters of another
word. An anagram clue is indicated by some word that means "mixed
up", for example, out, crazy, bizarre, insane, etc. One or more
words may contribute to the anagram. For example:
Tim goes insane from selfishness (7)
for EGOTISM (anagram of "Tim goes")
2. Double Definition
A double definition is simply two definitions of the word. Most
two-word clues are double definitions. For example:
Release without charge (4)
for FREE
3. Container
A container clue indicates that something is to be put in (or
wrapped around) something else. A container is indicated by
phrases such as eaten by, contains, in, gobbles, etc. For example:
In Missouri, consumed by fear (7)
for AMONGST (MO = Missouri in ANGST = fear)
4. Hidden Word
A hidden word is a word embedded in another word or words. It is
indicated by phrases such as spot in, hides, at the heart of,
covers, etc. For example:
Worn spot in paper at typo (5)
for RATTY (find ratty in "paper at typo")
5. Reversal
A reversal is a definition of a word with the letters reversed. It
is indicated by words such as back, reversed, up (for down clues),
leftward (for across clues), etc. For example:
Egad! Ray entirely reversed the lot of cloth (7)
for YARDAGE ("Egad! Ray" reversed)
6. Homophone
A homophone definition is a definition of a word that sounds the
same as the answer, but is spelled differently. A homophone is
indicated by words such as in audience, I hear, mouthed, verbally,
etc. For example:
Regrets prank, I hear (4)
for RUES (the homophone is RUSE = prank)
7. Charade
In a charade, the pieces of the word are "spelled" out in order.
There are no auxiliary words that indicate a charade. For example:
Excite a jerk extremist (7)
for FANATIC (FAN = excite, A, TIC = jerk)
8. Deletion
A deletion is a clue where you are instructed to remove a part of
some word to make another word. For example,
Times with poor wages (4)
for AGES (with-poor WAGES, where with is abbreviated by W)
Often the clue types are combined. Some common examples are 1)
hidden word reversals where the answer is found backwards embedded
in other words, and 2) containers or charades where the parts are
anagrams. For example:
Car shops have broken gear immersed in gasoline. (7)
for GARAGES (RAGE = gear anagram in GAS = gasoline)
All manner of common abbreviations, acronyms, and other symbology
such as roman numerals are allowed. For example:
c one hundred, cup, or centigrade
vi six
h hot
s small
ca california
Two punctuation marks at the end of the clue have been reserved for
special meaning. A question mark (?) indicates that the straight
clue is not entirely straight (usually a pun). For example:
I tie down mascara holder soundly? (7)
for EYELASH (homophone of "I lash", mascara holder is a punning
definition of EYELASH)
An exclamation point (!) indicates that some part (usually all) of
the clue overlaps. For example, the straight definition may also
be the anagram indicator. Here is an example that entirely
overlaps:
A moped also has these! (6)
for PEDALS (hidden word)
Here, the entire clue indicates the hidden word, but the entire
clue is also a straight definition of the answer.
++
After all those explanations an example is needed. This crossword
was compiled by Roy Trearle (Roy.Thearle at uknet.ac.uk). This
originally appeared in the rec.puzzles archive.
Each clue has two solutions, one for each diagram; one of the
answers to 1ac. determines which solutions are for which diagram.
All solutions are in Chamber's and Webster's Third except for one
solution of each of 1dn, 3dn and 4dn, which can be found in
Webster's 2nd. edition.
#######################################################################
#1 |2 | | |3 |4 |5 #1 |2 | | |3 |4 |5 #
# | | | | | | # | | | | | | #
#----+----###########----#----#----#----+----###########----#----#----#
#6 | |7 | | # # #6 | |7 | | # # #
# | | | | # # # | | | | # # #
#----#----#----######----#----#----#----#----#----######----#----#----#
# # # #8 | | | # # # #8 | | | #
# # # # | | | # # # # | | | #
#----#----#----######----#----#----#----#----#----######----#----#----#
#9 | | | # # # #9 | | | # # # #
# | | | # # # # | | | # # # #
#----#----#----######----#----#----#----#----#----######----#----#----#
# # #10 | | | | # # #10 | | | | #
# # # | | | | # # # | | | | #
#----#----#----###########----+----#----#----#----###########----+----#
#11 | | | | | | #11 | | | | | | #
# | | | | | | # | | | | | | #
#######################################################################
Ac.
1. What can have distinctive looking heads spaced about more prominently
right. (7)
6. Vermin that can overrun fish and t'English tor perhaps. (5)
8. Old testament reversal - Adam's conclusion, start of sin.
Felines initially with everything there. (4)
9. Black initiated cut, oozed out naturally. (4)
10. For instance, 11 with spleen dropping I count? (5)
11. Provoked explosion of grenade. (7)
Dn.
1. Some of club taking part in theatrical function, for the equivalent
of a fraction of a pound. (6)
2. Close-in light meter in one formation originally treated as
limestone. (6)
3. Xingu River hombres having symmetrical shape. (5)
4. About sex-appeal measure - what waitresses should be? (6)
5. Turned stale - died - was preserved. (6)
7. IRA to harm ruling Englishman; extremes could be belonging to group. (5)
Answers:
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|r e d c a p s|d e x t r a l|
+ + +-+-+ + + + + +-+-+ + + +
|o t t e r|o|a|r o a c h|s|a|
+ + + +-+ + + + + + +-+ + + +
|u|a|h|f a l l|a|z|m|t o m s|
+ + + +-+ + + + + + +-+ + + +
|b l e d|r|i|t|c o o n|m|i|t|
+ + + +-+ + + + + + +-+ + + +
|l|o|i r a t e|m|o|n o b l e|
+ + + +-+-+ + + + + +-+-+ + +
|e n r a g e d|a n g e r e d|
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Notes.
Left grid: Ac. 1. R + spaced (anag). 6. T'E tor (anag). 8. F-all. 9. B-led.
10. I-rate. Dn. 1. Ro-ub-le. 2. T.A.L. in one (anag). 4. it in pole.
5. anag of D+stale. 7. anag of initial letters.
Right grid: Ac. 1. D-extra-L. 6. 3 mngs. 8. OT (rev) + m-s.
9. initial letters. 10. No.-b(i)le. Dn. Dra-c-ma. 2. Zoo(m) in one (anag).
3. hidden. 4. SA (rev) + mile. 5. anag of D+stale. 7. anag of final letters.
How I built it: it was hard!
Basically, I started with a couple of word pairs which were easy to
clue (e.g. enraged/angered - same meaning and anagrams of each
other) and built a grid around them, trying to ensure corresponding
words had something in common, either in meaning (their, among) or
structure, (EtalON, EOzooN) and making sure that there was at least
one word which could be used to distinguish the two grids
(dextral).
The clues were built in one of two ways:
either the words had a common definition, and so a subsidiary
indication which could refer to either was needed; or it was
necessary to define each word in such a way that it was a
subsidiary definition for all or part of the corresponding word,
and deal with any remaining parts as before. I think the single
hardest part was finding a definition of "interferometer" which
could also be interpreted as "zoo" or "ozo".
++
57 Varieties
============
Roy Thearle has outdone himself by putting together an every better
description of some of the gimmicks used in crossword setting.
Many of the methods described below could be considered to be only
seen in 'specials' but, nonetheless are very interesting to would
be setters out there trying to think up of new ways to confuse the
solver :-). All examples have CROSSWORDS as the answer:
Clues
=====
Unclued No clue is given, and the answer is to be
deduced from context, e.g.
1. (10)
Straightforward definition e.g.
2. Puzzles involving word-grids (10)
Quiz style Definition in the form of a question, e.g.
3. Which word puzzles were first published
in the `London Daily Mail' in 1925? (10)
Riddle Similar to previous, but usually involving
some form of word play, e.g.
4. What puzzles create arguments? (10)
Missing word from quotation 5. "the original acrostic form developed
into --- early in the next century" (10)
Missing word from prose A passage of prose is given in which the
answer has been replaced by the grid number
at which it is to appear, e.g.
"I love doing [6ac]; even those by Kea".
Call my bluff Three definitions of related or similar
words are given; one of the words is the answer
e.g.
7. 3.5ft weapons; odd beaked birds; puzzles
(10)
{longswords/crossbills/crosswords}
Semi-homonyms Two definitions are given of words which differ
only in one letter, one of which is the answer,
e.g.
8. Forms meadow plants. (10)
{crosswords/crossworts}
Encrypted The clue is an encrypted form of the answer,
normally with the alphabet replaced by numbers
1-26 in some order, but sometimes by a
substitution code. Occasionally, a clue of one
of the other types is encrypted. e.g.
9. 1-2-3-4-4-5-3-2-6-4 (10)
10. Smelly Emil (10)
11. Abcde dfghbi jklmne. (10)
{encrypted clue 8.}
Straightforward anagram e.g.
12. Dross crows (anag.) (10)
Subsidiary indication only Effectively, a cryptic clue without a
definition
e.g.
13. Holy symbol incorporating weapon. (10)
{sword in cross}
Definition and anagram A straightforward definition of the answer
juxtaposed with an anagram of it (in either
order). Sometimes the anagram and definition
are written so as to make it unobvious which
is which, e.g.
14. Forms dross crows. (10)
15. Orcs' swords set puzzles. (10)
Definition & letter mixture A line of text containing both a synonym of the
answer, plus a hidden anagram of it. e.g.
16. When composing puzzles, always listen to
compact discs, or drowsiness sets in. (10)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Previous with extra letter As above, but the hidden anagram contains a
superfluous letter, e.g.
17. Warriors (orcs) saw death cause problems.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (10)
Cryptic e.g.
18. Holy symbol embracing weapon puzzles. (10)
{sword in cross}
Spoonerism There are two forms of this. Either (i) the
clue
contains a spoonerism which must be fixed
before
solving (normally in the definition part),
or (ii) the subsidiary indication is
a definition for a spoonerized version of the
answer, e.g.
19. Holy symbol embracing weapon - triptych
kempt Asians. (10)
{i.e. cryptic temptations; sword in cross}
Indirect anagram A cryptic clue in which the subsidiary
indication contains a synonym for an anagram
of the answer, plus anagram indicator, e.g.
20. Forms miscreate ogres with weapons. (10)
{i.e. "orcs" (anag.) + "swords"}
Unnumbered A clue with no number, the position of the
answer being determined by the solver, e.g.
Forms miscreate orcs with weapons. (10)
{as previous}
Cryptic using clue number A cryptic clue in which the clue number is part
of the clue, e.g.
100. Rod rows badly around ship, causing
problems. (10)
{C + SS in "rodrows" (anag.)}
Superfluous letter A cryptic clue in which all occurrences of
one letter must be removed before solving,
e.g.
21. Forms torcs, toff, and tepees. (10)
{deleted letter is
T;"orcs"(anag.)+"swords"}
Ambiguous A cryptic clue with two (or more) equally valid
answers, e.g.
22. Angry tellings-off that could cause
confusion. (10)
{cross-words or cross-talks}
Concatenated Two cryptic (or occasionally other) clues run
together, e.g.
23. Holy symbol embracing weapon puzzles
religious pacifist - shudder and run?
(10;6)
{crosswords & quaker}
Vowelless Cryptic (or other clue type) with the vowels
removed, e.g.
24. Hl smbl mbrcng wpn pzzls. (10)
Cryptic with pun Cryptic clue where one word must be replaced
with a homophone before solving, e.g.
25. Holy cymbal embracing weapon puzzles. (10)
{cymbal -> symbol}
Misprint One letter in the clue (usually in the
definition) must be replaced by another before
solving, e.g.
26. Holy symbol embracing weapon muzzles. (10)
{muzzles -> puzzles}
Missing letter One letter must be added to the clue
(usually in the definition) before solving,
e.g.
27. Holy symbol embracing weapon poses. (10)
{poses -> posers}
Cryptic with superfluous One word in the clue should be ignored. This
word is sometimes also known as "red herrings". e.g.
28. Sauron forms miscreate orcs with
weapons. (10)
{"sauron" is superfluous;orcs(anag)+swords}
Location indication The clue is preceded or followed by a cryptic
indication of the location for the answer,
e.g.
Went in river - in also - row forms. (10)
{"went" and "in" in "Tyne -> twentynine;
cross-words}
Printer's devilry A passage of prose from which the solution
has been removed, and the word breaks and
punctuation changed, e.g.
30. Form a king, Mum - it hinges; sent
I ally, reigns. (10)
{for making muCROS SWORDSmithing
essentially reigns}
Solutions
=========
Normally Answer to be entered in usual fashion, e.g. CROSSWORDS
Diagonally Answer to be entered with letters in normal order, but
running in a diagonal direction, e.g. C
R S
O D
S R
S O
W
S O
S R
O D
R S
C
Reversed Answer to be entered backwards,
e.g. CROSSWORDS -> SDROWSSORC
Directionally Answer to be entered with letters in normal order, but
with direction of entry changing whenever a letter
N (up), S (down), E (right) or W (left) is encountered,
e.g. CROSSWORDS -> CROS
S
SDROW
Squared Answer to be entered in the form of a square (or,
occasionally, some other geometrical figure), e.g.
CROSSWORDPUZZLES -> CROSS C
S W S R
E O E O
L R L S
ZZUPD ZZUPDROWS
Knight's tour Answer to be entered with successive letters being
positioned a (chess) knight's move from the previous,
e.g. CROSSWORDS -> C.....S......
..R.....W...S
.....S...R...
...O...O...D.
Random walk Answer to be entered with letters in normal order,
but moving in a random direction with every letter.
Normally restricted to (up, right, left, down), but
may include diagonal movement as well (in which case
sometimes known as "King's tour"). Either sort may be
self-intersecting. e.g. C
CROSSWORDS - > CRO S C OW R
S RD R SRD DROW
SWO OS S S SS
Wrong number Answer to be entered normally at a different location,
where the clue contains a synonym of the answer.
Hidden in diagram Answer is to be located (or, more typically, a theme
word is to be found) in an unusual location in the
grid, e.g. on the main diagonal, among the unchecked
letters, or in the squares around a fixed location.
Cyclic Answer is to be entered starting at any point in the
word, running to the end and then continuing from the
beginning, e.g. CROSSWORDS -> ROSSWORDSC OSSWORDSCR
SSWORDSCRO SWORDSCROS ... SCROSSWORD
Inside-out The central part of the answer is extracted, split
in half, and placed around the remainder, e.g.
CROSSWORDS -> ROSSCSWORD OSSCRDSWOR SSCRORDSWO
SCROSORDSW
First letter The first letter of the answer is to be moved to
misplaced between any other pair of letters, or after the last
one, e.g. CROSSWORDS -> RCOSSWORDS ROCSSWODRS
ROSCSWORDS ROSSCWORDS ... ROSSWORDCS ROSSWORDSC
Last letter The last letter of the answer is to be moved to
misplaced between any other pair of letters, or before the first
one, e.g. CROSSWORDS -> SCROSSWORD CSROSSWORD
CRSOSSWORD CROSSSWORD ... CROSSWOSRD CROSSWORSD
Transposition A pair adjacent letters of the answer are switched
(or sometimes more than one pair), e.g.
CROSSWORDS -> RCOSSWORDS CORSSWORDS CRSOSWORDS ...
CROSSWODRS CROSSWORSD
CROSSWORDS -> RCSOSWORDS RCOSWSORDS RCOSSOWRDS ...
CROSSOWRSD CROSSWROSD RCOSWSODRS ...
Shuffled The letters of the answer are to be entered in
arbitrary
order, e.g. CROSSWORDS -> CSSOWDSROR OOCWDSRSRS
Sometimes the letters are restricted so that none of
them occupies the place where they should be, e.g.
CROSSWORDS -> SSSRRCDOOW
Extra letter An extra letter is to be inserted in the answer before
inserted it is entered into the grid, e.g. CROSSWORDS ->
ACROSSWORDS CROSBSWORDS CROSSWCORDS CDROSSWORDS ...
Beheaded The first letter of the answer is to be omitted,
e.g. CROSSWORDS -> ROSSWORDS
Curtailed The last letter of the answer is to be omitted,
e.g. CROSSWORDS -> CROSSWORD
Letters latent One letter of the answer is to be omitted wherever it
occurs, e.g. CROSSWORDS -> ROSSWORDS COSSWODS
CRSSWRDS CROWORD CROSSORDS CROSSWORS
Deduplicated Double letters in the answer are to be reduced to
single letters, e.g. CROSSWORDS -> CROSWORDS
Vowelless All vowels are removed from the answer before entry,
e.g. CROSSWORDS -> CRSSWRDS
The definition of vowel may include `Y' or `W' in some
circumstances
Consonantless All consonants are to be removed from the answer before
entry, e.g. CROSSWORDS -> OO
Other absent Certain specified letters are to be removed from the
letters answer before entry, e.g. if the letters are NSEW
CROSSWORDS -> CROORD
Absent The answer does not appear in the grid! (e.g. in a
puzzle where the letters NSEW are removed from the
answers before entry, the words "SENSE" and "NEWNESS"
are completely absent).
Symbolic Part of the answer is to be entered as an appropriate
symbol, e.g. CROSSWORDS -> +WORDS
Directionally All compass directions in the answer (usually referring
symbolic to N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW) are replaced by arrows
pointing in the appropriate direction, e.g. {apologies
for ascii graphics} CROSSWORDS -> CRO| /ORD|
vL v
Misprint One of the letters of the answer is to be replaced by
another letter before entry, e.g. CROSSWORDS ->
AROSSWORDS BROSSWORDS DROSSWORDS ...
CAOSSWORDS CBOSSWORDS CCOSSWORDS ...
... CROSSWORDX CROSSWORDY CROSSWORDZ
Internally A substring of the answer is replaced with a synonym,
substituted antonym, association, translation, etc. e.g.
CROSSWORDS -> CROSSHIELDS {sword-shield}
SEEKING -> SEEQUEEN {king-queen}
FOOTWORK -> FOODEUXRK {two-deux}
Replaced by The solution is a homophone of the clue answer, e.g.
hompohone SEEKING -> SEA-KING
COLONEL -> KERNEL
Replaced by synonym The solution is a synonym of the clue answer, e.g
CROSSWORDS -> FORMS
CROSSWORDS -> CRUCIVERBALISMS
Encoded The solution is to be encoded (using a substitution
cypher) before entry, e.g.
(rot13) CROSSWORDS -> PEBFFJBEQF
(a<->z, b<->y, etc.) CROSSWORDS -> XILHHDLIWH
Adacode The alphabet is sorted into a code string consisting
of a keyword (with no repeated letters) plus the
remainder in order, e.g.
QUESTIONABCDFGHJKLMPRVWXYZ {question}
VERACIOUSLYBDFGHJKMNPQTWXZ {veraciously}
and the answer is coded as follows:
the first letter to be entered is the letter
one space after the first letter of the answer;
the second letter to be entered is the letter
two spaces after the second letter of the answer;
and so on, treating the code string as cyclic if
necessary, e.g.
(with QUESTIONABCDFGHJKLMPRVWXYZ)
CROSSWORDS -> DWBNAEGERG
(with VERACIOUSLYBDFGHJKMNPQTWXZ)
CROSSWORDS -> ICLDFAFYQM
Playfair The alphabet (less J) is sorted into a code string
as for the previous, and this code string is placed
in a 5x5 square, e.g. ZANTH SEAFR
OXYLU ONTBC
MBCDE DGHIK
{zanthoxylum} FGIKP LMPQU {seafront}
QRSVW VWXYZ
and the answer is split in to pairs of letters, each
of which is encoded as follows:
if both letters are the same, then they are entered
normally
if both letters are in the same row, then the
letters to the right of them are to be entered
(treating the row as cyclic if necessary);
if both letters are in the same column, then the
letters below them are to be entered
(treating the row as cyclic if necessary);
otherwise, treat the two letters as the corners
of a rectangle, and enter the other two corners
of the rectangle (top right being entered instead
of top left, bottom right being entered instead
of bottom left)
If a word has an odd number of letters, then an extra
letter is added at the end to allow it to be encoded,
and the last letter of the encoded form is ignored.
e.g. (with the squares given above)
CR-OS-SW-OR-DS -> BS-YQ-VQ-XQ-CV
CR-OS-SW-OR-DS -> KC-DO-EV-CS-LO
Sometimes the `J' is reinstated and the digits appended
to give a 6x6 square used similarly, e.g.
with 1976MO
NTREAL
BCDFGH
IJKPQS
UVWXYZ {1976 montreal}
023458
CR-OS-SW-OR-DS -> DT-LZ-KZ-7L-HK
2.2) What crossword related associations or publications are there?
Thanks to Chris Long (clong at remus.rutgers.edu) for many of the
following descriptions!
Organizations:
American Cryptogram Association
Publication:
The Cryptogram
Bimonthly
Dues:
See below
Treasurer:
ACA Treasurer
18789 West Hickory St.
Mundelein, IL 60060
Comments:
Devoted to cryptography. Every issue of the journal contains
several thoughtful articles and a large number of puzzles, including
aristocrats, patristocrats, xenocrypts, cipher exchanges and
cryptarithms. Members have the option of picking a "nom" (nom de
plume), e.g. the president is Gizmo. As it is a specialized
organization, you should request a sample issue first (I do not
know the procedure for this, but $1 and a SASE should do it).
The National Puzzlers' League
Publication:
The Enigma
Monthly
Dues:
See below
Editor:
Francis Heaney
509 East 5th Street #3B
New York, NY 10009.
email: francis.heaney at tglbbs.com
Comments:
Simply the best organization devoted to word puzzles. The "Enigma"
contains over 80 word puzzles per issue, ranging in difficulty from
easy to extremely difficult and in type from the familiar anagrams
and riddles to such obscure forms as spoonergrams and acrostical
enigmas. Each issue also includes a member-written cryptic. Members
get to pick a "nom" (nom de plume), e.g. I'm Cubist and Chris Cole
is Canon. The NPL is a somewhat specialized organization, so you
should send a SASE with a request for a mini-sample to the editor
to see if it is for you. To see a sample of the Enigma, visit
http://www.teleport.com/~ejbagai .
Publications:
Algorithm
Quarterly
$19.95 per year US, $24.95 Canada, $23.95 elsewhere (all prices US)
Subscriptions:
Louis Magguilli
Algorithm
P.O. Box 29237
Westmount Postal Outlet
785 Wonderland Road S.
London, Ontario N6K 1M6
Canada
Comments:
A. K. Dewdney's magazine devoted to recreational computing.
Games
Bimonthly
$17.97 per year US, $22.97 Canada, $27.97 elsewhere (all prices US)
Subscriptions:
Games
P.O. Box 605
Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0605
1-(800)-827-1256
Comments:
The best-known puzzle and game publication. A wide variety of puzzles
and articles in every issue.
Graffiti on the Sphinx
Monthly
$1.50 per issue
Subscriptions:
Philip M. Cohen
50 DeKalb Avenue #S6
White Plains, NY 10605
Comments:
Members of the NPL use GotS for discussions on all types of topics
such as comments on puzzles that have appeared in "The Enigma" to
reviews of publications that may be of interest. Put out by Philip
Cohen, who is Treesong in the NPL. This is not an official NPL
publication.
The Journal of Recreational Mathematics
Quarterly
$23.45 per year for US and Canada, $28.30 elsewhere
Subscriptions:
Baywood Publishing Company, Inc.
26 Austin Avenue
P.O. Box 337
Amityville, NY 11701
Comments:
A must for anyone interested in recreational mathematics.
PuzzleSIGns
Quarterly
$7 per year for Mensa members, $8 non-members, $10 foreign
Subscriptions:
Chuck Murphy
Puzzle SIGns Coordinator
11430 East Palomino Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
Comments:
Publication of the Mensa "Puzzle" SIG. This fledgling newsletter
contains a variety of puzzles in every issue. Sample issue $1.
REC (Recreational & Educational Computing)
8 issues per year
$27 per year US, $28 Canada, $36 elsewhere
Subscriptions:
Michael Ecker
909 Violet Terrace
Clarks Summit, PA 18411
Comments:
Devoted to recreational computing.
Word Fun
Bimonthly
$5 per year US and Canada, $10 elsewhere
Subscriptions:
Jill Conway
Rte. 6
3001 Johnson Lane
Columbia, MO 65202
Comments:
Publication of the Mensa "Fun with Word" SIG, but anyone may
subscribe. A variety of wordplay and puzzles; fantastic bargain.
Sample issue $.50 stamps per coin (no checks) + business-size SASE.
Word Ways
Quarterly
$20 per year surface mail - extra for airmail
Subscriptions:
Faith and Ross Eckler, editor
Spring Valley Road
Morristown, NJ 07960
USA
Comments:
An absolutely fantastic journal devoted to recreational linguistics;
a must for anyone who loves words or word puzzles.
Tough Cryptics
Bimonthly
$19 per year US, $35 elsewhere
Subscriptions:
The American Crossword Federation
P.O. Box 69
Massapequa Park, NY 11762
Phone: 1-800-929-1999
Comments:
"Tough Cryptics" has clue writing contests, a cryptic solving contest
and a "Cryptic Clinic" which will help you write better clues.
Acrostics Network
Quarterly
$10 (add 20% for Canada and 40% for overseas)
Subscriptions:
Acrostics Network
1075 NW Murray Rd., Suite 244
Portland OR 97229-5501
Comments:
The Network newsletter publishes about a dozen puzzles in each issue
(it
comes out every two months), along with the names and addresses of
constructors; readers are invited to exchange puzzles with each other,
and many do. About half the members are retirees.
Crossword
Monthly
#20 Stg (extra overseas)
Subscripions:
The Crossword Club
Coombe Farm
Awbridge
Romsey, Hants SO51 0HN,
England
Comments:
Usually contains two barred grid puzzles, both of which are prize
crosswords. There are other interesting articles on various crossword
related issues. Distinctly British bent to things though. Good
value. The editor and publisher Brian Head can be reached at
crosswrd at romsey.u-net.com .
1 Across
Monthly
UK #18
Europe #19
Overseas airmail #21
Subscriptions
The Old Chapel,
Middleton Tyas,
Richmond,
Yorkshire DL10 6QX.
Comments
It is 10 years old. It was started by the Guardian's
Araucaria, joined now by Enigmatist and Hodge. There are 5
puzzles per issue, including a Prize Puzzle and one by a guest
setter. Many are "specials" such as jigsaws or thematics. The
difficulty level is at the top end of the usual Guardian
range, or a little higher. There is also an article on the
setting, solving or history of crosswords or a report on a
crossword event. It is subscription-only. Thanks to Jenny
Kosarew for the description.
New York Times Crossword Club
Monthly
US $39.95
Subscriptions
NYT Crossword Club,
PO Box 14852
Dayton,
OH 45413-0852
Comments
Nothing is known about it yet.
The Crosswords Club
Monthly
US $35, or $55 large print
Subscriptions
Wordsquare Publishing Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 740
Deerfield, IL 60015
Comments
Subscribers receive six brand-new Sunday-size puzzles per month,
each with commentary paragraph discussing theme or unusual answers.
Puzzles edited by Mel Rosen.
The Uptown Puzzle Club
Monthly
US $30
Subscriptions
Wordsquare Publishing Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 740
Deerfield, IL 60015
Comments
Subscribers receive five brand-new Sunday-size puzzles per month,
each with commentary paragraph discussing theme or unusual answers.
Puzzles edited by Stan Newman.
2.3) Misc. questions of interest.
?? Split up into separate questions eventually ??
Q: Is there an official Archiver for the rec.puzzles.crosswords
newsgroup?
Well not really...Ross Beresford has, on occasion, been known to dig up
the odd article or two, which may have gone out of date on the local
news server of choice. This service is performed on a completely
personal basis and he does not want to be considered the official
newsgroup archiver! Let us say he will not be too happy if you come in
his direction asking for the past year's rec.puzzles.crosswords
articles.
Q: What is "The Grauniad"?
It is a joke name for British newspaper "The Guardian" which is
legendary for its numerous typos. For example, in a 1992 crossword in
the weekly version of the paper, the last clue was omitted!
Q: Is Bill Clinton a crossword fan?
Yes.
Q: I'm British: what are "British style" crosswords? "American style"?
"British style" is a common American name for cryptic crosswords.
"American style" is the type of crossword that appears in all the
daily newspapers there. They are not cryptic, so are like British
"concise" or "quick" crosswords. The main difference is that every
square is checked: i.e. every letter of every answer is checked:
that is, every letter is part of an across and a down answer. There
are also many fewer black squares than in a British concise. Often
this means that obscure words, names of famous people, initials
etc. appear as answers.
Q: What is the difference between British and American cryptic clues?
Of course, British and American clues will use different spellings. One
might use "hue" to clue "colour" and the other to clue "color". There
are less obvious differences though, because there is no absolute rule
about the fairness of a crossword clue. Americans tend to insist that
each word in the clue contribute to the definition or wordplay, while
British people may be less strict. For example, the following clue once
caused a few disagreements in this newsgroup:
"Could this replace a super tom?"
The answer (spelt backwards) is PARTESUOM. It is an anagram and the
whole clue is the definition: this type of clue is known as an "&lit"
clue. Some Americans complained that the words "Could this" were
superfluous as they did not enter into the wordplay, while some British
people thought they added to the clue in an indefinable way. Another
example is that Americans do not care for clues with only a single
definition and no subsidiary indication. For example, a Times (of
London) clue:
"Kosher diet?"
The answer (backwards) is TESSENK. Although difficult to define, this
is acceptable because it is misleading and, once you have got the
answer, you can be sure you have it right. THeir "dislike" of such
clues arises possibly from their coming to the sport lately; they tend
to be more fervid about the "rigorousness" of the clues. Among American
markets for cryptic puzzles, only the magazine "The Nation" and the
cryptics edited by Maleska incorporate "loose" clues. At least qualify
the sentence by injecting the word "many" before "Americans".
It is impossible to define exactly what is acceptable, either to
Americans or to British people. You just have to learn from experience.
Q: Who sets the crossword in your daily newspaper?
The Times (of London) uses a number of crossword setters but they
are not named. There is a crossword editor at the Times, but that
person is not well known (though you get through if you write to
him/her). The Guardian and Independent use pseudonymous setters.
The Listener uses a huge variety of setters. Probably the people
behind them are less interesting than the source (e.g. Times,
Guardian etc). There are one or two exceptions, like the crossword
in the Observer which I think is always the same person. The
setter for the Irish Times cryptic crossword is probably an
exception in that he recently (March 1993) celebrated his golden
anniversary of setting crosswords for the paper.
Q. What is an &lit clue?
From Felix Lee (flee at guardian.cse.psu.edu):
&lit stands for "and literally". In non-cryptic crosswords, &lit
is usually attached to clues that are meant to be read two ways: as
a definition, and as a form of wordplay (eg, literally).
In cryptic crosswords, &lit is a term applied to clues where both
the definition and the cryptic parts are the whole clue itself, and
not separate parts of the clue. These clues are usually signalled
by a ? or a ! at the end.
Milk: it tenderly laps it! (6)
is a clue for KITTEN. This is a perfect &lit, since every word is
essential to both the definition and the cryptic.
Perfect &lits are hard to create. Partial &lits seem to turn up more
often:
You'll see nude imp moan horribly here! (11)
is a clue for PANDEMONIUM. The whole clue is the definition, but
only "nude imp moan horribly" is pertinent to the cryptic.
Straighten girth! (5)
is a clue for RIGHT. The whole clue is the cryptic, but only
"straighten" is pertinent to the definition.
From Roger Philips (roger at quantime.co.uk):
A "conventional" cryptic clue may be split into two (or more)
distinct parts, at least one of which is a straight definition of
the answer.
For example, in: A person selling things cheaply arranged
reductions (10)
the two parts are a definition of DISCOUNTER: A person selling
things cheaply, and an indication that the answer is an anagram of
REDUCTIONS: arranged reductions
The only difference in an &lit clue is that the two parts are
overlaid.
For example, in: I arrange reductions (10)
the definition is the whole clue (the answer is someone who makes
reductions happen), and the cryptic indication is also the whole
clue (the required word is a rearrangement of REDUCTIONS).
The mistake most often made is for part of the clue to contribute
to only one of the readings. To be an &lit clue, the *whole* clue
must be susceptible to two interpretations.
Q. What's an indirect anagram and why are they frowned upon in the
newsgroups clue writing competitions?
Thanks to Ilana Stern for this description.
Indirect anagrams are clues where the actual word to be anagrammed
does not appear in the clue; rather a synonym or pointer does. This
type of clue is frowned upon by most (not all; but those who do not
like it generally consider it completely unfair) because it is quite
hard.
Example: Train part of a swirling snowflake, for example (7)
Solution: FLATCAR = train part, swirling = anag. indicator,
snowflake, for example = fractal (which anagrams to flatcar).
This is an incredibly bad and difficult clue! The general rule is
that any letters to be anagrammed must be actually present in the
clue.
Q. Define surface reading and how important is it in clueing?
Note: I have strong opinions on this topic, vis a vis the necessity
of a clue having a surface reading.
*My* definition of good surface reading in a clue is:
something (the clue) you could say, or have said in the past, in
conversation and not something, while syntactically and
semantically possible, means nothing.
Tovah Hollander said:
My first-pass definition of acceptable surface reading would be:
would this clue make sense to someone who does not know anything
about cryptic clues? (Not "make sense as a clue", but simply "mean
something sensible".)
Better definitions are welcome?
Q. I've set a crossword which I think is good enough for
publication. Where can I send it for evaluation and possible
publication?
Thanks to Ray Hamel for the addresses provided below.
Editor
Penny Press
6 Prowitt St.
Norwalk, CT 06855
(Chicago Tribune crossword editor)
Herb Ettenson
14460 Strathmore Lane #308
Delray Beach, FL 33446
Janis Weiner
Magazine Editorial Services, Inc.
7002 West Butler Pike #100
Ambler, PA 19002
Editor
DELL CHAMPION CROSSWORDS
1540 Broadway
NY, NY 10036
You could always post the crossword to the newsgroup itself asking
for comments? The newsgroup is known to be frequented by some
major figures in the crossword world from both sides of the
Atlantic :-).
Does anyone out there have an addresses for european crossword setters?
Q. Anyone know some crossword slang?
Mostly From: Jerry Dunn (jerryd at rain.org)
cheater n. a black square in the upper left corner of a puzzle.
Since a constructor's skill is based on how well he or she can
weave words, and since a puzzle grid composed with a lot of black
squares does not take much effort to fill, it is considered a sign
of poor talent to have the very first square blackened. "The New
York Times did not buy my crossword because the first square was a
cheater."
(Another definition of a cheater comes from Mel Rosen as: cheater
n. A cheater is ANY black square, whether in a corner, along an
edge, or in the interior of a grid, which serves no purpose except
to simplify the constructor's task. Its removal would not change
the grid's word count. (A black square on an edge that exists to
accommodate an answer whose length is one less than the grid size
is not a cheater.)
commuter n. a crossword of small size (no larger than 15 x 15) and
low- to middle-range difficulty. So-called because a business
commuter can complete it on the train ride to or from work.
crosswordese n. a peculiar language of obscure words -- for
African tribes, Guatemalan lizards, etc. -- that turn up in
crossword puzzles because they have convenient letter patterns, but
never come up in daily conversation. Use of crosswordese indicates
a constructor without enough skill to use familiar words (generally
more difficult to interlock) and limits the possibilities for
original clues. "A seasoned solver is equipped with a wearisome
recall system for crosswordese -- such as 'Hawaiian goose' (nene)
and 'sea eagle' (erne)."
15 n. a 15x15 grid puzzle (also called a "daily"). Rel. 21: a
21x21 grid puzzle (also called a "Sunday"). "I've got to construct
five 15s and two 21s before the end of the month. Whew!"
new wave adj. a recent term used to describe puzzle constructors
who include brand names and pop culture in their puzzles and try to
steer away from crosswordese.
six down adj. a term of endearment used for great crossword
constructors who have passed away. "Eugene Maleska, 15-year
crossword editor for The New York Times, became six down on August
3, 1993."
unch n. unchecked letter. So-called because it does not
participate in both horizontal and vertical answer words in a
crossword diagram, and therefore its correctness can not be
double-checked by the solver. Considered unacceptable in American
puzzles. "I'm trying to solve for a 'city in Asia'; the crossing
letters give me K-R-C-I, and all the unknown letters are unches."
partial (short for partial phrase) n. a two- or three-word short
answer created by leaving a gap in a common expression (song
lyric, etc.). For example:
With this ring ___ wed (5) (I THEE)
and
"Of ___ sing" (5) (THEE I)
Q. How much does the New York Times etc. pay for a published
crossword?
From: pjordan321 at aol.com
THE NEW YORK TIMES
$75 for a 15x15
$300 for a 21x21
$350 for a 23x23
$100 for a 19x19 diagramless
CROSSWRD MAGAZINE
$40 for a 15x15
$75 for a 17x17
$100 for a 19x19
$150 for a 21x21
NEWSDAY CROSSWORD (Stan Newman)
$40 for a 15x15
This syndicated puzzle is being discontinued end of 1996.
Q. How do the UK quality dailies' cryptics compare in difficulty?
This question was recently posed in the newsgroup and the following
replies were received.
From Ross Beresford (ross at bryson.demon.co.uk):
"...by reputation, the Times and Guardian are the most difficult, the
Telegraph is the easiest and the Independent is somewhere in
between."
From Michael Curl (Curl at btinternet.com):
"I would rank them in descending order of difficulty: Times,
Independent, Guardian, Financial Times, Telegraph. HOWEVER, that is
a simplification as each newspaper has a team of up to 20 crossword
compilers so the difficulty can vary a lot in one newspaper from one
day to the next. Also, some compilers work for several of these
papers (I contribute to The Guardian and Financial Times, and have
had some in the Daily Telegraph previously) although setters may
modify their style according to the paper they are contributing to."
End of part2
--
James A. Lundon, DSC, Ballybrit Business Park, Galway, IE.
james dot lundon at dscie dot com - 353+91+760541.
"To be natural is such a difficult pose to keep up." O.W.