Useful Resources
Contents
1. A tutorial on Cryptic Crosswords by our very own Shedder Alfred Sharpe.
2.
1. A tutorial on Cryptic Crosswords by our very own Shedder Alfred Sharpe : Version 2
Last updated 18 April 2020
Hi Shedders,
I learned to do cryptic crosswords by looking at the clues and the answers and trying to see how they are connected. So what I have done in this guide is to take clues from different puzzles, given the answer, and how the answer is worked out. That way you will learn some of the techniques the setters use to describe the answer that is wanted but in a cryptic way.
A simple crossword puzzle has clues which you can look up in a dictionary or other reference book to find the word or words that have the same meaning as the clue. In a cryptic crossword the clues are disguised, which makes them more challenging - and interesting.
How cryptic clues are made up
Every clue has two parts. One part is the same as a clue in a simple crossword. This is the answer that you need to fill in. I'll call this part the Definition.
The Definition can be one word or more, or a phrase, or even the entire clue and can be at the beginning or end of the clue. If you identify the definition you can solve it in the same way as a simple crossword.
The other part gives you extra information to help you solve the clue. I'll call this the Helper. The helper is disguised using many ways, and this is what I want to show in the examples.
In a simple crossword anagrams are indicated by (anag.). In a cryptic crossword hints are given which will indicate that it is an anagram. I have called these hints Signals. Signals are also used in other types of clues.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the clue is not telling a story. For example: "Peruvian beast turns a shopping area over. As a story it makes no sense. You must read this as "Peruvian beast" and "turns a shopping area over", two separate clues. One is the Definition and the other the Helper.
Types of clues
There are seven types of clues:
Type 1. Synonyms
These clues have two Definitions. Both definitions point to the same answer, do there is no need for a Helper. They are usually very short, like "Worker, drink".
Example 1
Beginning to make a breach (7)
"Beginning" and "to make a breach" are both Definitions. They have the same answer, OPENING.
Type 2: Anagrams
An anagram is a word made up by the letters of another word or words. The letters THE ROAN can be made into ANOTHER.
Example 2
Shows contempt for a bad deed, sir(7)
Definition: contempt
Helper: deed sir
Signal: bad
An anagram for deed sir is DERIDES, which means contempt.
There are many words that are used as signals such as: ruined, wrong, unusual, damaged, confused, redesigned, redefined, etc.
3. Hidden clues
In these clues the answer stares you in the face but is hidden within the clue. All you have to do is find it!
Example 3
God's messengers held in gang elsewhere (6)
Definition: God's messengers
Helper: gANG ELSewhere
Signal: held in
Answer: ANGELS
As with anagrams many different words are used as signals.
Type 4: Homophones
Homophones are words that have the same sound but different spellings, like piece and peace, fair and fare, prey and pray.
Example 4
Victim is heard to make supplication (4)
Definition: victim
Helper: to make supplication
Signal: is heard
Answer: PREY
Like anagrams, this type of clue usually has a signal. Many signals are used, any word or phrase that suggests sound: hear, said, say, sounds like.
Type 5: Charades
This is a very common cryptic device and you will come across charade clues in every cryptic crossword. Samples of answers are WHEEL from W+HEEL, SLIGHT from S+LIGHT, GOSLING from GO+SLING.
The answer is made up of two or more parts, like a charade in words.
Example 5
Wave cereal bowl (8)
Definition: wave
Helper: cereal and bowl
Answer: BRANDISH from BRAN+DISH
Type 6: Container clue
This is where the answer is a word (or part of a world, or phrase, or abbreviation, or a single letter) contained in another.
Example 6
Damp fog contains nothing (5)
Definition: damp
Helper: fog and nothing
Signal: contains
Answer: MOIST
Fog is MIST and nothing is O for zero
Again, Signal can be given in many ways: enclosing, surrounding, embracing, inside, in.
Type 7: Reversal clues
These are the same as Hidden clues but the letters are in reverse order, going left in Across clues and up in Down clues.
Example 7
Do away with, silo back inside (7)
Definition: do away with
Helper: silo
Signal: inside and back
Answer: AB-OLIS-H
More examples
1. In which there's many a patient rehearsal (7)
Definition: rehearsal
Helper: in which there is many a patient' or 'rehearsal
Answer: PRACTICE.
2. They pinch children (7)
Definition: they pinch and children
Two clues which mean the same thing
Answer: NIPPERS
3. Does old inconsequential designs (7)
Definition: inconsequential designs
Helper: does old
Answer: DOODLES
4. Put a name to a boy embracing a pretty girl (8)
Definition: put a name to
Helper: boy and pretty girl
Signal: embracing
Answer: LA-BELLE-D
5. Quick and quiet in attack (5)
Definition: quick
Helper: quiet and attack
Signal: in
Answer: RA-P-ID
P for quiet as in music.
6. Musician seen in Chapel Gardens (5)
Definition: Musician
Helper: chapELGARdens
Signal: seen in
Answer: ELGAR
7. Faint - when relative arrives? (7)
Definition: faint
Helper: relatives and arrives
Answer: UNCLEAR
AR is abbreviation for arrives
NOTE: Remember that words can have more than one meaning, such as faint here.
8. A word of agreement in eastern observers (4)
Definition: observers
Helper: word of agreement and eastern
Signal: in
Answer: EY-E-S
Here E is used for eastern
9. Waits upon you and me properly - it's our fault! (6,2,5)
Definition: it's our fault (exclamation mark implies a twist)
Helper: waits upon, you and me, properly
Answer: SERVES US RIGHT
10. She might have a part in current Hair production (7)
Definition: she might have a part
Helper: current and Hair
Signal: production
Answer: ACTRESS
AC for current in electricity
11. Thus fifty unsettled fellows unsmiling (6)
Definition: unsmiling
Helper: thus, fifty, unsettled fellows
Signal: unsettled
Answer: SOLEMN
SO for thus, L for fifty in Roman numerals, EMN anagram of MEN
12. Excellent pace in bottom gear? (5,4)
Definition: excellent
Helper: pace and bottom gear
Answer: FIRST GEAR
13. Poisonous growth from Pennsylvania in America (4)
Definition: poisonous growth
Helper: Pennsylvania and America
Signal: in
Answer: UPAS
PA for Pennsylvania, US for America.
Upas is a poisonous tree
14. He has progressed to some degree and remains unmatched (9)
Definition: remains unmatched
Helper: he, degree
Answer: BACHELOR
BA degree
15. Stimulus needed to provide endless acceleration (4)
Definition: stimulus
Helper: endless acceleration
Answer: SPUR
T missing from SPURT
16. One needs to do business to achieve this (5)
Definition: to achieve this
Helper: one, to do business
Answer: IDEAL
One is I in Roman numerals
17. This clue won't hold water (6)
Definition: won't hold water
Helper: none
Answer: POROUS
18. About class to change education (6)
Definition: change
Helper: about, class
Answer: REFORM
RE for about
19. Happy days but teaser in tirmoil (6)
Definition: happy days
Helper: teaser
Signal: turmoil
Answer: EASTER
Anagram of TEASER
20. Tradesman will complain and then go in (9)
Definition: tradesman
Helper: complain, go in
Answer: CARPENTER
21. Blend fuel with Epsom salts, combining everything at the start (8)
Definition: blend
Helper: fuel, Epsom, Salts, Combining, Everything
Signal: at the start
Answer: COALESCE
Coal and the first letter in each word. Sometimes'initially' is used.
Use of abbreviations and single letters
Abbreviations and single letters are often used in clues. There are too many abbreviations in use so I won't give examples, but look out for America (US) and state names like NY, etc.
Clues like 'Labour leader' (L) or ' end of times' (S) can be used to indicate any letter in the alphabet. Roman numerals I for one, V for five, VI for six, X for ten, L for fifty, C, M and D are common. Also musical terms P for soft or quiet, F and FF for loud and very loud