Solving Cryptic Crosswords: Position Indicators
Key Points
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The key way to manipulate letters and words
Already demonstrated by anagram and container indicators
Always part or all of the secondary indicator
o
Directional
These instruct the solver to present words/letters in a particular direction. Note that the
actual position of the answer in the grid may come into play here as answers may be
written left to right (across) or top to bottom (down).
Indicators
Back/backed/backwards
Retreating
Taken aback
Mounted
Reversed
Returned
Rising
Up/sent up
Retired/in retirement
Recalled
Climbing
Turned up
There are many more, but all indicate that words/letters should be use in a different
direction.
Examples:
a) Animals rush back (4)
b) Sketch minor standing up (4)
c) Follows an object with a camera, coming back with photograph (4)
o
Truncators and Subtractors
These instruct the solver to use a part of a word or synonym. Letters may be cut off either
end, or words may be cut short (truncated), or letters may be removed (subtracted)
Indicators - truncators
Briefly
Starting late
Endless
Topless
Shortly
Headless
Finishing early
With no leader
Mostly
Clear of
Without
Lacking
Missing
Losing
Relieved of
Indicators - subtractors
Removed from
Taken from
Not used in
There are many more, but all indicate that only part of a word or synonym needs to be
used.
Examples:
a)
b)
c)
d)
o
Slip by mischievous child when leader goes missing (5)
A beautiful place not finalised for cast (5)
Horse's bit not used by a prolific breeder (4)
Gaelic poetry with no introduction (5)
Positional
These instruct the solver to use words/letters in different places in the answer.
Words/letters may be put at the front, back, on, under other parts of the answer.
Indicators
In front
Behind
At the outset
After
Under
In the beginning
There are many more, but some can only be used for answers for down clues.
Examples:
a) Egyptian deity is beside itself (4)
b) Losing weight can start to grate after decline (7)
c) Price club put up front is steep (8)
o
Joining
These instruct the solver to join words/letters together. They don't actually change
position necessarily, but help with the surface reading of the clue.
Indicators
By
And
Taken by
Next to
Connected to
With
Remember that all words have valid synonyms too!
Examples:
a) Part of a ship maiden found wrecked next to creek (8)
b) Proposed in no time with new date (9)
c) Youngster next to a children's playhouse (5)
Position Indicators - answers
(Directional): deer (rush<-), draw (ward<-), snap (pans<-);
(Truncators and Subtractors) error (terror – t), heave (heaven – n), arab (a rabbit – bit), erse (verse –
v);
(Positional) isis (isx2), dieting (tin + g after die), macerate (rate with mace up front)
(Joining) maindeck (maiden* + (next to) ck), nominated (no + min (time) + (with) date*), cubby (cub
+ by)
Solving Cryptic Crosswords: Sounds Like
Key Points
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Based on homophones
Letters obtained by taking the sound of letters/words rather than the literal spelling
May be used as all or part of the entire answer
Limited set of indicators
Indicators
Sounds like
Heard
We hear
In audience
Pronounced
Expressed
Announced
Examples
a)
b)
c)
d)
Sound of stomach that’s empty (4)
Announcement of singing group in paper (5)
In all earnestness you are heard in a moderate way (8)
A number noisily consumed food (3)
Sounds Like – answers
Bare (empty), sounds like stomach (bear)
Quire (paper), sounds like choir (singing group)
Urgently (in all earnestness), sounds like u + r + gently (in a moderate way)
Ate (consumed food) sounds like eight (a number)