Types of Cryptic Clues
Now we get to the nitty gritty.
The form of the Wordplay determines the type of clue. I will try and list as many as I can.
As before in example clues I will indicate the Definition using underlining eg Breaking of rule by trade union cheat.
1. Anagrams
Everybody knows and loves anagrams - the most overused and abused type of clue in the list. Especially now with anagram programs. Just because you CAN make an anagram doesn’t make it good or fitting. And there are so many types of clues, so why have half (or more) just this one type? Also most anagrams are easy to pick which cuts down the fun. And a lot of compilers have to resort to adding unnecessary words to create some sense in the clue. (Do you think I have an obsession about this?)
There are hundreds (thousands?) of words which can indicate an anagram. Just follow the links in a thesaurus for ‘change’ or ‘mix’ for example. Unless they are very well disguised they usually stick out like the proverbials. There are also the ubiquitous ‘say’, ‘maybe’, ‘perhaps’, ‘about’, etc. which can all have other uses in a clue.
The main reason anagrams can be easy, is the rule that all the letters have to be in the clue - usually in a string. This is one case where a second hand reference is mostly frowned on. So if a compiler wants to use the anagram listen/tinsel he must put something like ‘Hear the swirling tinsel (6)’ and not ‘Hear the swirling decorations (6)’. Sometimes compilers will break this rule with fairly simple associations, and I think it should happen more often.
There are two main exceptions to the basic rule:
i. Common abbreviations. So you might find ‘left oaf’ meaning ‘L oaf’ as an anagram for ‘foal’. Or ‘in silver’ ie ‘in Ag’ as an anagram for ‘gain’.
ii. Connecting words (again). So ‘Breaking of rule by trade union cheat (9)’ would be acceptable. ‘.. rule accepted by trade ..’ would be OK since ‘accepted by’ = ‘absorbed’, but ‘.. rule condoned by trade ..’ would not since there is no connective connotation in ‘condoned by’.
In solving anagrams some people write the letters (randomly or not) in a circle. Usually in capital letters for some reason. This is one way of dissociating the letters from the given words. I prefer to put the letters in a line in alphabetic order in lower case. My brain definitely works better with small letters, and it surprising how many words have a sequence of letters which are in alphabetic order, or have double letters, etc. Another method I use is to concentrate on the possible endings, which can be limited by the part of speech you are looking for.
There is one rarer type of anagram clue which could be called a reverse anagram. You still have to make an anagram, and you also have to provide an indicator word to complete the answer. So if ‘segg’ was a word you might see, ‘Could segg provide breakfast?! (8,4)’ to get ‘scrambled eggs’. Clues of this type will generally look like anagrams, and will have at least one ‘?’ or ‘!’ at the end.
Btw, the word used to indicate the anagram is the ‘anagrind’. The letters which make up the anagram are called the ‘anagrist’.
2. Second definition
This is one of the clue types that I have most difficulty with, because with two definitions there is nothing to manipulate. You just have to recognise that both definitions can relate back to the same source.
Bliss in bus (9) -> transport.
I actually find this type of clue easier to solve if one or both the definitions are puns.
Note: you will at times find multiple definitions. The record for the Times is around 16.
3. Additions/concatenations
Carpentry = car + pen + try = carp + entry.
Each subword will be given its own subdefinition, and once again you can either have connecting words or not, eg. 'Motor-writer has attempt at woodwork (9)'.
As an aside, from our original rules a clue can’t just have two lots of Wordplay. So it is invalid to have a clue of ‘Motor-writer has attempt to drive in after fish (9)’ for ‘carpentry’. Sometimes you will find yourself trying to solve a clue as if it did have two lots of Wordplay, and it is just doesn’t work.
The second part of that last clue also shows that the subdefinitions do not have to be in the same order as the final subwords. In particular the word ‘on’ can mean ‘before’ or ‘after’. Connectors such as ‘over’ or ‘under’ will normally only used in down clues.
4.Inclusions
Slip up = ‘lip’ included in ‘sup’ (shorthand ‘s[lip]up’)
Once again many words can be used to indicate includes/included - the action can be denoted either way. One to look out for is ‘without’ which has one meaning of ‘outside’ - as in ‘The king waits without’. (Yes, I have heard the joke.) So, the use of ‘without’ can indicate an Inclusion or a Deletion.
Expectoration withheld in Playbox (7) -> sandpit = s[and]pit
Note that ‘withheld’ contains both a subdefiniton of part of the answer (with = and), and the indicator word ‘held’. ‘In’ is a connector.
Expectoration within Playbox (7) -> sandpit.
‘Within’ is another portmanteau word for the subdefinition of and, and the indicator word ‘in’. This time there is no connector.
5. Deletions
A Deletion can be the reverse of an Addition or an Inclusion.
Entry = carpentry - carp (shorthand ‘{carp}entry’)
Sup = slip up - lip = s{lip} up
The indicator words are antonyms of those used for Addition/Inclusion. (I haven’t yet come across ‘within’ being used for ‘take off’.)
Possessive female doctor eschews beer (3) -> her = he{ale}r.
6. Truncations
This is Form of Deletion that I find taxing. Unlike the previous type where the letters to be deleted are sub-defined, it is possible to specify a Truncation as ‘drop the last letter’, ‘beheaded’, ‘endlessly’, etc.
Greedy man beheaded (4) -> avid = {D}avid
Prime feather cut off (4) -> plum = plum{e}.
For some reason I find the end deletions more difficult.
6. Reversals
War/raw, tram/mart, etc.
Also has many indicator words: ‘re-’ words, back-, over, etc. Some indicator words are the same as those used for Anagrams, and really a Reversal is just a special type of Anagram. But because the letters can only be rearranged in one specific way, subdefinitions are allowed.
Backward students make errors (4,2) -> slip up
This is one of the few types of clue where you don’t always immediately know which answer is right, and may have to wait for checkers for confirmation.
Undresses contrarily for nap (5) -> sleep, can equally be read as
Undresses contrarily for nap (5) -> peels
One form of this clue is a three letter answer which only has the middle letter checked. I think this is unfair of the setter. The answer is a 50/50 bet. Toss a coin!
Across clues may also be indicated in terms of going west. Down clues may refer to going up, or heading north.
7. Homonyms/sounds like
There/their, rough/ruff, etc. Indicator words generally relate to speaking or sound, but can stretch to radio and audience.
Soundly operated on the cat with a shovel? (5) -> spade. Note the ‘with a’ is purely a connector.
Can cause problems like Reversals if the 2 words are the same length.
8. Hidden
This is another type of clue where all the letters you need are right there before you. From a previous example, ‘lip’ is hidden in ‘slip up’. In a Hidden clue the words ‘slip up’ would actually appear, whereas in a Deletion clue, you might have to negotiate subdefinitions. This is probably the easiest type of clue there is. Indicator words - some, contains, holds, etc.
Some offer! I doubt it’s free (3) -> rid
Selection of finest art in gallery opening (8) -> starting.
Hidden words can also be in reverse. Look for combinations of hidden/reverse indicators.
Be back in at six, Eddie (5) -> exist.
This type of clue can be most difficult when the answer is an uncommon word or the Definition is esoteric. A recent example: 'Some hangers-on or antsy heads of Women's Institute (9)'. 'Sonorants' are vocal sounds that use open vocal chords. They include the sounds of 'W' and 'I'. The more I look at this clue I am convinced that it actually has two lots of Wordplay. Which just proves all rules can be broken. 9. Acronyms Usually constructed from initial letters (first, beginning, initial, in the van, etc), or last letters (antonyms of previous), but can be all second, or other letters. Celebrity opens new and marvellous extravaganza (4) -> name Comic closes slow jacuzzi spot (3) -> wit. In this type of clue (similar to Anagrams) the letters you need will be in the clue. You don’t have to construct a phrase from subdefinitions and then take (say) the leading letters from that. Also in reverse 10. Sequences Similar to Acronyms but the answer uses every second letter of words (usually consecutive) in the clue. Indicator words - oddly, evenly, not even, sporadic, etc. Might start with the first or second letter of the first word. Can sometimes be every third letter. Oddly, some Orkney chimneys do (5) -> smoke. Notice that this clue taken as a whole can also be considered a definition. This is another result good compilers strive for. If you find someone who can achieve this consistently, stick with them. Also in reverse 11. Substitution Part of word is substituted by another set of letters to create a new word. Indicator words: sub-, replace, change, etc. By now you should be getting the sense that many indicator words can be used in multiple types of clues. No-one said it was going to be straightforward. ‘Flame’ = ‘frame’ with ‘l’ substituted for ‘r’. The clue might refer to a change of direction. Ratio when fixed hand is replaced by 100 (7) -> percent = ‘permanent’ with ‘man’ replaced by ‘c’. As you can see, subdefinitions are OK. 12. Transportations Part of a word is moved to a new position to create another word. This can be anything from a single letter upwards. Once again it a subform of Anagram, but with a limited rearrangement so subdefinitions are allowed. Animals move north of rifles (4) -> gnus = ‘guns’ with the ‘n’ transported. 13. Swaps These are a special form of Transportations where 2 elements move to replace each other. ‘Slate’ = ‘stale with the ‘t’ and ‘l’ swapped. There are 2 special subforms: i. Whole subwords are swapped, eg ‘houselights’ from ‘lighthouses’. ii. Spoonerisms. These will have ‘Spooner’ somewhere in the clue. You will probably need to create a phrase from the subdefinitions, and then do the initial letter swap. Once the transportation is done you may the have to adjust the spelling for homonyms. Spooner’s cereal cup’s cost increase (5,4) -> price rise = (Spooner’s) rice prize = cereal cup 14. Overlaps A word may be constructed from two words where the final letter(s) of one word is/are the same as the initial letter(s) of the other. Indicator words may be more (overlaid) or less (glued) specific. ‘Spare’ is the overlap of ‘spar’ and ‘are’ ‘Slip up’ = ‘slip’ and ‘pup’ overlapping Overlapping signs pointing to book-stores (9) -> librAries. Earlier pain overlaid by beating (7) -> paSTing. 15. Interspersions The subwords have letters interspersed. An uncommon type of clue which may take the form of a Sequence Inclusion or a Sequence Overlap. Indicator words are usually forms of ‘mix’ which imply blotchiness, etc. (Which of course are common Anagram indicators!) May be simply indicated as Overlaps. ‘Holding hands, stroke and croon when fixing wallpaper (7)’ for ‘pasting’ = PAsTing. ‘Jeep’s intermittent howl indicates critical deficiency (6)’ for ‘scurvy’ = ScUrVy. 16. Combinations The Wordplay may be a combination of 2 or more of the above. Most clues will be Combinations.
This type of clue can be most difficult when the answer is an uncommon word or the Definition is esoteric. A recent example: 'Some hangers-on or antsy heads of Women's Institute (9)'. 'Sonorants' are vocal sounds that use open vocal chords. They include the sounds of 'W' and 'I'. The more I look at this clue I am convinced that it actually has two lots of Wordplay. Which just proves all rules can be broken. 9. Acronyms Usually constructed from initial letters (first, beginning, initial, in the van, etc), or last letters (antonyms of previous), but can be all second, or other letters. Celebrity opens new and marvellous extravaganza (4) -> name Comic closes slow jacuzzi spot (3) -> wit. In this type of clue (similar to Anagrams) the letters you need will be in the clue. You don’t have to construct a phrase from subdefinitions and then take (say) the leading letters from that. Also in reverse 10. Sequences Similar to Acronyms but the answer uses every second letter of words (usually consecutive) in the clue. Indicator words - oddly, evenly, not even, sporadic, etc. Might start with the first or second letter of the first word. Can sometimes be every third letter. Oddly, some Orkney chimneys do (5) -> smoke. Notice that this clue taken as a whole can also be considered a definition. This is another result good compilers strive for. If you find someone who can achieve this consistently, stick with them. Also in reverse 11. Substitution Part of word is substituted by another set of letters to create a new word. Indicator words: sub-, replace, change, etc. By now you should be getting the sense that many indicator words can be used in multiple types of clues. No-one said it was going to be straightforward. ‘Flame’ = ‘frame’ with ‘l’ substituted for ‘r’. The clue might refer to a change of direction. Ratio when fixed hand is replaced by 100 (7) -> percent = ‘permanent’ with ‘man’ replaced by ‘c’. As you can see, subdefinitions are OK. 12. Transportations Part of a word is moved to a new position to create another word. This can be anything from a single letter upwards. Once again it a subform of Anagram, but with a limited rearrangement so subdefinitions are allowed. Animals move north of rifles (4) -> gnus = ‘guns’ with the ‘n’ transported. 13. Swaps These are a special form of Transportations where 2 elements move to replace each other. ‘Slate’ = ‘stale with the ‘t’ and ‘l’ swapped. There are 2 special subforms: i. Whole subwords are swapped, eg ‘houselights’ from ‘lighthouses’. ii. Spoonerisms. These will have ‘Spooner’ somewhere in the clue. You will probably need to create a phrase from the subdefinitions, and then do the initial letter swap. Once the transportation is done you may the have to adjust the spelling for homonyms. Spooner’s cereal cup’s cost increase (5,4) -> price rise = (Spooner’s) rice prize = cereal cup 14. Overlaps A word may be constructed from two words where the final letter(s) of one word is/are the same as the initial letter(s) of the other. Indicator words may be more (overlaid) or less (glued) specific. ‘Spare’ is the overlap of ‘spar’ and ‘are’ ‘Slip up’ = ‘slip’ and ‘pup’ overlapping Overlapping signs pointing to book-stores (9) -> librAries. Earlier pain overlaid by beating (7) -> paSTing. 15. Interspersions The subwords have letters interspersed. An uncommon type of clue which may take the form of a Sequence Inclusion or a Sequence Overlap. Indicator words are usually forms of ‘mix’ which imply blotchiness, etc. (Which of course are common Anagram indicators!) May be simply indicated as Overlaps. ‘Holding hands, stroke and croon when fixing wallpaper (7)’ for ‘pasting’ = PAsTing. ‘Jeep’s intermittent howl indicates critical deficiency (6)’ for ‘scurvy’ = ScUrVy. 16. Combinations The Wordplay may be a combination of 2 or more of the above. Most clues will be Combinations.