CROSSWORDS: Decode Clues

Summary | Quotes |
Interactive Examples | Clue Examples | Annotated NYT Example |
References

misery
"I need an 8-letter word that means 'misery.' 'Homework'
"Thats funny, because I thought the word was D E A D L I N E"
by Graela is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Summary

  • The format/syntax of the clue is often as important as its content.
  • Part of speech -- noun: singular/plural; adjective; adverb;
    verb tense: present, past, infinitive, gerund;
    -- in clue will usually be mirrored in the answer.
  • Are you sure about part of speech?
    e.g., clue: "Red cards" could be a verb (ans: ejects) or a noun (ans: hearts)
  • First name of an actor/author mirrors first name of role/character; ditto for last name.
  • Is first letter of clue capitalized because it's first word or because it's a proper noun? (a 'veiled capital')
  • Abbrev. or ACRONYM or other letter sequence in clue will usually be reflected in answer.
  • Language of the answer often indicated by language of clue, e.g., French, Spanish, Latin,
    or inhabitant's name, e.g., Pierre, Juanita, Caesar,
    or place name, e.g., Riviera, Guanajuato, ancient Rome
  • "___" in a phrase: FITB (Fill in the Blank)
  • Expect ambiguity and humor -- and exceptions to 'rules'.
  • "?" may indicate esp. tricky, non-obvious answer from an unexpected context
  • ? might be omitted in crosswords that are expected to be more difficult in general, e.g., later in the week
  • "*" often suggests a theme answer -- look for commonalities between other *-entries;
    the center or last theme clue might "explain" the theme (aka 'the reveal / payoff');
    next section: Themes
  • A blank clue (or "-") -- it depends, e.g., reuse a neighboring clue
  • 'Cousin', 'relative' or 'partner' often indicates something in same category.
  • Occasionally both a constructor and an editor might miss a mistake.
  • Clue difficulty can vary by day of week, e.g., BACON (from Quigley):
    Mon: "Strips with fried eggs"
    Wed: "Sir Francis"
    Sat: "Strips in a club"
  • e.g., STRAP:
    Mon: "Subway rider's handhold"
    Wed: "Part of a bike helmet"
    Sat: "What might keep a watch on you"
  • ACPT division examples: A (advanced), B (intermediate), C (beginner), from Romano:
    1D: FIEDLER
    A. Boston leader for half a century
    B. Longtime Boston pops leader
    C. Conductor Arthur

    19A: DESERTBLOOM
    A. Symbol of beauty in harsh conditions
    B. 1986 coming-of-age movie set in Las Vegas
    C. Cactus flower

    30A: DANDELION
    A. Plant named for the teeth of a big cat
    B. Kind of wine
    C. Yard nuisance
  • The puzzle editor may prefer certain definitions, e.g., OREO
    pre-Shortz era (< 1993): prefix for mountain -- as in “oreortyx,” a mountain quail
    Shortz era: creme-filled cookie -- and many variations, esp. for day of week
  • The year of the puzzle may suggest what slang and pop culture references were possible;
    also a country's currency, e.g., before or after EU
  • Is date of puzzle on/near a holiday/event/anniversary?
  • Be prepared to think both literally and metaphorically
    -- and outside the box(es):
  • The 'meaning' of a clue may not be a definition, but literally the name or sound of a clue letter,
    e.g., "Head of cattle?" = HARD C;
    "Carriage part?" = SILENT I;
    or a letter sequence, e.g., "RV center" = STU
  • A clue might "break the 4th wall" and refer to the solver,
    e.g., using pen or ink, looking up hints
  • Some clues might be modified by theme to make sense, e.g., Univ, 1/10/2021
    23A. Cement made with 2.5% copper = COPPER PENNY
    32A. Theme present = THIS DAY AND AGE
    51A. Painfully meshy chaps, perhaps = SHRINKING VIOLETS
    68A. Firmest lights = DAYBREAKS
    70A. Amexes used by some Native Americans = TOMAHAWKS
    87A. Romeo's friend = CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
    104A.They circle a games giant = RINGS OF SATURN
    121A. "Pretend I'm not here" -- and a hint to the two extra letters in each starred clue = JUST IGNORE ME
  • An answer square might contain more than 1 letter, e.g., rebus (next section: Themes)
  • A block (dark square) might stand for an 'empty' word in a phrase, e.g., "BOX", "BLOCK", "HOLE"
  • Online tool, e.g., crosswordgiant.com: enter a clue to find possible answers;
    or enter an answer (or pattern) to find possible clues
  • For UK cryptics (described earlier: Solving: Choose Difficulty), clues are quite different:
    e.g., New Yorker interactive Cryptic clue guide Anagram, Hidden Word, Homophone, Double Definition,
    Assemblage (Charade), Deletion, Reversal, Container, Bits and Pieces, Multiple

Quotes

Interactive Examples

Some Interesting Clues I've Collected

An Annotated NYT Example

  • NYT 1/23/2011 puzzle(blank): [.pdf]; solution: [.pdf] neat, [.pdf] handwritten
  • FITB (Fill In The Blank): 32-A, 36-A, 79-A, 85-A (!), 97-A, 128-A, 2-D, 9-D, 11-D, 41-D, 87-D, 95-D*, 121-D
  • first name: 1-A, 39-A, 65-A, 67-A, 96-A, 101-A, 118-A, 8-D, 66-D ('familiarly'), 116-D
  • last name: 24-A, 89-A, 5-D, 9-D, 58-D
  • *-prefix (theme answers): 6-A, 12-A, 17-A, ...
  • plurals: 22-A, 47-D ('they'); 42-A&45-A (repetition); 61-A ('and the like'); 8-D ('and others'); 37-D ('array');
    28-D, 81-D, 86-D ('?'); 31-A, 46-A, 59-A, 71-A, 124-A, 1-D, 3-D, 16-D, 27-D, 33-D, 46-D, 60-D ('-s')
  • abbrev./acronym: 28-A ('briefly'), 100-A ('Vette); 105-A, 70-D, 85-D ('org.'); 10-D ('sch.'); 23-D ('Trig');
    33-D ('R.N.s'); 81-D ('letters'); 96-D ('acronym'); 112-D ('abbr.'); 82-A, 94-D (?)
  • singular: ('when repeated'); prefix: 74-A, 114-A; tense: 50-A ('-ed'), 35-D ('took'), 99-D ('-ing')
  • adverb/adjective: 18-A, 126-A, 21-D, 51-D, 78-D, 79-D, 105-D
  • literal: 22-A(año), 42-A & 45-A ('N N N'); refs to other clues: 61-A
  • pop culture/music: 1-A, 24-A, 26-A, 29-A, 36-A, 39-A, 65-A, 67-A, 88-A, 96-A, 101-A, 122-A, 127-A,
    8-D, 9-D, 13-D, 38-D, 40-D, 42-D, 54-D, 66-D, 73-D, 77-D, 92-D, 116-D, 117-D
  • literary (2 Shakespeare!): 32-A, 2-D, 5-D, 52-D; slang/current: 38-A, 85-A, 104-A, 7-D, 92-D, 109-D
  • geographical/historical/political: 12-A, 29-A, 89-A, 118-A, 9-D, 14-D, 68-D, 70-D, 87-D, 102-D
  • Roman numerals: 78-A
  • math/science: 12-A, 23-D, 58-D, 64-D, 87-D, 111-D
  • crosswordese: 62-A ('as is'?), 96-A ('Ara'), 28-D ('A-one')
  • languages: Spanish: 30-A, 63-A; French: 59-A, 103-A; Greek: 42-A; Latin: 86-D; (?): 93-A ('whence the word')
  • compass heading: 48-D
  • puns: 76-A ('carrying a toon')
  • ambiguity: 31-A ('winds'), 34-A ('touch'), 49-A ('slant'), 68-A ('hood'), 69-A ('shocker'), 90-A ('King'),
    98-A ('Numbers'), 116-A ('don't get it'), 114-A ('opening'), 124-A ('homes'), 125-A ('house'),
    1-D ('heads'), 6-D ('party'), 15-D ('in a way'), 12-D & 16-D ('pointer(s)'), 28-D ('tops'),
    32-D ('prone'), 43-D ('hitch'), 47-D ('keys'), 57-D ('opening'), 81-D ('letters'), 106-D ('bit'),
    115-D ('revealing'), 119-D ('straight')

References