Oracle database design, development and administration
Data Management
Project Management
Archived stuff
A bit about me.
Read my blog
Recent additions
Home

Current Crossword      Crossword Archive

This page lists some basic tips on solving cryptic crosswords. This is not an exhaustive list, but should help get you started on the engrossing pastime of solving cryptics.

  1. Anagrams:
    This is a stock favourite of puzzle setters. The clue includes an anagram of the solution. As an example, the solution to the clue "Tick of time" is "mite" which is an anagram of "time" and also means "tick", as in insect.


  2. Compound Words:
    In this type of clue the solution is composed of two or more words that combine to mean something quite different. A simple example: the solution to "Sword to slice a girl with?" solves to "cutlass" (slice=cut, girl=lass and sword=cutlass).


  3. One word in another and variations thereof:
    In this type of clue, the solution is made up of one or more words or symbols is embedded in another. An example from my crossword of July 2002 - "Fix transcendental entwined in rear" solves to "repair". Here the transcendental is "pi", entwined in "rear" giving "repair" which means "to fix"


  4. Using Roman numerals, abbreviations, symbols etc.:
    This includes a wide class of clues which allude to abbreviations or symbols. Here are some possibilities:

    • Roman Numerals - Here letters which stand for Roman numerals (e.g. Hundred=C, Thousand=M, Fifty=L) are used. As an example consider the clue "Thousand aim to cripple", implying "maim", that is m+aim.


    • Symbols - This type of clue uses words which also stand for symbols (e.g. Nothing or Zero=O, Cross=X, Junction=T). An example from April 2002 - "Figure zero to hundred finally destroys our cherished notions" makes "iconoclast". Here figure=icon, zero to hundred=oc and finally=last.


    • Abbreviations - This type of clue uses standard (or sometimes, not so standard!) abbreviations. As an example "Branch a marine" solves to "arm", as in a + royal marine (RM). This, admittedly, would make more sense to a British resident than anyone else, but then a clue like "Indian in California", solving to "Inca", as in in + California (CA) would make more sense to an American!

  5. Reversed letters:
    This is really a special case of an anagram. An example from July 2002 - "Liar backs into bar" making "rail". I don't think any explanation's required, right?

Although this list of tips is far from comprehensive, it lists some of the standard "tricks" that I use when setting my puzzles. I hope it gives you some sense of how to solve cryptics.

Thanks for visiting this site, and happy puzzle solving!