![]() The best piece of advice is to try to find the anagrams first. The answer “separate” is an anagram of “spare tea”. ![]() In the clue above “Order spare tea” is telling you to put the letters to the phrase “spare tea” in a new order. That’s why it appears as number one in this list of top ten hints for solving a cryptic crossword. This can be done in a variety of ways, but the easiest one to spot is an anagram. TOP TEN LIST OF HINTS FOR SOLVING CRYPTIC CROSSWORDSĪs for the rest of the cryptic clue, this is usually the part that explains how the letters are structured in the answer. It is important therefore to try and scan each clue to see if you can find the section that means the same as the answer. For example, in the clue “Order spare tea on its own (8)” the answer is “Separate” meaning “on its own” whereas “(8)” is signaling an 8-letters word. Often it won’t be a large part of the clue, it may only be a short phrase or just one word, but it will be there. The first thing to appreciate about cryptic crosswords is that a synonym for the actual answer is still there, hidden inside the clue usually at the start or end of the sentence. This article will show you how to interpret the clues in a cryptic crossword, how to apply the hidden rules that govern the workings of such a puzzle and hopefully enable you to have a go at completing your very first cryptic crossword. And this is all because, in a cryptic crossword there are a number of unwritten rules, keys that need to be known and used in order to unlock each answer, providing that you understand them and know how to use them. All of a sudden, the crossword compiler seems to be speaking a different language. Its only when you come to try and find solutions to the clues that the problems become apparent. The clues themselves often seem straight forward enough. The answers fit into a grid in the same way as a conventional crossword. Cryptic Crossword – A different kind of puzzleĪnd yet it all looks so familiar. Whether searching for synonyms or testing your general knowledge, the simple crossword is an easily accessible activity that most people can understand and enjoy on its own merits.īut what about the cryptic crossword? Despite appearances to the contrary, this is a different kind of puzzle entirely.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |