Tips for Solving Cryptic Crossword Puzzles

Inside Secrets from a Crossword Veteran

Over the years I have taught my techniques for solving crosswords to several enthusiasts, for example, my daughter. I hope to be able to teach my grand-children as well. I would like to share some of these techniques with you as well. Hopefully these techniques will help you enjoy solving cryptic crosswords and give a much-needed fillip to this dying art. After you read the techniques below, try your hand at some of the example clues at the bottom of the page.

Tips & Tricks

1. Synonyms: Most cryptic clues involve knowing the synonyms of some word that is part of the clue. Often the synonym is on the secondary or tertiary meaning of the word in the clue, not the primary meaning. For example, a clue may contain the word "contract". The wording of the clue may suggest a synonym for the meaning of "contract" as in "reduce in size". However, the real answer may require a synonym for "contract" that means "acquire, catch or get". Solving such clues may require taking into account multiple meanings of words and then thinking of synonyms. Another technique involving synonyms involves using Roman numerals for numbers mentioned in the clue. For example, if the number "six" is mentioned in the clue, it could be that the answer has the letters "VI" in it. Non-specific numbers, such as "many" or "large number" could hint to the Roman numerals "C", "D" or "M".

2. Abbreviations: Cryptic clues sometimes involve knowing about well-known abbreviations. Typically, if a clue contains certain words, you must understand the oblique reference to certain institutions or organisations, and use abbreviations for those institutions. The letters in that abbreviation may be part of the answer to the clue.

   Abbreviation	Full Form	Words that suggest this abbreviation
   RA	Royal Academy	artist, painter
   RE	Royal Engineers	engineer, sapper
   AB	Able-Bodied	sailor, seaman, tar
   ER	Elizabeth Regina	queen
   Re	Regarding	about
   C, CA	Circa	around

3. Letter Manipulations: One particularly tricky technique in solving cryptic crosswords in inserting letters within the answer to part of the clue. For example, suppose the answer to some clue is "contract". The clue may be worded such that most of the clue suggests the answer is "contact", but the rest of the clue suggests inserting the letter 'r' somewhere in the middle. This technique is tricky because the answer is more than one step removed from the clue. First, you have to speculate that this technique may be involved. Look for giveaway words like "around" or "dance"; they suggest that some letters must be inserted. Giveaways like "without" or "loses" suggest that some letters must be removed. Next, you have to identify the part of the clue for which the "sub-answer" is a word. Next, you must find synonyms for that part to get the "sub-answer". Next, you must take the rest of the clue and find out the letters to insert/remove. Finally, you must insert/remove the letters in/from the correct place in the "sub-answer" to get the final answer. Phew. Good luck.

4. Anagrams: Anagrams are a relatively easy technique, provided you can find the words that constitute the anagram. Look for helper phrases in the clue that suggest you must use this technique. For example, if the clue has giveaways like "mix", "break", "new", "mad", "arrange" or "around", you could try making anagrams of the words near them. Words like "back" and "returning" are even more specific giveaways; try reading the letters of a nearby word backwards.

5. Homophones: Homophones are another fairly easy technique, once you recognise them. Here, the puzzle-setter wants you to guess a word or part of the word that sounds like the final answer. For example, the puzzle-setter may clue you to "sail" and then hint that you must find a homophone, e.g., "sale", that could be the final answer. Helper phrases like "sounds like" and "we hear" in the clue suggest trying this technique.

6. Hidden Answers: This technique is really easy... provided you can spot it. Here, the puzzle-setter gives you the answer to the clue within the clue itself. The letters that constitute the answer will appear, in exact order, but split across two or more words within the clue. Look for such clues when the answer has few characters; obviously, it is harder to embed answers that have many letters. Another hint to use this technique is when some of the words in the clue seem to have no particular obvious use or relation to what you suspect is the final answer.

7. Literary References: The Bible is a favourite hunting ground for puzzle-setters wishing to include literary references in their clues. Other popular authors are Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll and Oscar Wilde.

   Answer	Reference	Words that suggest this reference
   Abel, Cain	Bible	brother
   Esau	Bible	twin, Jacob's twin
   mad, hatter	Alice in Wonderland	hatter, mad

8. Composite Clues: Sometimes, multiple techniques may have to be invoked in order to arrive at the final answer. For example, letter manipulations often require using abbreviations for the letters to be inserted or removed. Rarely, in extraordinarily difficult crosswords, two tough techniques will be used together, e.g., anagram of a synonym.

9. Technological Help: You can also try sites like Unscramblerer if you have a sense of the letters involved but need a bit of help. What's that? That's "cheating"? Who cares! Just have fun!

Practice Session

Happy solving!