{"id":490,"date":"2017-02-22T19:09:31","date_gmt":"2017-02-22T19:09:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.clueclinic.com\/?p=490"},"modified":"2018-12-12T10:21:39","modified_gmt":"2018-12-12T10:21:39","slug":"annotation-cryptic-clues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clueclinic.com\/index.php\/2017\/02\/22\/annotation-cryptic-clues\/","title":{"rendered":"Annotation of Cryptic Clues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several UK barred puzzles use\u00a0similar\u00a0‘shorthand’ notation for the explanations of solutions to individual clues, and there is no reason why the same conventions cannot be applied to any\u00a0clue as they offer a\u00a0consistent way of\u00a0analysing clues built up using the eight basic clue types described in Clue Movie A.3<\/a><\/span>. There are slight variations between publications, but this hybrid of the notation schemes used by the Magpie magazine (www.piemag.com<\/a><\/span>) and the Sunday Telegraph’s Enigmatic Variations<\/em> series seems to strike a good balance between concision and clarity, so that is what\u00a0we\u00a0 will use on this site –\u00a0 setters may also\u00a0find it of\u00a0value when submitting clues or puzzles.<\/p>\n

Charades<\/strong>: The components of a charade are joined using plus signs (‘+<\/span>‘), eg ‘Dad right\u00a0to trim vegetable’ (7)\u00a0PARSNIP [PA + R + SNIP]. Where the sequence of the elements\u00a0is not the same\u00a0in the solution as in the clue, this will be indicated\u00a0using ‘before<\/span>‘ or ‘after<\/span>‘, eg\u00a0‘Scoff after fine achievement’ (4): FEAT [EAT after F]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Double Definition<\/strong>: Simply shown as ‘2 defs<\/span>‘ (or ‘3 defs<\/span>‘ etc), eg ‘Support investment’ (5)\u00a0STAKE [2 defs]<\/span><\/p>\n

Container and Contents<\/strong>: A containment<\/em> is shown as ‘X around Y‘<\/span><\/span>,<\/span> eg ‘Unmarried chaps securing financial assistance’ (6): MAIDEN\u00a0[MEN around AID]<\/span>, while an insertion<\/em> is shown as ‘X in Y‘<\/span><\/span>,<\/span> eg ‘Staggering fish caught by group’ (7): REELING [EEL in RING]<\/span><\/p>\n

Hidden<\/strong>: A hidden (or ‘lurker’) is shown by capitalizing the letters\u00a0of the solution and bracketing the remainder of the hiding place, eg ‘Smart man eating sandwiches’ (4): NEAT\u00a0[(ma)N EAT(ing)]<\/span><\/p>\n

Reversal<\/strong>: A left-pointing chevron (‘<<\/span>‘) is used to indicate the reversal of text, eg ‘Turning against volcano’ (4): ETNA\u00a0[ANTE<]<\/span><\/p>\n

Subtraction<\/strong>: Where a letter selection<\/em> or reduction<\/em> is involved, the text removed is enclosed in round brackets, eg ‘Most of band undress’ (5): STRIP\u00a0[STRIP(e)]<\/span>. Where one piece of text is to be taken from another, this is shown using a minus sign (‘–<\/span>‘), eg ‘Conceited scoundrel not wicked’ (4): VAIN [VILLAIN – ILL]<\/span><\/p>\n

Anagram<\/strong>: The text to be rearranged is marked with an asterisk (‘*<\/span>‘), eg ‘Couple tossed caber’ (5):\u00a0BRACE\u00a0[CABER*]<\/span>; where the fodder consists of multiple elements, these are enclosed in brackets, eg ‘Girl chewed on \u00e9clair’ (8): CAROLINE \u00a0[(ON ECLAIR)*]<\/span><\/p>\n

Homophone<\/strong>: The word or words which the solution sounds like are enclosed in double quotation marks (‘“”<\/span>‘), eg ‘Reportedly\u00a0witnessed incident’ (5): SCENE\u00a0[“SEEN”]<\/span><\/p>\n

For hybrid clues (eg hidden + reversal), the shorthand elements are combined, with round brackets (‘()<\/span>‘)\u00a0and braces (‘{}<\/span>‘) being used to avoid ambiguity. A couple of examples:<\/p>\n