Deletion Indicators

The post on deletions touched upon different ways in which a clue could prompt you to subtract letters from a word. To recap, the deletion clue type could lead you to:

• Subtract letters from the "head" (beginning) of a word e.g. STOP – S = TOP
• Subtract letters from the "tail" (end) of a word e.g. TOPE – E = TOP
• Subtract letters from both edges of a word: e.g. AUTOPSY  - {AU,SY} = TOP
• Subtract letters from the middle of a word: STROP – R = STOP
• Subtract specific letters from any position: e.g. TEARDROP – {EAR DR} = TOP

Here is a sample set of indicators that go with each type of deletion.

Delete The Head

AFTER COMMENCEMENT BEGINNING TO GO BEHEADED BEHEADING DECAPITATED FIRST OFF HEADLESS HEAD OFF

INITIALLY LACKING LEADERLESS LOSING OPENER MISSING THE FIRST NEEDING NO INTRODUCTION NOT BEGINNING NOT COMMENCING

NOT STARTING START OFF START TO GO SCRATCH THE HEAD STRIKE THE HEAD UNINITIATED UNSTARTED WITHOUT ORIGIN

Delete The Tail

ABRIDGED ALMOST BACK OFF CLIPPED CURTAILED CUT SHORT DETAILED EARLY CLOSING ENDLESS

FALLING SHORT FINISH OFF FOR THE MOST PART INCOMPLETE INTERMINABLE LACKING FINISH MISSING THE LAST MOST MOSTLY

NEARLY NOT COMPLETELY NOT FULLY NOT QUITE SHORT SHORTENING TAILLESS UNENDING UNFINISHED WITHOUT END

Delete Both Ends

EDGES AWAY LACKING WINGS LIMITLESS LOSING MARGINS

SHELLED SIDES SPLITTING TRIMMED

UNLIMITED WINGLESS WITHOUT LIMITS

Delete The Middle

CORED DISHEARTENED EMPTIED EMPTY

EVACUATED FILLETED GUTTED HEARTLESS

HOLLOW LOSING HEART UNCENTERED

Delete Specific Words/Letters

CUTTING ERASED GOES OUT OF LEAVES

MISSING NO NOT REMOVED

SHORT OF STRUCK WITHOUT

Related Posts:

• Deletion Clue Type
• Other Indicators

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