A compilation of indicators for letter selection clues.
This covers the following clue types:
- Initialisms or acrostics – the first letters of a sequence of words spell out the answer
- Odd or even letters/alternate letters – every other letter from a sequence of words form the answer
- Any other uniform letter selection pattern
Acrostic Indicators |
BEGINNERS BEGINNINGS FIRST FIRSTLY FOR STARTERS | HEADS INITIALLY INITIALS LEADERS | LEADING LEADS SOURCES STARTERS |
Select Letters |
ALTERNATELY EVENLY EVERY OTHER | EVERY SECOND ODDLY | ODDS REGULARLY |
Drop Letters |
EVENS OUT NOT EVEN | NOTHING ODD ODDLY LACKING | REGULAR LOSSES SECONDS OUT |
Other Patterns |
ENDS OF, | Indicates picking last letters of a series of words |
Notes:
- There is a plenty of overlap between letter selection indicators and subtraction indicators, where the letter sequence involves discarding letters. In fact, the "Drop Letters" style can be viewed as a special kind of deletion.
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3 comments
Would it be kosher to use 'uninitiated' and 'hats off' for removing the first letters of the fodder?
Hi Pulkit, by 'first letters of the fodder', do you mean the initial of each word in a multi-word fodder?
If yes, then here's what I think:
'uninitiated' works well when used to delete the initial of a single word. If meant for a multi-word fodder, it might become unfair.
'hats off' can work if it precedes a multi-word fodder in a Down clue.
It is better to examine the fairness of these things in the context of an actual clue. What is kosher/not kosher depends also on what's going on in the rest of the clue!
acrostics:
primarily (or primary)
and related:
primarily in
taking primarily
using primarily
etc
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