Index

A master list of articles on Crossword Unclued arranged by category. This includes a beginner's section with descriptions of cryptic clue types, indicators, abbreviations and other crossword information to help you with crossword solving.

If you're new to cryptic crosswords, you might want to start with the 7-Step Guide to Tackling Cryptic Crosswords. If you're tried solving for a bit and aren't happy with your progress, try More Tips For Solving Cryptic Crosswords.

For an overview of how to navigate the site, scroll towards the end of this page.

Clue Types At A Glance

The table below gives an overview of types of clues that appear in cryptic crosswords.

Each clue type link in the table opens a new page with its details – clue structure, tips for solving and examples.

Most cryptic clues have "indicators" that help you identify the clue type. The links under the Indicators column will give you a list of common indicators for that clue type.

Clue Type	Quick Description	Indicators
Anagrams	Letters are jumbled up to give the solution e.g. TRAP* = PART	Anagram Indicators
Homophones	Solution sounds like another word/phrase indicated in the clue e.g. WHERE {~WEAR}	Homophone Indicators
Hidden Words	Solution is hidden within the clue e.g. "pop artist" gives PART	Hidden Word Indicators
Deletions	Letters deleted to give the solution e.g. {-p}ART = ART	Deletion Indicators
Charades	Words placed in sequence form the solution e.g. FAT + HER = FATHER	No indicator in general, except words like 'before', 'under' when the word sequence is to be changed
Substitutions	Letter(s) substituted for another e.g. {-p + c}ART = CART	Substitution Indicators (coming soon!)
Containers	Word within another word e.g. EAT within TRY = TREATY	Containment Indicators
Acrostics	Solution formed from first letters of a sequence of words e.g. Put Away Redundant Things = PART	Acrostic Indicators
Reversals	Word reversed to give the solution e.g. PART <- = TRAP	Reversal Indicators
Letter Sequences	Selected letters from the clue give the solution e.g. mAsCoT gives ACT	Letter Sequence Indicators
Letter Shifting	Letter moved to form a new word e.g. First letter of HEART moved to the end to form EARTH	Phrases like 'from top to bottom'.
Letter Exchange	Two letters switch positions to form a new word e.g. T and P of TAPE switch positions to form PATE	Words like 'switching', 'internal exchange'
Double Definitions	Two definitions for the same word e.g. quick writer = SWIFT	No indicator
Cryptic Definitions	Lateral definition for the solution.	No indicator, sometimes ends in ?
Cryptic Double-Definitions	Two definitions, at least one of which is a lateral definition	No indicator, sometimes ends in ?
&lit	Wordplay and definition overlap.	No indicator, sometimes ends in !

Browse through the posts tagged clue types to see a wider list including more complex clue types.

Abbreviations And Other References

You need some "general knowledge" to solve cryptic crosswords, but the good news is that you can do pretty well with only surface knowledge. (You might not play golf for example, but if you pick up the basic jargon you can comfortably answer golf-related clues.)

A few articles to help you with the domain knowledge:

• Cricket And Cryptic Crosswords:  Cricket is a favourite subject of crossword setters. This three-part series of articles covers cricket terminology and how its fits into cryptic clues.
• Cryptic Abbreviations: An overview of standard abbreviations that are commonly used in cryptic crosswords.
• French Words In Crosswords: Reference list of French words that frequently show up in crosswords.
• NATO Phonetic Alphabet In Crosswords
• Crosswords And The Game Of Bridge

Browse through the posts tagged words to familiarize yourself with typical cryptic crossword vocabulary.

Cryptic Wordplay

Some devious devices crossword setters use to lead the solver astray.

• Tricky Indicators
• How To Interpret Punctuation In Clues
• The Significance of Apostrophe-S
• Wordplay Inversion
• False Capitalization
• Inter-Grid References
• Spoonerisms
• Cockney Speech and Rhyming Slang

Read posts tagged wordplay and crossword twists for more.

The Crossword Grid

A selection of articles about attributes of a cryptic crossword grid.

• ABC of the Crossword Grid: Overview of basic grid properties – shape, size, symmetry, black space distribution.
• Checking and Connectivity: What they mean, and how the affect the "fairness" of the puzzle
• Pangrammatic Grids
• Barred Grid vs Blocked Grid
• Nina: Secret message coded into the grid
• Create your own Crossword Grid, without using any software
• Quick way to count the words inside a grid
• How to put words into the grid, when creating a crossword puzzle
• On the grid: where to start?

Browse through the posts tagged grid for more.

Crossword Tools

A look at tools useful for crossword setters and solvers:

• Crossword Compiler and CrosswordMan
• BG Crossword Puzzle, a crossword solving tool for the blind
• Across Lite for interactive crosswords
• How to embed interactive crosswords in your website/blog

Browse through the posts tagged tools for more.

What Else?

Patterns/interesting trends in crosswords, interviews with setters and expert solvers, crossword book reviews, evaluation of setters' styles, and there's more. Visit the site archive for a chronological listing of all articles.

How To Navigate The Site

You can browse through the content in many easy ways:

• Looking for something specific? Use the "Search" box in the header.
• Want a bird's eye view of everything ever posted on Crossword Unclued? Navigate via the sidebar section "Archive" to view all the posts in date-wise order. [or click here: Quick Archive]
• Want to read the most popular articles on Crossword Unclued? Look at the selected links in the sidebar filed under relevant headings.
• Looking for all articles from a particular category? Go to the sidebar section "Labels" and click on the label that matches the category name. e.g. All articles meant for beginners can be accessed by clicking on the label beginners.
• Want to try a randomly picked article from Crossword Unclued? Click the "I'm Feeling Lucky!" icon on the sidebar.

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