Letter Exchange

In the letter exchange clue type, two letters switch positions to give the solution. That's a variation on letter shifting, in which a single letter changes position.

Examples of words that can be clued by letter exchange:

SHUT: swap the letters S and T to get THUS
NOTE: swap the letters N and T to get TONE

Letter Exchange Clue Structure: The clue consists of -
1. Solution definition
2. Definition of the source word
3. Letter exchange Indicator

Example:
Times 24399: Doomed king switching sides? True(4) {L}EA{R} –> {R}EA{L}
Solution definition: True
Definition of the source word: Doomed king
Letter exchange indicator: switching sides, indicates swapping L and R in LEAR (doomed king)

Letter Exchange Clue Characteristics

• Most commonly, the exchange happens between the first and last letters of the word, or two adjacent letters anywhere in the word.

• The indicator may mention the two letters to be swapped, or the positions of these letters. In case of switch between adjacent letters, the indicator might be less specific with only something like "internal exchange" to signal letter swapping.

• The exchange can happen not just between two single letters but between groups of letters.
  Example Azed 1956: What, typically, has two halves, these being switched to a great extent (4)
  The two halves GA and ME of GAME (what, typically, has two halves) swap positions to give MEGA.

• A good clue leaves no ambiguity about which is the source word, which the answer - but with this clue type there's a higher chance of finding a not-so-great clue in which the distinction isn't obvious. In such cases, it's best to wait for a few checking letters before filling in the answer in the grid. 

Solve These

Times 23530: Whatever happens, queen's gown must exchange hands! (10)
Guardian 24797 (Taupi): Dull reasons for spies switching sides (7)

Related Posts:

• Other Clue Types: Anagrams, Hidden Words, Charades, Deletions,
  Reversals, Double Definitions, Containers, Homophones, Substitutions,
  Acrostics, Letter Sequences, Letter Shifting, Cryptic Definitions, &Lit.

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