Wednesday, 5 January 2011

Stuttering Clues

stuttering In a stuttering clue, a letter or syllable gets repeated in the clue and the answer follows the same pattern of repetition. To show by example:

THC 9318 (Gridman): Whispering America rises twice to c-complain (9) SUSURRANT
RANT is "complain"; because of the stuttering effect, "c-complain" becomes R-RANT.

We don't come by stuttering clues too often but this is by no means a new device – Ximenes mentioned it in his 1966 book Ximenes on the Art of the Crossword, with the remark that it's entertaining if it isn't overdone. Here is a sample clue by the old master – an interesting one as as it repeats not one letter but a speech pattern:

Ximenes: I was thought magical, but I'm fer-futile (7) VERVAIN
futile = VAIN; fer-futile = VER-VAIN!

Caution: letter repetition isn't always stuttering

Stuttering clues are hard to disguise, so setters play the same trick on us as with the other easy clue type, anagrams [read more on misleading anagram signals] - they make other clues look like stuttering clues.

THC 8622: Tendency to t-tear (5) TREND
T and REND (tear). "R" does not get repeated as we'd expect it to. The stuttering effect is for the surface only - just a way to get the letter "T" into the answer.

Solve These

Azed 1989: Fur flying in wild d-duel primed for a milkmaid? (8)
FT 13450 (Falcon): Odd, Eric pinching c-coin of little value (9)

A clue for Hindi film viewers - something the most parodied stutterer of filmdom, Rahul of Darr, would say:

Chaos when I'd flipped over K-Kiran (8)

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13 comments:

  1. Venkatesh5 January 2011 at 10:38

    {UDDE(RFU*)L*}
    {E(C-CENT)RIC}
    {DI SA<-}{R-RAY}

    ReplyDelete
  2. Albatross5 January 2011 at 13:36

    1. DDUEL + FUR* = UDDERFUL

    2. C-coin ---> CCENT
    => ECCENTRIC

    3. K-Kiran is a ray so --> RRAY
    When I'd = asid flipped => DISA

    So DISARRAY? :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. anax5 January 2011 at 16:44

    There are occasions when the stutter isn't shown as 'x-x...' in the clue. This one is from a Times puzzle of mine from a few years ago (can't remember the number!):

    A clergyman, stutteringly faithful (8) ---U---E

    ReplyDelete
  4. maddy5 January 2011 at 18:16

    Interesting post as usual and belated new year year wishes to you.

    Azed - FUR* in D-DUEL* - UDDERFUL

    FT - E{C-CENT}RIC

    Anax - A C-CURATE - Lovely clue

    Shuchi - is it DI SA<-{R-RAY}
    Did you make it up? awesome stuff, just couldn't stop smiling. This will be the first entry in my list for the best clues (I ve come across) in 2011 :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shuchi6 January 2011 at 12:43

    Thanks @anax. Great clue.

    @Albatross, @maddy: Well-cracked. I did indeed make up DISARRAY, thanks for liking it :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. SandhyaP6 January 2011 at 14:47

    Great clues for DISARRAY & ACCURATE :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Shuchi6 January 2011 at 15:28

    Thanks Sandhya!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous6 January 2011 at 18:17

    Utterly Butterly Stutterly d-delicious. How did I miss to see this write up?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Shuchi6 January 2011 at 22:24

    Hi Kishore, Use RSS, you'll get instant home delivery of blog updates :) Especially if you read several blogs, an RSS reader is THE best way to keep track.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous7 January 2011 at 13:50

    Thanks, have gone in for the email option

    ReplyDelete
  11. SandhyaP7 January 2011 at 19:57

    There was a stuttering clue in today's The Telegraph:

    English g-gala may be flowery (6)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous9 January 2011 at 08:22

    A parody on stuttering clues, the trailing stutter ( I dont think a stutterer repeats last alphabets/sounds):

    A highlight-t of the Beatles (5)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Shuchi5 October 2011 at 00:32

    Came across this ultra-stuttering clue by Paul in the Guardian:

    Those hi-i-i-tting birds (3-6)

    ReplyDelete