Dos & Don'ts

This almost becomes my mantra if I am feeling lost: "Every word is there for a reason".

DA cryptics are a walk in the park. Start with those.

When in doubt, chuck letters about.

Notwithstanding DA, the Sabbath Day is insufficient to maintain one's mettle.

There's almost certainly one container on the page and almost certainly not two.

If the clue seems impossibly short, it's a double meaning disguised by cunning surface sense. (two DA examples: bright pink = gay, America says = states)

Antipodean cryptics are funner but impreciser than those from the UK.

Sage:

Try to identify the definition and wordplay elements of the clue.

Read books like Puzzled and learn the different clueing techniques and signposts.

Look for special tricks like Ninas and pangrams. They can help too!

Silly:

If a word fits, bung it in - if nothing else fits! [You'd be surprised how often this has worked for me...]

Words like "upset", "about" and "around" are always anagram signposts.

The imagery provided by the clue will generally have no connection with the actual answer.

Regularly has nothing to do with All Bran, but everything to do with ALRN or LBA.

If you go "oh!" to yourself (silently or out loud) you have just solved a very clever or funny clue.

Depsite every indication to the contrary, each setter wants you to solve his/her puzzle.

Learning to do cryptics is just like becoming part of any clique at school. Keep hanging around until you've picked up the in-jokes. Once you've got them, cryptics are easier than quicks as you get 2 clues for every answer.
If you want to fast track, look up fifteensquared - a website which breaks down the UKs leading cryptics.

Put the crossword and a pen on the bedside table before you go to bed - so often the solutions appear to the semi-conscious mind.

‘According to Spooner’ or ‘Spooner says’ doesn’t refer to the Australian cartoonist (as I once thought… ) but to the Reverend Spooner, who became famous - perhaps unjustly - for switching initial fragments of words (can be a single letter, or sound-shift) completely changing the meaning. For example DA recently clued the man himself as a ‘bird watcher’ or a ‘word botcher.’

The use of the word "say" almost always relates to an example, whereas "we hear" almost always relates to a homophone.

If you're clueless about cricket, you're in big trouble.

1. Don't enter an answer unless you can see how it fits both wordplay and definition.

10. Expect exceptions to all of the above.

Beware the 'er' ending! Words like flower and number don't mean what you expect them to. (except for the rare occasions when they actually do, which makes it even trickier).

Brush up on your Roman numerals.

Heads up - 'heads up' could mean 'U'. 'Heads up could mean' could mean 'HUCM'. And so on.

Aaargh. 'Heads up could mean' could mean 'UCM'. And so on. Back to Cryptics 101 for me.

Or sdaeh.

When you see ellipses (....), maintain your pulse rate.

I agree with Anthony Douglas, who expects excepts

Do your cryptic crosswords on the bus so everyone can see how smart you are, especially on Fridays.

Never assume... like emus run backwards!

Solving cryptics is like playing charades, only no-one looks silly.

Practise writing clues to get inside the minds of your tormentors.

Cluers often speak in tongues - mainly French, German, Italian and Spanish.

If the definition isn't at one end, it's at the other. Mostly.

Search for commonly grouped letters in apparent anagram fodder, like '-ing', '-ous', '-ant', '-ion', etc.

Do not solve while driving.

If you can't crack a particular crossword, just claim that the setter isn't Ximenean enough.

3 inside a phrase is more likely to be THE than ELK or WAX.

Make sure you mark the word break spaces in any phrase.
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If at first you don't succeed take a break. Also if the answer grid for yesterday's cryptic is provided sometimes reading out each of yesterday's answers can put you a little more in crossword-solving mode.

Sometimes having a go at the traditional crossword, or other puzzles, on the same page can also help.
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For anagrams write out the letters as a row of consonants above a row of vowels. (or vice versa) e.g.

R T C S W D S R R Y C P C
I O O

When doing this it's a good idea to take the first consonant or vowel from the back, then front then back again alternating.

i.e.

the letters in "a rope ends it" would be transcribed:

TRSPDN
IAEOE

This helps 'unscramble' the way the setter has the letters....set.

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Get some exercise. I was struggling solving cryptics for weeks and then after moving much more my brain seems more attuned.

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If you have a rough idea for part or all an answer try solving the intersecting clue(s) with what would be the intersecting letter(s).

If that doing that doesnt totally invalidate your educated guess write it in lightly and with smaller font and place a question mark beside it in the margin.

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Take good note that there are few 1, 2 and 3 letter words and few letters that come after an apostrophe. Words often end in S, T, Y, D or N. If a word could be a plural, past tense or superlative remember they'll often finish in S, T/D or ER respectively.

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That said, nothing is set in concrete: words can have Q as their final letter or they may not be traditional English (or even English) words. And watch out for compound words in general - they can have strange combinations like 'TCHST' or "CKB" in the middle.

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Don't ignore the little words like "IN".
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(Sorry if some of this is bleeding obvious)

Read out the clue accenting a different word each time.

I guess everybody has there own technique, but for me there are a few simple rules that help, particularly with a gnarly DA...

(1) In order to get the creative cells functioning, it is a good idea to consume alcohol while solving

(2) Regarding (1), it is suggested that restraint be exercised. It is recommended that a glass or two of wine is preferable to a line of tequila shots

(3) Regarding (2), choice of venue is important. A quiet corner at home is the ideal location. It is not recommended to attempt a DA cryptic in a night club. It is a bad idea on so many levels.

Anyway, they are my sage ideas. Will give some thought to some silly tips...

Don't stew. Give yourself a time limit and happily start afresh on another.

Know thine setter

L-players are well-advised to start at the end where shorter answers are often more easily found, so building a platform for up up and awayness.

For anagrams write out the number of underscores hangman-style, fill in any known letters and then think of common prefixes and suffixes, or letter combos, that might fit. Sometimes only one of your letters could possibly fit in one of the spaces.

Another sage tip:

Watch out for innocent-looking words that might actually be defs such as does and my

Don't forget to write.

Give up while you are still sane.

Of course, if you are reading this, it's too late; so take blank grid in one hand, indelible pen in the other, ensure you have an audience, then laugh uproariously, thus ensuring a lengthy stay in a nice quiet white room, with all the time in the world for your solution.

Find a place not too close to the computer to start with. Only go online when you're really stuck. Don't spend hours googling what you think is the definition. You're probably wrong and have forgotten the wordplay. Over time, bookmark useful tools like lists of cryptic abbreviations, indicators, thesauruses, dictionaries, anagram solvers from Aus, UK, US.

Read Puzzled, drop into a blog. Don't forget your family and friends .. you might need their General Knowledge (GK).

It's healthy (remember to breathe, eat,sleep etc.) It's fun, and it gets better with age.

Have a parent that loves cryptics.

For cryptic late-bloomers - you have life experience and the patience to enjoy the revelation of the code. Teach someone else as you go, or share the delight of a particular clue, often a good way to learn, even as a beginner .. at any age.

Love PRS' image. Make sure that a subscription is written into your 'enduring power of attorney'!

Leave thine stack of crosswords (be they finished, unfinished or unstarted) where it will not cause annoyance to one's partner.

Ignore thy holy cover sense
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Take every word for its full meaning

If you're completely lost with what you think is an anagram, write the letters on pieces of paper and give them to your toddler to play with. Check back occasionally to see what she/he has spelt out. Or eaten.

When you start frequently rolling your eyes about, or quickly solving, clues in crosswords by a particular setter or publication, you're ready for the next level.

When you start frequently rolling your eyes about, or quickly solving, clues in crosswords by DA, you're ready for Mensa.

Do not leave half-finished crosswords near smarty-pants friends who will be unable to resist the urge to finish them. Quickly. In pen. Without scribblings.

Always let your conscience be your good Scots drug.
Praise God and pass the dictionary.

Wow! Some weeks I'm ready for MENSA. Now all I need is a toddler. (Will a dog do? :)

This is way past the deadline, but so true - If things move slowly on Saturday, be assured, Sunday morning will bring inspiration.