The Hidden Code of Cryptic Crosswords

by Francois Greef

Overview

This book unlocks the mysteries of cryptic crossword puzzles. It is easy to follow and can help the reader pinpoint ways of cracking the keys to the most difficult of crossword puzzles. This book is a must for crossword enthusiast of all levels. It is loaded with lots of tips, examples, and solutions. The perfect gift for the person that loves the challenge of a good crossword puzzle.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780572027780
Publisher:	W. Foulsham Company, Limited (UK)
Publication date:	03/03/2003
Pages:	191
Sales rank:	708,964
Product dimensions:	5.76(w) x 9.08(h) x 0.72(d)

Table of Contents

	Introduction	7
	Why solve crossword puzzles?	7
	How to use this book and gain value from it	8
Part 1	An Explanation of the Way Cryptic Crosswords Work
1.	The Anatomy of Cryptic Clues	10
	Key to fonts in this book	12
2.	The Original Straight Clue	13
	The mythical origin	13
	Straight clues	14
	Straight and cryptic clues compared	17
3.	Hooptedoodle	20
	Synonymcrux	20
	Keyword	20
	Exposition	23
	Fulcrum	24
	Num	26
	Clue number	29
	Caveat	31
4.	Crossletters	33
	Maximising crossletter availability	34
	Using crossletters well	35
5.	Concord	37
	Pasop	38
	Concord as an aid	39
	Part of speech	39
Part 2	Crossword Devices
1.	Devices Used to Construct Answers	41
	Genus and specie	41
	Macaroni	42
	Numer	45
2.	Devices Used to Deconstruct Clues	60
	Pasop	60
	Stacking	62
3.	Devices Used to Reconstruct Clues into Answers	64
	Abbreviation	64
	Parabrebit	76
	Parabreve	79
	Anagram	80
	Apostrophe	82
	Bitword	83
	Reversal	88
4.	Nonconstruction Devices	89
	Cognation	89
	Ellipsis	89
	Geograph	90
	Halph	91
	Homograph	92
	Hyphen	94
	Olapsek	96
	Paraphrase	96
Part 3	Types of Clue
1.	Construction-type Clues	99
	Buildword	99
	Concon	100
2.	Deconstruction-type Clues	101
	Undix	101
	Beheadment	101
	Curtailment	102
	Disheartenment	102
3.	Reconstruction-type Clues	103
	Acronym	103
	Anagram	103
	Hidden words	108
	Partwords	108
	Backword	108
	Reversal	110
	Splitword	110
	Bridgeword	111
	Interclue	113
	Palindrome	116
	Partbits	116
	Addix	116
	Condix	118
	Transdeletion	119
	Transinsertion	120
4.	Nonconstruction-type Clues	121
	Ammel	121
	Antonym	123
	Classical allusion	123
	Debono	124
	General knowledge	125
	Homophone	127
	Humer	129
	& Lit	148
	Nosek	149
	Phrase	151
	Quotation	154
	Synonymtwin and homograph	154
	Extended synonymtwin	155
	The Final Word: A Caveat	157
Part 4	Appendix: Comparative table of differences and similarities in nomenclature of segments or word parts	159
	Glossary	163
	Acknowledgements	179
	Bibliography	181
	Index	183
	Personal Notes	191