Cryptic crosswords for beginners: dot dot what?

In the example clues below, I explain the two parts of each. There is a definition of the answer and there is almost always some wordplay – a recipe for assembling its letters. In a genuine puzzle environment, of course, you also have the crossing letters, which hugely alleviate your solving load. Hence, “crossword”. Also, here, the setters’ names tend to link to profiles of the individuals behind the pseudonyms.

Hello again. When we looked at the apostrophe, we called it a “slippery glyph”. Less fancifully, we could say that it’s not immediately clear what the solver needs to do with apostrophes when they appear in a clue. So it is with the ellipsis, or “ … ” symbol.

When one clue ends with three dots …

… and the next begins in the same way, is the setter trying to tell you something? Sometimes, the answer is actually yes.

Most of the time it’s simply that the apparent meaning of the first clue (which usually has nothing to do with the answer) can be extended to become a longer sentence that takes in the second clue, too.

Here’s an example from Anto in the quiptic, the Guardian’s puzzle for beginners:

9a It’s right to discuss at tedious length … (4,2)
[ double definition: ‘It’s right’ & ‘to discuss at tedious length’ ]

10a … issue some would prefer to observe in silence (8)
[ cryptic definition of those ‘who should be seen and not heard’ ]

The first clue (for BANG ON) would end a little abruptly if it couldn’t carry on to the second (for CHILDREN). But in crosswording terms, you can ignore each of the ellipses.

Every so often, though, the clues really are linked. Possibly, a bit of the wordplay in one appears (unannounced) in the other. Here’s Eccles in the Independent:

10a One who wrote poems attributed to Howard, perhaps … (5)
[ wordplay: synonym for ‘attributed to Howard’ (as in the Hollywood actor/director) ]
[ definition: one who wrote poems ]

11a … who blocks the toilet (6)
[ wordplay: the same Howard is placed inside (‘blocks’) THE ]
[ definition: slang term for ‘toilet’ ]

The answers (BYRON and THRONE) are unconnected, but the RON that features both clues is directly referred to only in the first clue.

Or it might be that the first clue doesn’t end until halfway through the second. Here’s a pair from the Times:

14a Wild animal reportedly … (4)
[ wordplay: soundalike ‘(‘reportedly’) of synonym for next answer ]
[ definition: wild animal ]

15a … in this sporting venue that’s suffering closure with fog (4,6)
[ wordplay: anagram of (‘suffering’) CLOSUREFOG ]
[ definition: sporting venue ]

The second is GOLF COURSE (also known as a links) and we’re told that the animal in the first, LYNX, sounds the same.

Very occasionally, there might be three or more clues linked in this way, and solvers work out for themselves whether the third overlaps with the second or with the first – or, more likely, not at all.

Beginners: any questions on this, or any other quirk of crosswording? Seasoned solvers: any favourite examples?

I’ll leave you with a daunting thought. Even less often than, say, the triple ellipses, the dots might indicate that the solver is up to something that gleefully breaks the rules of crosswords. I’m thinking of clues like this recent one from Qaos …

18a … ? (8)

… where you’ll need lots of crossing letters before you’ll see WORDLESS. I’m thinking also of many of the clues in this extraordinary prize puzzle by Picaroon, which I won’t spoil by saying anything more. Annotated solution here if you get stuck.

More guidance

Cryptic devices: hidden answers; double definitions; cryptic definitions; soundalikes; initial letters; spoonerisms; containers; reversals; alternate letters; cycling; stammering; taking most of a word; the ‘%’ sign; naked words; first and last letters; middle letters; removing middle letters; defining by example.

Bits and bobs: Roman numerals; Nato alphabet; Greek letters; chemistry; abbreviations for countries; points of the compass; more points of the compass; playing cards; capital letters; boys and girls; apostrophes; cricket; alcohol; the church; politics; Latin; royals; newspapers; writers; doctors; drugs; music; animals; cars; cities; rivers; boats; when the setter’s name appears; when the solver appears; “cheating”.

Individual letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N.

The Shipping Forecast Puzzle Book by Alan Connor, which is partly but not predominantly cryptic, can be obtained from the Guardian bookshop.