A solver noticed that 22-down wasn’t as good as it could be. The clue is sound, but the structure leaves the solver wondering which part is “upped” and which is the definition. Is it a word for CUT turned up that means SECURITY CODES, or is it a word that means CUT found when SECURITY CODES is upped? In isolation there are two valid answers, PINS and SNIP respectively, but only one can be right. To determine which one, the solver has to rely on crossing letters. This is an error on my part, as I believe wordplay alone should enable a solver to answer a clue without a reliance on the crossing letters. In other words, I should have worded the clue so the solver had no doubt what needed to be done. There are usually multiple options in any clue, but only one combination should lead you an answer where the components in a clue work together properly.
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | GASTRO | |
| Illness causing a stroke to a limited extent (6) | causinG A STROke | |
| 4 | CENSORED | |
| Cold sore, within reason, is cleaned up (8) | C + (SORE inside END) | |
| 9 | TOASTED | |
| Heated stew mostly consumed by a nasty person (7) | STE(w) inside TOAD | |
| 11 | SLOGGED | |
| Last section of woods, stripped of trees, is hit hard (7) | wood(S) + LOGGED | |
| 12 | PRECIOUS METAL | |
| One wearing tailored pearl costume with gold, say (8,5) | I inside anagram of PEARL COSTUME | |
| 14 | TASTER | |
| State nobbled right person in charge of testing (6) | Anagram of STATE + R | |
| 15 | PRESERVE | |
| Pressure applied to substitute player to defend (8) | P + RESERVE | |
| 18 | ARTISTES | |
| Different strategies not endorsed by, for example, public performers (8) | Anagram of STRATEGIES minus EG | |
| 20 | SNACKS | |
| Light meals may be last to overturn in carry bags (6) | overtur(N) inside SACKS | |
| 23 | ASSASSINATION | |
| One after dope repeatedly dealt with people’s murder (13) | I after ASS+ASS + NATION | |
| 26 | INFERNO | |
| Raging fire in plant combined with oxygen (7) | IN + FERN + O | |
| 27 | SNORKEL | |
| Onlookers without goggles sorted out diving equipment? (7) | Anagram of ONLOOKERS minus OO | |
| 28 | COCKEYED | |
| “C” clue typed in cryptic code is absurd (8) | (C + KEY) inside anagram of CODE | |
| 29 | REMEDY | |
| Medication distributed moderately – a lot not needed (6) | Anagram of MODERATELY minus A LOT | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | GET UP STEAM | |
| Gametes put in a volatile solution become excited (3,2,5) | Anagram of GAMETES PUT | |
| 2 | SEAMERS | |
| Cricketers sure to bowl a maiden over with spectators hanging around (7) | (A+M) inside SEERS | |
| 3 | RETAINERS | |
| Financial inducements are stated by troubled trainees (9) | R + anagram of TRAINEES | |
| 5 | EASY MARK | |
| Gull soiled my sea vessel (4,4) | Anagram of MY SEA + ARK | |
| 6 | STOAT | |
| Joined group of hunters to attack a furry animal (5) | hunterS TO ATtack | |
| 7 | REGULAR | |
| Gun retrieved by a resistance fighter (7) | LUGER reversed + A + R | |
| 8 | DUDE | |
| Fellow is measured lastly in fitting (4) | measure(D) inside DUE | |
| 10 | DRUG | |
| Defender returned free of a narcotic substance (4) | GUARD reversed minus A | |
| 13 | PERSONALLY | |
| I think representative turned around son and friend (10) | REP reversed + SON + ALLY | |
| 16 | SINGAPORE | |
| Popular opening taking place in sensitive Asian capital (9) | (IN + GAP) inside SORE | |
| 17 | GEMSTONE | |
| It’s considered precious by most undertaking development in DNA unit (8) | Anagram of MOST inside GENE | |
| 19 | TRAFFIC | |
| Dealings mounted in case involved with craft at sea (7) | IF reversed inside anagram of CRAFT | |
| 21 | CRINKLE | |
| Curl end of bar fashioned in alloy of nickel (7) | ba(R) inside anagram of NICKEL | |
| 22 | PINS | |
| Cut up security codes (4) | SNIP reversed | |
| 24 | SARGE | |
| Local police officer is big with a small head (5) | LARGE with S replacing the first letter | |
| 25 | ZINC | |
| Sample of quartz in compound is a trace element (4) | quartZ IN Compound |
Hi David
All this is just the best another great week.
Could not the ‘spectators hanging around’ – 2Down
have been stayers? Especially since my cricket knowledge is about zero.
Please?
Richard Sternes