I’m often asked about the meaning of a question mark (“?”) at the end of a clue. When I’m solving, I’m struck by a lack of consistency by individual setters and across setters in general when using it. Solvers need to rely on certain aspects of a setter’s work, so they don’t feel that the rules are changing from puzzle to puzzle. Different setters do different things, sure, but there is still a need for consistency from each setter. I use a question mark in three circumstances: 1) where I’ve employed language abuse, that is, some aspect of the clue may not be taken at face value (in 13-down, REPRESENTED must be interpreted as RE-PRESENTED in order for the clue to work); 2) the clue is in the form of a question; 3) the defining part a clue is more of an example, suggestion or implication, than being synonymous. I’ve seen a question mark used where a definition isn’t quite right, or something in the clue isn’t right (like the use for double-duty) – one thing they are not, is an excuse for poor clue-writing, or a catch-all for lazy work.
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | LOATHE | |
| Find disgusting ring inside machinist’s tool (6) | O inside LATHE | |
| 4 | SCAFFOLD | |
| A fine fellow in lecture raised platform (8) | (A + F + F) inside SCOLD | |
| 10 | BROADLY SPEAKING | |
| Operas badly organised by leader generally (7,8) | Anagram of OPERAS BADLY + KING | |
| 11 | DISUNION | |
| Disagreement is linked to campus managed internally by head of college (8) | (IS + UNI) inside DON | |
| 12 | PETITE | |
| Little bird drowned in liquid waste (6) | TIT inside PEE | |
| 14 | ASHORE | |
| Valuable rock found east of wood on dry land (6) | ORE after ASH | |
| 15 | RICHEST | |
| Most productive doctor’s closing one case (7) | docto(R) + I + CHEST | |
| 18 | ACE | |
| Unrestricted track competitor’s rare driving result? (3) | r)ACE(r | |
| 19 | TIGHTEN | |
| Give an extra turn to strong character in speech (7) | Sounds like TITAN | |
| 21 | CANNON | |
| Big shot, smart, not totally active (6) | CANN(y) + ON | |
| 24 | UGANDA | |
| Land dug and aerated to some extent (6) | dUG AND Aerated | |
| 26 | ON TIPTOE | |
| Ballerina’s position changed to pointe! (2,6) | Anagram of TO POINTE | |
| 28 | MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD | |
| Fool dithered terribly in company of mad conservative (6-2-3-4) | Anagram of FOOL DITHERED inside MAD | |
| 29 | RED MEATS | |
| Tradesmen largely ordered butcher’s offerings (3,5) | Anagram of TRADESME(n) | |
| 30 | STREAM | |
| State of water restricting river’s flow (6) | STEAM outside R | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | LIBIDO | |
| Proposal fulfilling most of hero’s sexual desire (6) | BID inside LIO(n) | |
| 2 | AROUSES | |
| A user so agitated gets excited (7) | Anagram of A USER SO | |
| 3 | HIDING OUT | |
| One coward in shelter is lying low (6,3) | (I DINGO) inside HUT | |
| 5 | COPY | |
| Apple-core eaten by retiring ape? (4) | P inside COY | |
| 6 | FLARE | |
| Passenger holding large signalling light (5) | FARE outside L | |
| 7 | OLIVINE | |
| Rock violin redesigned by ELO’s original member (7) | Anagram of VIOLIN + (E)LO | |
| 8 | DOGTEETH | |
| Prepare and get the reconditioned choppers (8) | DO + anagram of GET THE | |
| 9 | BY NO MEANS | |
| Definitely not many bones broken (2,2,5) | Anagram of MANY BONES | |
| 13 | PRECINCTS | |
| Prince represented court and small city districts? (9) | Anagram of PRINCE + CT + S | |
| 16 | CONFIDENT | |
| Jailbird and lair in match should be positive (9) | CON + (DEN inside FIT) | |
| 17 | STRUMMER | |
| Musician’s spirit expressed in unusual terms (8) | RUM inside anagram of TERMS | |
| 20 | GUARDED | |
| A drudge poorly treated should be wary (7) | Anagram of A DRUDGE | |
| 22 | OUTDONE | |
| Beaten twosome upset about time recorded by one (7) | (DUO reversed outside T) + ONE | |
| 23 | SELDOM | |
| Learner, entering specific ways, reversed infrequently (6) | L inside MODES reversed | |
| 25 | DOLCE | |
| Leader of choir played in benefit sweetly and softly (5) | C inside DOLE | |
| 27 | COST | |
| Taxi not accepting a penalty (4) | COAST minus A |
