Tag Archives: solution

When I’m looking for something to say about cryptic crosswords, it’s easy to end up in the area of the technicalities that sometimes arise in cryptic blogs like use of capitalisation, nounal anagram indicators or what a “?” means. Recently, … Continue reading →

It’s been over 2 years since The Stickler was yanked by News Ltd. When I first thought of doing a weekly puzzle I searched for ways to get the word out to Stickler solvers and to a new audience both … Continue reading →

As a former full-time professional crossword setter, I was in an elite bunch (bunch might be overstating it). Very few people around the world, let alone Australia, make their living writing crosswords alone. Opportunities arose occasionally that required an expert … Continue reading →

This week I had planned to tell you about a crossword venture that I got involved with in 2003, then I came across something on the web that changed my mind. Last week I stated that I had to be … Continue reading →

If you are a regular reader of the Stickler Weekly Solutions you’ll know that I often refer to articles, blogs, crosswords, clues etc from around the globe. As a rule, I don’t always identify authors of clues due largely to … Continue reading →

You may have heard of the term “crosswordese” which is the stuff that is only used in crosswords (normal and cryptic). It ranges from the use of a question mark to indicate “word abuse” to terms like “perhaps” which gets … Continue reading →

There are a number of elements to any cryptic clue including: Structure – what type of clue Surface – how it reads Difficulty – comprising the workings of the clue and the resultant answer Elegance – the neatness of how … Continue reading →

Most people are aware that I’m not fond of single-definition clues in a cryptic crossword and I’ve given my reasons for this in past posts. One of the main reasons is the lack of indication telling the solver that this … Continue reading →

Some time ago Anax (Dean Mayer, a UK setter) asked a question on his blog about setter rustiness, that is the effect of having a break from setting (due to a holiday, for example) and then trying to get back … Continue reading →

I think all solvers have experienced that phenomenon where a seemingly impossible clue or puzzle becomes solvable after a break or maybe a night’s sleep. It appears that previous misconceptions are cleared out and new pathways found or maybe the … Continue reading →