The Stickler Weekly 140 Solution

When describing straight and cryptic crosswords to new solvers, I point out that a well-written cryptic crossword is a straight crossword plus wordplay, that is, if you scrub the wordplay from each cryptic clue, you should end up with a bunch of definitions, which is effectively a straight crossword. This only works if a setter provides accurate definitions, ones that can stand on their own two feet and match exactly with the answers. For me, a correct definition in a clue is paramount, and the least that a solver should expect. A setter may include deception in the wordplay, or deception in how the wordplay joins the definition, but in all cases a solver must have the assurance that their answer at least matches what they believe to be the definition. It’s for this reason I’m not a fan of an example of the answer being used as a definition, for example, CAT defining PET or HUMBUG defining SWEET. The other way round is fine, of course, but as there are so many things that CAT could be (besides a PET) and those things to some extent are arbitary, it doesn’t properly do its job as a definition.
The English language is full of wrinkles and society likes to ignore history and iron them out wherever it can. One such area is gender, where there are specific words representing the female and male forms. I don’t see anything wrong with killing two birds with one word-based stone, and using a female form, for example, to tell the reader or listener an occupation and sex at the same time. These words aren’t always appropriate but still have a place in language and are dotted throughout our modern-day references. If one of these is a solution to a cryptic clue, say, for ACTRESS, then what could be a valid definition? Lady thespian? YES. She works on stage? YES. Thespian? YES. Stage perfomer? YES. One on stage? YES. No problems here. Now if the answer is ACTOR, which is a gender-neutral term, which clues still apply? IMO, only those definitions that are themselves gender-neutral are valid. The others are incorrect as they make the solver look for a gender-specific term or a particular person – there’s not proper equality here. I’ve seen some setters (both male and female) make this mistake with their definitions, possibly to champion their own sex, but it’s not helpful for the solver – it’s purely a misguided indulgence of the setter.