A few weeks ago an avid solver pointed out an ambiguous clue in a Stickler Weekly. To be ambiguous two things must happen – first, there must be at least two answers to the clue that satisfy all the normal requirements, that is, from a definition and wordplay perspective. Second, all answers must fit with the cross-letters in the grid. So it may be possible that there are two valid answers to a clue, but both don’t satisfy letter requirements of crossing answers, making only one answer truly valid. (This happened in Stickler Weekly 21 in 21-across: Grenade exploded with all guns blazing (7), where the answer could be ENRAGED or ANGERED). Note that this scenario is not ideal and should be avoided by a setter.
The more recent clue, 21-down in Stickler Weekly 56: King and ace set up gambler’s choice (4)*, passed both “tests” and is therefore truly ambiguous, and consequently a mistake. If a solver can’t be sure which one is right, then the fault is with the setter. (A simple change to the definition, making it less broad, would have solved the problem.) Note that sometimes multiple answers are possible using “creative” solving, perhaps via an obscure definition or foreign meaning, and there may be a claim of an alternative valid answer. IMO, a claim would be genuine only if a clue’s interpretation is in keeping with a setter’s normal approach and practice.
* K + (ONE reversed) = KENO (a gambling game); R(ex) + (ONE reversed) = RENO (a gambling centre)
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | PIGSTY | |
| Wandering gipsy sheltering close to giant dump (6) | Anagram of GIPSY outside GIAN(T) | |
| 4 | INSECT | |
| Bug home group with strange religious beliefs (6) | IN + SECT | |
| 9 | RADON | |
| Went for a jog, breathing in discharge and gas (5) | RAN outside DO | |
| 10 | BATH TOWEL | |
| Absorbent material that twisted in the large intestine (4,5) | Anagram of THAT inside BOWEL | |
| 11 | SPARING | |
| Economical telephone installed at the back of resort (7) | RING after SPA | |
| 12 | REISSUE | |
| New book version and series oddly plugged by university (7) | Anagram of SERIES outside U | |
| 13 | LIED | |
| A German song told stories (4) | Double Definition | |
| 14 | SORE THROAT | |
| The orator’s not right with this? (4,6) | Anagram of THE ORATORS | |
| 17 | ON THE BRAIN | |
| Rehab, not awfully fashionable, is constantly in mind (2,3,5) | Anagram of REHAB NOT + IN | |
| 18 | FEAT | |
| Exploit energy stored in adipose tissue (4) | E inside FAT | |
| 21 | REPLICA | |
| Souvenir containing plastic primarily – a knock-off (7) | RELIC outside (P)LASTIC + A | |
| 23 | RUMMAGE | |
| Strange game involved odds and ends (7) | RUM + anagram of GAME | |
| 24 | SAND WEDGE | |
| Golf club and water, at the first, surrounded by grass (4,5) | [AND (W)ATER] inside SEDGE | |
| 25 | DRILL | |
| Put a hole in strong twilled cotton (5) | Double Definition | |
| 26 | HOLD ON | |
| Stop sweetheart taking possession of antique (4,2) | HON outside OLD | |
| 27 | BEINGS | |
| People live in outer parts of ghettoes (6) | BE + IN + (G)HETTOE(S) | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | PERUSAL | |
| Inspection is certainly not going forward with friend around (7) | SURE reversed inside PAL | |
| 2 | GODPARENT | |
| Go and make an impression, locking in average sponsor (9) | GO + (DENT outside PAR) | |
| 3 | TENNIS | |
| Erratic one isn’t losing ball game (6) | Anagram of ONE ISNT minus O | |
| 4 | INTERMEDIARIES | |
| Agents, in limited time, start to explain logbooks (14) | IN + TERM + (E)XPLAIN + DIARIES | |
| 5 | SIT TIGHT | |
| Don’t move one empty teapot in exhibition? (3,5) | [I + T(EAPOT)T] inside SIGHT | |
| 6 | COWLS | |
| Hoods, large, kept in stock (5) | L inside COWS | |
| 7 | I BEG YOUR PARDON | |
| Dear boy in group organised what? (1,3,4,6) | Anagram of DEAR BOY IN GROUP | |
| 8 | FLUENT | |
| Part of a chimney not shortened is flowing (6) | FLUE + NT (contracted NOT) | |
| 15 | OPERATION | |
| A lot of time put into alternative performance (9) | ERA inside OPTION | |
| 16 | REVIEWED | |
| Churchman that is married should be critically assessed (8) | REV + IE + WED | |
| 17 | ONRUSH | |
| Charge workman* ultimately entering hours falsely (6) *Clue changed from WORKER to WORKMAN |
WORKMA(N) inside anagram of HOURS | |
| 19 | TRELLIS | |
| King in command is supporting framework (7) | R inside TELL + IS | |
| 20 | SMUDGE | |
| Quantity of brickie’s mud gets dirty (6) | brickieS MUD GEts | |
| 22 | PINTO | |
| Punter originally enthusiastic about a patchy horse (5) | (P)UNTER + INTO |
