I think a cryptic clue is very much like an algebraic expression, where the wordplay is represented by the various symbols on one side of the equation that should equal an answer on the other side of the equation. It makes sense, then, that a cryptic clue should be completely verifiable, and able to be declared as unquestionable. However there doesn’t seem to be anything set down that allows solvers to consistently evaluate and grade cryptic clues. That is, there isn’t a formula that can be applied that will quantify a clue and give it a rating of some kind. Unlike a mathematical equation that can clearly be defined as valid and universally accepted as so, the same cryptic clue can elicit vastly different responses depending on who solves it, no matter what kind of construction is used in the wordplay. The only definitive aspect of a clue that I believe can be assessed and accepted is whether it contains a mistake – all other aspects come down to opinion. For example, a clue that may be technically accepted by all may have a suspect surface reading, making it for some a deficient clue; another may contain a definition that some don’t accept as good enough and others are happy with; yet another may be sound, read well and be perfectly acceptable to most but be considered “boring” by an experienced solver – so is such a clue a good one or not? I believe most aspects of cryptic clues are judged on a solver by solver basis, and no one clue will be considered the same way by all solvers. Note the setter doesn’t really have any control here – no matter their reasoning or justification for clue components, the solvers are the ultimate judges. A setter may be able to point to a particular definition of a word that justifies its use as an anagram indicator, but if a solver doesn’t like it, then the clue from the solver’s perspective (the one that matters) isn’t a good one.
The clue quality of “fair” that gets talked about regularly is a subjective view held by a solver and can’t be generally attached to a clue, as one man’s “fair” is another’s “rubbish”. Too often a clue is designated fair if it is solveable, which of course isn’t true, as all clues are solveable even those ones that are badly written, contain mistakes, or don’t have accurate definitions. The nature of a crossword provides cross-letters that can point to an answer regardless of the clue, making even the worst clue solveable.
Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
1 | CURASSOW | |
Game bird and dog like plant (8) | CUR + AS + SOW | |
5 | ERASER | |
Rubber wearers changed after the end of show (6) | Anagram of W(EARERS) | |
10 | MANDATE | |
Staff meeting’s directive (7) | MAN + DATE | |
11 | ENDEMIC | |
Indigenous mice tortured beyond extreme limit (7) | Anagram of MICE after END | |
12 | DUODECIMO | |
Pair ordered medico’s small book (9) | DUO + anagram of MEDICO | |
13 | SIT-IN | |
Demonstration is about mining company’s possible target (3-2) | IS reversed + TIN | |
14 | WRAP | |
Cover “The Sound of Music” (4) | Sounds like RAP | |
16 | ENDOGAMY | |
Tribal marriage done deviously by brave (8) | Anagram of DONE + GAMY | |
19 | FLOURISH | |
Fine food is hard to show off (8) | FLOUR + IS + H | |
20 | USER | |
One who employs bruiser not hampered by broken rib (4) | BRUISER minus anagram of RIB | |
23 | HABIT | |
High somewhat? That’s addiction (5) | H + (A BIT) | |
24 | SOUNDS OUT | |
Complete course without finishing questions (6,3) | SOUND + (SOUT)H | |
26 | PARBOIL | |
Cook a little side of lamb in usual edible fat (7) | LAM(B) inside (PAR + OIL) | |
27 | HOUSTON | |
American living in very warm and active American city (7) | US inside HOT + ON | |
28 | PRYING | |
Intrusive religious activity not reflecting Paul’s second letter (6) | PRAYING minus P(A)UL | |
29 | AS IT WERE | |
One sporting sweater knitted in some way (2,2,4) | I inside anagram of SWEATER | |
Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
1 | COMEDOWN | |
Humour cut short by individual’s disappointment (8) | (COMED)Y + OWN | |
2 | RUN TO | |
Reach round behind weed (3,2) | O after RUNT | |
3 | SHAVEN | |
Small retreat is lacking coverage (6) | S + HAVEN | |
4 | ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL | |
Adaptable headwear is held up by Allies not at sea (3-4-4-3) | (FEZ IS) reversed inside anagram of ALLIES NOT | |
6 | REDESIGN | |
Modernise shipping flag without input of navy initially (8) | RED ENSIGN minus (N)AVY | |
7 | SOMETIMES | |
The writer backed issue in appeal for help occasionally (9) | [ME + (EMIT reversed)] inside SOS | |
8 | RACING | |
Circuit maintaining air-conditioning is operating at great speed (6) | RING outside AC | |
9 | SECOND THOUGHTS | |
Revised opinion on world’s end still accepted in sects (6,8) | [ON + WORL(D) + THOUGH] inside SECTS | |
15 | AT LIBERTY | |
Available lithium used in new sort of battery (2,7) | LI inside anagram of BATTERY | |
17 | HUNT DOWN | |
Pursue and capture leader of desperadoes in savage community (4,4) | (D)ESPERADOES inside (HUN + TOWN) | |
18 | CRETONNE | |
Crew reduced weight and heavy material (8) | (CRE)W + TONNE | |
21 | WHIP UP | |
Who docked one little dog to provoke? (4,2) | (WH)O + I + PUP | |
22 | ADJUST | |
Make small changes to notice placed at entrance to fair (6) | AD + JUST | |
25 | OUTRE | |
Eccentric is known about (5) | OUT + RE |