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 |