Cryptic Crosswords for Beginners: How the Clues Work
Every cryptic clue has a definition and a piece of wordplay. Once you see the pattern, the puzzles start to open up.
Cryptic crosswords have a reputation for being impenetrable. To a newcomer, a clue like "Silent, mixed up, pay attention (6)" can look like nonsense. Yet millions of people solve them every day, especially in British, Irish, Australian and Indian newspapers. The secret is that every cryptic clue follows a pattern. Once you see it, the puzzles start to open up.
The basic rule: definition plus wordplay
Almost every cryptic clue has two parts:
- A definition of the answer, which is always at the very start or the very end of the clue.
- Wordplay that leads to the same answer in a different way.
The number in brackets gives the length of the answer. The clue's surface reading, how it sounds as a sentence, is usually designed to mislead you. Ignore it and look at the parts.
The main types of wordplay
Anagrams. Letters of one or more words are rearranged. An indicator word such as "badly", "mixed up", "broken" or "wild" signals an anagram. Example: "Silent, mixed up, pay attention (6)". "Mixed up" tells you to rearrange the letters of SILENT, which gives LISTEN, defined by "pay attention" at the end of the clue.
Hidden words. The answer is hidden inside the clue, often across two words. Indicators include "in", "some", "part of" or "found in". Example: "Weight found in Boston (3)". The definition is "weight", "found in" is the indicator, and TON is hidden in BosTON.
Double definitions. Two different meanings of the same word sit side by side. Example: "Dog's sound, tree's skin (4)" gives BARK. Short clues with no obvious wordplay are often double definitions.
Charades. The answer is built from smaller pieces in order, like a game of charades. Example: "Vehicle and favourite animal make a floor covering (6)". CAR plus PET gives CARPET.
Containers. One word goes inside another, signalled by words like "in", "around", "holding" or "about".
Reversals. A word is written backwards, often indicated by "back", "returning" or "up" in down clues.
Homophones. The answer sounds like another word, with indicators such as "we hear", "reportedly" or "on the radio".
Abbreviations. Setters use standard shortcuts: "doctor" can be DR or MO, "about" can be C or RE, "north" is N, and so on. You pick these up quickly.
How to get started
- Start with an easier cryptic. Some papers publish gentler cryptic puzzles, and many have a quick crossword alongside for warming up.
- Look for the definition first. Check the first and last words of each clue.
- Spot the indicator. Words that suggest movement, disorder or hiding often signal an anagram or hidden word.
- Use the crossing letters. Solving one clue gives you letters for others.
- Read the answers next day. Most papers publish solutions. Working out why an answer is right is the fastest way to learn.
- Solve with someone. Two heads really are better than one with cryptics.
Do not be discouraged
Even experienced solvers struggle with some clues, and finishing your first cryptic may take weeks of practice. That is normal. Keep a note of clue types and abbreviations as you learn them, and you will notice progress quickly.
If you prefer plainer clues, our list of common crossword words and clues is a good warm-up, and our guide to American and British grids explains why cryptics are more common in some countries than others.
