Each Clue explanation is divided into Analysis, Aesthetics and Afterword.
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
______________________________________________________________________
G3 : 'Scoo-bi-doo' etc seen as square by jazz fan (4) _ _ _ T
Analysis
'Scoo-bi-doo' etc seen as square by jazz fan
square = s
jazz fan = cat
by indicates that s is beside cat
'Scoo-bi-doo' etc = scat
Aesthetics
The quote marks about scoo-bi-doo indicates that its meant as a particular kind of phrase.
Etc confirms that there are similar kind of phrases.
These kind of nonsensical phrases are typical in scat singing.
You dont hear much of that now. The wordplay exactly seems to suggest that it's no longer cool!
Just beautiful.
Afterword
Here's a clip of scat singing by the great Ella Fitzgerald.
H3 : Verb in 'was concerned' is cut up. (6) _ _ _ _ E _
Analysis
Verb in 'was concerned' is cut up.
was concerned = cared
verb = v
v in cared = carved = cut up
Aesthetics
The quote marks again tell us that we need a synonym for 'was concerned'
Afterword
Its a bit of a lazy way to link the word verb and the actual verb in 'was concerned'.
I3 : I'm spectacular after dark, 'Most Excellent' in bed. (5) _ _ M _ _
Analysis
I'm spectacular after dark, 'Most Excellent' in bed.
Most Excellent = ME
bed = cot
ME in cot = comet which is spectacular after dark.
Aesthetics
Nice reading. It first throws you off - of someone boasting of his prowess.
Afterword
Halley's comet , when it came around in 1986, was not that spectacular even at night.
Jay
Showing posts with label punctuations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label punctuations. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Punctuations 3
Each Clue explanation is divided into Analysis, Aesthetics and Afterword.
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
_______________________________________________________________________________
D3: What can be wild, including "H____!"? (5) _ A _ _ _
Analysis
What can be wild, including "H____!"?
&lit clue ; the whole clue is the definition as well as wordplay.
Something wild is OATS
including H , we have OATHS
and some oaths are wild as shown by H___ , presumably "hell" or something worse.
Aesthetics
Superb &lit clue! The use of the dash to indicate a censure of the letters that follow is a clue to the nature of the answer.
Afterword
The censured word is within quotes and this reinforces the setter's intention to be as fair as possible to the solver.Swear words are mostly shown in quotes and usually never in full.
E3: What you may hear from a Socialist; ______? (7) _ _ A _ _ _ _
Analysis
What you may hear from a Socialist; ______?
hear indicates not a homonym indicator in this case. So what you hear from a Socialist ( who is a political figure ) is ORATORY.
Aesthetics
The dash here indicates where the answer can fit. Also, ORATORY can be broken up as OR A TORY.
Now a Tory is a Conservative and therefore on the opposite side of a Socialist. Both spout oratory now and then.
So then, when the answer is filled in, the clue is still valid when read in its entirety!
Afterword
The clue above is a rare item. It belongs to that category of clues which I call UNSURPASSABLE.
Though I have a very technical definition for such a clue, let me state simply that for every word there is, there exists a matching clue which is perfect. In other words, that word has found its cryptic soulmate.
F3: Humped creatures? Not so (Just so .......!) (5) _ _ _ _ S
Analysis
Humped creatures? Not so (Just so .......!)
just so is the anagram indicator ; Not so becomes oonts ; def : humped creatures
Aesthetics
A mind-blowing clue which has the effect of an orgasm in the synaptic pathways of the brain.
The trail of dots in the parentheses indicates that the phrase tails off. There is a word there but its not needed for the clue.But if you know the word, then you can find the reference which will lead you to the answer!
In fact, the phrase within the parentheses has another reference - which explains its function as an anagram indicator!
The reference, scientifically is a just-so story.
The reference in literature is Just so stories by Kipling.
'Just so' in the scientific context tells you to 'tune' "not so" to fit the definition of humped creatures.
However, if you don't know the literary reference, you may still not know that oonts is the answer as its a slangword for the Indian camel.
"Just so stories" is a collection of children's stories. One of them is called "How the camel got its hump". However, on reading it, you will still not get the word "oonts"!
Oh dear! Only when you look through the index of Kipling's poems, will you see "oonts".
Torquemada would have been proud of this loaded clue by his 'grandson' Azed.
Afterword
Another UNSURPASSABLE clue by Azed! In fact , all the three clues above are his.We mentioned him in our pages some time back.
Here are three more clues that make use of punctuations to enhance their reading.
G3 : 'Scoo-bi-doo' etc seen as square by jazz fan (4) _ _ _ T
H3 : Verb in 'was concerned' is cut up. (6) _ _ _ _ E _
I3 : I'm spectacular after dark, 'Most Excellent' in bed. (5) _ _ M _ _
Jay
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
_______________________________________________________________________________
D3: What can be wild, including "H____!"? (5) _ A _ _ _
Analysis
What can be wild, including "H____!"?
&lit clue ; the whole clue is the definition as well as wordplay.
Something wild is OATS
including H , we have OATHS
and some oaths are wild as shown by H___ , presumably "hell" or something worse.
Aesthetics
Superb &lit clue! The use of the dash to indicate a censure of the letters that follow is a clue to the nature of the answer.
Afterword
The censured word is within quotes and this reinforces the setter's intention to be as fair as possible to the solver.Swear words are mostly shown in quotes and usually never in full.
E3: What you may hear from a Socialist; ______? (7) _ _ A _ _ _ _
Analysis
What you may hear from a Socialist; ______?
hear indicates not a homonym indicator in this case. So what you hear from a Socialist ( who is a political figure ) is ORATORY.
Aesthetics
The dash here indicates where the answer can fit. Also, ORATORY can be broken up as OR A TORY.
Now a Tory is a Conservative and therefore on the opposite side of a Socialist. Both spout oratory now and then.
So then, when the answer is filled in, the clue is still valid when read in its entirety!
Afterword
The clue above is a rare item. It belongs to that category of clues which I call UNSURPASSABLE.
Though I have a very technical definition for such a clue, let me state simply that for every word there is, there exists a matching clue which is perfect. In other words, that word has found its cryptic soulmate.
F3: Humped creatures? Not so (Just so .......!) (5) _ _ _ _ S
Analysis
Humped creatures? Not so (Just so .......!)
just so is the anagram indicator ; Not so becomes oonts ; def : humped creatures
Aesthetics
A mind-blowing clue which has the effect of an orgasm in the synaptic pathways of the brain.
The trail of dots in the parentheses indicates that the phrase tails off. There is a word there but its not needed for the clue.But if you know the word, then you can find the reference which will lead you to the answer!
In fact, the phrase within the parentheses has another reference - which explains its function as an anagram indicator!
The reference, scientifically is a just-so story.
The reference in literature is Just so stories by Kipling.
'Just so' in the scientific context tells you to 'tune' "not so" to fit the definition of humped creatures.
However, if you don't know the literary reference, you may still not know that oonts is the answer as its a slangword for the Indian camel.
"Just so stories" is a collection of children's stories. One of them is called "How the camel got its hump". However, on reading it, you will still not get the word "oonts"!
Oh dear! Only when you look through the index of Kipling's poems, will you see "oonts".
Torquemada would have been proud of this loaded clue by his 'grandson' Azed.
Afterword
Another UNSURPASSABLE clue by Azed! In fact , all the three clues above are his.We mentioned him in our pages some time back.
Here are three more clues that make use of punctuations to enhance their reading.
G3 : 'Scoo-bi-doo' etc seen as square by jazz fan (4) _ _ _ T
H3 : Verb in 'was concerned' is cut up. (6) _ _ _ _ E _
I3 : I'm spectacular after dark, 'Most Excellent' in bed. (5) _ _ M _ _
Jay
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Punctuations 2
Each Clue explanation is divided into Analysis, Aesthetics and Afterword.
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
___________________________________________________________
A3: Look at daring to admit "I'm sorry?" (6) _ E _ _ _ _
Analysis
Look at daring to admit "I'm sorry?"
daring = bold
"I'm sorry?" = Eh?
bold to admit eh means that eh goes in bold.
b eh old
behold = look
Aesthetics
Lovely use of punctuation to make sense of the sentence. The question mark gives a clue as to how to treat the phrase "I'm sorry" - not as an admission but as a query.
Afterword
The presence of "I'm" might cause concern regarding accuracy issues since "Sorry?" is good enough for substitution by "Eh?". But "I'm sorry?" is still okay.
B3: "Serve Duke!" I cry (4,3) _ _ _ _ O _
Analysis
"Serve Duke!" I cry
duke = D
I cry = I shout
dish out = serve
Aesthetics
Nice short clue where the presence of punctuations is purely for smooth reading and comprehension.
Afterword
Duke is one of those words that will always trigger the presence of the letter D in a crossword.
C3: "Tom here!" (jeers) (10) _ _ _ _ A _ _ I _ _
Analysis
"Tom here!" (jeers)
Tom = cat
tom here indicates catcalling
catcalling = jeers
Aesthetics
Superb clue though I would have preferred "Here,Tom!". But then I can see why "Tom here!" is chosen (see below)
Afterword
That jeers appears within quotes leads us to assume that the context of the sentence is within a play. Someone says the line "Tom here!" and playwright indicates that jeers follow this statement.If the lines were "Here, Tom!" then we might still wonder why jeers followed.
But when "Tom here!" is used , we get an instant image of someone declaring his presence in an assembly and then gets jeered.
So the image generated, reinforces the context of the reading and is smooth as can be.
Another way this clue might have been written is :
TOM "Here!" (jeers)
The above looks as if it came out straight from a script.
Three more clues using punctuation in creative ways ... or not.
D3: What can be wild, including "H____!"? (5) _ A _ _ _
E3: What you may hear from a Socialist; ______? (7) _ _ A _ _ _ _
F3: Humped creatures? Not so (Just so .......!) (5) _ _ _ _ S
Jay
Visual Key to Clue Analysis :
Definition : BOLD
Wordplay : Italics with keywords underlined as well
Link : Normal
___________________________________________________________
A3: Look at daring to admit "I'm sorry?" (6) _ E _ _ _ _
Analysis
Look at daring to admit "I'm sorry?"
daring = bold
"I'm sorry?" = Eh?
bold to admit eh means that eh goes in bold.
b eh old
behold = look
Aesthetics
Lovely use of punctuation to make sense of the sentence. The question mark gives a clue as to how to treat the phrase "I'm sorry" - not as an admission but as a query.
Afterword
The presence of "I'm" might cause concern regarding accuracy issues since "Sorry?" is good enough for substitution by "Eh?". But "I'm sorry?" is still okay.
B3: "Serve Duke!" I cry (4,3) _ _ _ _ O _
Analysis
"Serve Duke!" I cry
duke = D
I cry = I shout
dish out = serve
Aesthetics
Nice short clue where the presence of punctuations is purely for smooth reading and comprehension.
Afterword
Duke is one of those words that will always trigger the presence of the letter D in a crossword.
C3: "Tom here!" (jeers) (10) _ _ _ _ A _ _ I _ _
Analysis
"Tom here!" (jeers)
Tom = cat
tom here indicates catcalling
catcalling = jeers
Aesthetics
Superb clue though I would have preferred "Here,Tom!". But then I can see why "Tom here!" is chosen (see below)
Afterword
That jeers appears within quotes leads us to assume that the context of the sentence is within a play. Someone says the line "Tom here!" and playwright indicates that jeers follow this statement.If the lines were "Here, Tom!" then we might still wonder why jeers followed.
But when "Tom here!" is used , we get an instant image of someone declaring his presence in an assembly and then gets jeered.
So the image generated, reinforces the context of the reading and is smooth as can be.
Another way this clue might have been written is :
TOM "Here!" (jeers)
The above looks as if it came out straight from a script.
Three more clues using punctuation in creative ways ... or not.
D3: What can be wild, including "H____!"? (5) _ A _ _ _
E3: What you may hear from a Socialist; ______? (7) _ _ A _ _ _ _
F3: Humped creatures? Not so (Just so .......!) (5) _ _ _ _ S
Jay
Monday, December 27, 2010
Punctuations
Readers are well aware that punctuations judiciously used in sentences enhance ease of reading and comprehension.
Punctuations are a comparatively recent occurence. Long ago, writing was limited only to a few. As writing expanded to cover all sorts of subjects, it incorporated and invented a few symbols. Today, there are about a dozen punctuation symbols we use in writing.
Inevitably, crossword-setters set some clues with punctuations in them serving as decoys. In rare cases, the solvers had to take them into account to reach the solution.
The clues that follow are some examples where the punctuations serve as decoys or cryptic elements.
A3: Look at daring to admit "I'm sorry?" (6) _ E _ _ _ _
B3: "Serve Duke!" I cry (4,3) _ _ _ _ O _ _
C3: "Tom here!" (jeers) (10) _ _ _ _ A _ _ I _ _
Jay
Punctuations are a comparatively recent occurence. Long ago, writing was limited only to a few. As writing expanded to cover all sorts of subjects, it incorporated and invented a few symbols. Today, there are about a dozen punctuation symbols we use in writing.
Inevitably, crossword-setters set some clues with punctuations in them serving as decoys. In rare cases, the solvers had to take them into account to reach the solution.
The clues that follow are some examples where the punctuations serve as decoys or cryptic elements.
A3: Look at daring to admit "I'm sorry?" (6) _ E _ _ _ _
B3: "Serve Duke!" I cry (4,3) _ _ _ _ O _ _
C3: "Tom here!" (jeers) (10) _ _ _ _ A _ _ I _ _
Jay
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