How to solve cryptic crosswords
Cryptic crosswords look impenetrable until you learn the one rule that unlocks them: every clue is two clues in one. Once you see that, the rest is practice, and setters play fair far more often than you'd think.
Every clue has two halves
A cryptic clue contains a definition of the answer, just like an ordinary crossword, plus a second route to the same answer called the wordplay. The definition sits at the very start or the very end. The wordplay is everything else.
Newspaper boss rioted wildly (6)
Definition: 'newspaper boss'. Wordplay: 'rioted wildly', which tells you to rearrange the letters of RIOTED. Both lead to EDITOR.
The skill is in reading the clue two ways. The surface reading is the sentence as it appears; the cryptic reading treats each word as an instruction. Setters write smooth surfaces to hide the instructions.
A five-step method
- Count the letters. The numbers in brackets, such as (4,3), tell you the length of each word.
- Find the definition. Try the first word or two, then the last word or two. Ask which could mean a word of the right length.
- Look for an indicator. Words like 'wildly', 'inside', 'back' or 'we hear' tell you what the wordplay does. Our list of indicators covers the common ones.
- Decode the wordplay. Apply the instruction. You'll often need short synonyms or standard abbreviations, like AB for sailor or RE for about.
- Check both halves agree. If the definition and the wordplay both lead to the same word, you've solved it. If only one does, keep looking.
Start with the generous clue types
Some clue types give you the letters outright. These are the best place to build confidence:
- Anagrams: the letters are in the clue, shuffled.
- Hidden words: the answer is written inside the clue.
- Initial letters: the first letters of a phrase spell the answer.
Then move on to charades and containers, which build the answer from pieces, and finally cryptic definitions, which are pure lateral thinking.
Habits that make you faster
- Solve the short answers first; they give you checking letters for the long ones.
- Ignore the surface reading. If a clue mentions a 'flower', the setter may mean a river (something that flows).
- Learn the regular abbreviations. They come up in almost every puzzle.
- When stuck, step away. Answers often arrive the moment you stop looking.
- Use hints to learn, not just to finish. Ask for the clue type before the answer, and see if you can take it from there.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cryptic crossword?
A crossword where every clue is a small puzzle. Each clue normally has two parts: a straight definition of the answer, and wordplay that leads you to the same answer another way.
Where is the definition in a cryptic clue?
Almost always at the very start or the very end of the clue. Finding it is the single most useful step, because what's left over is the wordplay.
What do the numbers in brackets mean?
That's the enumeration: the length of each word in the answer. (5) is one five-letter word, (4,3) is two words, and (5-4) is a hyphenated answer.
How long does it take to get good at cryptic crosswords?
Most people go from solving a couple of clues to finishing whole puzzles within a few months of regular practice. Learning the common indicators and abbreviations speeds this up a lot.
Is using hints cheating?
Not if you're learning. Revealing one step at a time, such as the clue type or the definition, teaches you how the setter thinks, which is how everyone improves.
What's the difference between UK and US cryptic crosswords?
The rules are the same, but UK puzzles use blocked grids with about half the letters shared, while US cryptics are often variety puzzles with barred grids. Spelling and general knowledge follow local usage.