About the Setter
David Stickley has been writing crosswords professionally since 1995. His cryptic puzzle, The Stickler, reached number 4786 before being axed in July 2013 due to cutbacks. In 2024 David and his wife Linda secured a weekly cryptic and quick slot in The SMH and The Age. David has also been published in the NYT, the UK's FT and Church Times.-
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Author Archives: David Stickley
The Stickler Weekly 9
The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format. The solution to this puzzle will appear next week. Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 9 Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 9 Solution … Continue reading
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Tagged cryptic crossword, online, printable, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 9 Clue Hints
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The Stickler Weekly 9 Overseas Help
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The Stickler Weekly 8 Solution
Difficulty of a puzzle is determined by a multitude of factors. It starts before the setter even enters a word – with the grid. Regardless of what follows in terms of word selection and clue complexity, certain grids will always … Continue reading
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The Stickler Weekly 8
The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format. The solution to this puzzle will appear next week. Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 8 Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 8 Solution … Continue reading
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Tagged cryptic crossword, online, printable, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 8 Clue Hints
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The Stickler Weekly 8 Overseas Help
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The Stickler Weekly 7 Solution
A solver noticed that 22-down wasn’t as good as it could be. The clue is sound, but the structure leaves the solver wondering which part is “upped” and which is the definition. Is it a word for CUT turned up … Continue reading
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Tagged cryptic crossword, solution, The Stickler
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 1, Clue Help
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 1 Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 SOFTEN UP Work on superior hanging around time after time (6,2) SUP outside OFTEN 5 ABUSED A coach with education is mistreated (6) A + BUS + ED 10 BLUNTED Large sort of nut … Continue reading
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