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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Category Archives: The Stickler
The Stickler Weekly 47
**** Just a reminder that a “?” at the end of a Stickler clue can mean that language abuse is being used. That is, some part of the clue is technically incorrect and must be unravelled. If language abuse is … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, online, printable, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 47 Clue Hints
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Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged clue hints, crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 47 Overseas Help
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Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 46 Solution
I’ve been solving cryptic crosswords since I was 15 – that’s almost 40 years. I compiled my first published crossword in my 20s in a staff magazine and considered myself a professional setter in my early 30s. Those early compiling … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, solution, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 46
**** There is a bonus clue for 4-down in this week’s puzzle. It’s accessible directly in the online version – the PDF version doesn’t have it, but it is accessible here. **** The Stickler for this week is now available. … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, online, printable, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 46 Clue Hints
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Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged clue hints, crosswords, cryptic, stickler
10 Comments
The Stickler Weekly 46 Overseas Help
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Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged crosswords, cryptic, stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 45 Solution
Recently I was chuffed to find a reference to The Stickler Weekly in an article featured in The Atlantic, an American monthly publication. For many years The Atlantic published cryptics by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon, two of my cryptic … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, solution, The Stickler
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The Stickler Weekly 45
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 45 Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 45 Solution … Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler
Tagged cryptic crossword, online, printable, The Stickler
2 Comments
The Stickler Weekly 45 Clue Hints
If you need help, Continue reading
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler
Tagged clue hints, crosswords, cryptic, stickler
2 Comments