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A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) on the INSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).
Examples: held by, kept by, embraced by - anything that creates the image of being contained.
A word or phrase that defines the answer. All cryptic clues usually have a minimum of one definition which will be located at the beginning or end of the clue.
The answer is a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation indicator will be present.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.
Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.
Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.
Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
I have to disagree with those who believe a setter should use an anagram as a last resort. I think anagrams are the heart and soul of cryptic clues, whether contributing to all or part of the answer. An anagram is the easiest to understand conceptually, the only device that people tend to “know” already, the first device learnt by many, diverse (no other device has as many possible indicators) and flexible. I use what I call “the anagram technique” to evaluate a word BEFORE committing it to the grid. A word with lots of potential anagrams will provide multiple cluing options (not necessarily using an anagram) and one with very few potential anagrams is likely to cause cluing problems, as the breakdown of consonants and vowels reflects what components are in a word. I just love the simplicity of anagrams, as with 13-down. Not a difficult clue, but the surface and construction make it delightful IMO. How could I clue it any other way?
