This article was posted by Marray Smith (smithmw@direct.ca)in early
October 1996 to r.p.c
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There seems to be another round of discussion about the conventions of
cryptic clueing. Several good guides are to be found in the archive
(which I forget how to locate - perhaps someone could provide the key to
the most recent version). Fraser Simpson has a particularly good guide
available on the Toronto Globe and Mail's web site (sorry I don't have
the address off hand). Antony Lewis' "Crossword Compiler for Windows" (an
excellent piece of software) has a very good guide included.

Another good source (to the British style at least) is found in "The
Twelfth Book of Sunday Times Crosswords" (and perhaps other editions).
Pub. Times Books; ISBN 0 7230 05141  c. 1993
This contains a solver's guide by Elizabeth and Derek Jewell. 

As this is copywrited material, I'll paraphrase some of the salient
points - particularly those which are uncommon in the US. I do urge you
to pick up a copy of this (or any others in the series) paperback though.
This edition has 60 Sunday Times puzzles in it (it was quite inexpensive).
This plagiarism is a very abbreviated version (and necessarily imprecise).

Apologies to the authors. 

The guide starts with a good short history of the cryptic crossword form,
and some anecdotal pieces.

The authors assert that "British puzzles AT THEIR BEST tend to be the
most avant-garde in the world." (my emphasis)

A list of the MAIN TYPES of word play are:
1. Word Divisions
2. Punctuation liberties etc.
3. Inversions/omissions etc.
4. Anagrams (several kinds)
5. Contained-words or hidden clues
6. Sound-words (homophones)
7. Use of abbreviations
8. Disguising verbs as nouns etc.
9. Puns or double meanings
10. Overt or disguised literary references etc.
11. Memorable quotations etc.
12. Use of crossword conventions (standard indicators)

1. DIVIDED WORDS (Compound words)

e.g. 'They don't attack delays without consequence (9)' = DEF(END)ERS
	delays = DEFERS (without) END


2. PUNCTUATION LIBERTIES

e.g. 'Tom followed Diana - indeed devoted! (9)' = DE[(DI)(CAT)]ED
	The word "indeed" is run together to confuse the solver. This is
	a crossword convention (see section 12).


3. INVERSIONS/OMISSIONS ETC.

e.g. 'Speaking acidly, as it were, when giving can back to unvigorous
Richard (6)' = NITRIC
	(tin) can back = NIT; Richard (lost his hard edge) = RIC


4. ANAGRAMS (several kinds)
	"Any word in a clue which can possibly mean, either literally or 
figuratively, that the order of other words in the clue is to be changed
may give you the tip that you've got an anagram on your hands."

	Variations

a) Linked Anagrams: (charade)
e.g. 'Bit of plumbing that gives both pride and pain (9)'
	PRIDE (and) PAIN = DRAINPIPE

b) Part Anagrams: (incomplete)
e.g. 'Ride at medium pace and forget the least variety of Eng. Lit.! (10,5)'	
	CANTER(BURY) TALES; forget = bury; least = tales	

c) Substitutions/removals etc.:
e.g. 'Pillar constructed to order with endlessly varied skill (7)'
	O.B.E.(LISK)

d) Synonyms (indirect anagrams)
e.g. 'But is it material to prohibit a strange, intense dislike? (8)'
	BAR(A)THEA (a fabric); intense dislike = hate = THEA

e) Same words (overlap) [The authors think this is the superior type.]
e.g. 'Spread with speed, sir (8)'
	DISPERSE = speed sir; "Spread" serves double duty.


5. CONTAINED-WORDS or HIDDEN CLUES
e.g. 'Used by a teachER AS ERuditely as possible (6)' 
	*NOTE The definition for "eraser" is implied, not stated.


6. SOUND-WORDS (homophones)
e.g. 'Goes over the top with old tennis stars apparently (7)'
	EXCEEDS = ex-seeds


7. USE OF ABBREVIATIONS
e.g. 'A heavy weight goes to Alabama for an unusual kind of music (6)'
	A(TON)AL


8. DISGUISING VERBS AS NOUNS ETC.
e.g. 'Quiet husband left inside (5)'
	SA(L)VE; Quiet is a verb (= salve) disguised as a noun; Husband
	is also a verb disguised as a noun.


9. PUNS OR DOUBLE MEANINGS ("The heart and soul of cryptic crosswords")
e.g. 'Performed by many willing people? (8)'
	EXECUTORS


10. OVERT or DISGUISED LITERARY REFERENCES ETC.
e.g. 'Land of Hope (9)'
	RURITANIA - an imaginary kingdom in Anthony Hope's "Prisoner of
	Zenda".


11. MEMORABLE QUOTATIONS ETC. (fill-in-the-blank)
e.g. 'The quality of ____ is not strain'd' (The Merchant of Venice) (5)'
	MERCY


12. USE OF CROSSWORD CONVENTIONS (standard indicators)
These are cliched stock words, abbreviations, phrases etc. 
	degree = 'MA' or 'BA' etc.
	politician = 'MP', 'TORY' etc.
	love = O (tennis)
	flower = THAMES (river) etc.
	etc., etc., etc.
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