The Two Main Traditions
Newspaper crosswords published in English fall broadly into two traditions that use different clue conventions. American-style crosswords — associated with publications such as the New York Times — use predominantly straight definitional clues, where the clue is a direct or near-direct definition of the answer. British cryptic crosswords — associated with The Guardian, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and others — use structured wordplay clues where the surface reading is designed to mislead.
Polish-language crosswords generally follow conventions closer to the American style, relying on definitions and encyclopaedic references rather than the wordplay structures of British cryptic puzzles. International editions and puzzle collections available in Poland often include both types.
Straight Definition Clues
A straight clue provides a definition that is synonymous with the answer at the word level. The clue "Capital of France (5)" expects the answer PARIS. The number in parentheses indicates the letter count. Straight clues can range from simple one-word definitions to longer descriptive phrases, but the relationship between the clue text and the answer is always definitional.
In American-style crosswords, clue difficulty is managed through how obscure or oblique the definition is, not through wordplay. A clue might use an unusual sense of a common word ("Pitcher, say (4)" for EWER), or reference a specific cultural domain the solver may not know well.
Cryptic Clue Structure
Cryptic clues follow a two-part structure: a definition and a wordplay element. Both parts always appear in the same clue, but identifying which is which is part of the solving challenge. The definition is typically at the beginning or end of the clue. The wordplay element — which can be an anagram, container, reversal, or other construction — uses the remaining words.
The Rule of Two Definitions
Every valid cryptic clue contains exactly two paths to the answer: the definition and the wordplay. Solvers should always be able to verify the answer through both routes independently. If only one path works, the clue may be flawed or the solver may have the wrong answer.
Anagram Clues
Anagram clues instruct the solver to rearrange the letters of one or more words in the clue to form the answer. Indicator words signal that an anagram is required: "muddled," "confused," "mixed up," "broken," "wild," "badly," "oddly," and similar terms all function as anagram indicators in different publications.
The letters to be rearranged are called the anagram fodder and must appear verbatim in the clue. A clue reading "Badly done by the setter (6)" would require finding a six-letter anagram from the fodder "done by" if that were the intended fodder, plus a definition elsewhere in the clue.
Hidden Word Clues
Hidden word clues contain the answer concealed consecutively within the clue text. Indicator phrases include "in part," "some of," "part of," "hidden in," and "contained by." The challenge is identifying the concealed string, which always crosses at least one word boundary.
Double Definition Clues
A double definition clue contains two unrelated definitions of the same answer placed side by side. These clues are typically short — often three to five words — because each definition is a complete unit. The solver recognises the structure when both halves of the clue independently lead to the same answer.
Homophone Clues
Homophone clues indicate that the answer sounds like a different word that is defined or described in the clue. Indicators include "we hear," "sounds like," "in speech," "reportedly," "audibly," and similar phrases. The clue "Sounds like a doctor's bill, reportedly (4)" might lead to PAIL, which sounds like PALE — a word meaning doctor's bill in the sense of a written note is not straightforward; a better example would use a clear synonym.
Summary of Common Indicator Words
| Clue Type | Example Indicators |
|---|---|
| Anagram | muddled, confused, wild, broken, oddly, badly |
| Hidden word | in part, some of, hidden in, contains, within |
| Reversal | back, reversed, going up (down clues), returning |
| Homophone | sounds like, we hear, reportedly, audibly |
| Deletion | beheaded, curtailed, endless, heartless |
For solving approaches that apply to these clue types, see the article on Crossword Solving Strategies for Beginners.
Last updated: June 2026 — For informational reference only.