You:
Ok. Answer for the clue A pair (3) can either be TWO or DUO,
because both are 3 letter words and both can mean “A pair”
Me: You
are right. Easy one, right? Now, let us look at this clue
A pair of artworks (3)
I added just 2 more words! Now, what’s the answer?
You:
Can the answer again be TWO or DUO?
Me: For
the above clue, only one of the above is correct.
You:
Why?
Me:
Because clue has now become complex due to inclusion of few more words to the
clue and therefore additional ground rules apply.
You:
This is getting cryptic. What are they?
Me:
Answer is always the meaning / synonym of “a part of the clue”.
Let us name this part of the clue as “Question”.
You:
How to identify the question?
Me: Here
lies the challenge! Generally, it
is either at the beginning or end of the clue. It can be a single word or a
string of words. But for now, let us consider it ‘to be learnt with
experience’.
In this clue “A pair of artworks (3)” let us assume “A
pair” is the Question.
You:
What is the purpose of the remaining part of the clue?
Me:
Remaining part of the clue is used to get the answer. It also helps in pinning
down that specific word in case
of more than one possible answer.
Let me name this part of the clue as “Help”. We need to
use “Help” to get the answer.
In this clue, take the Help of “of artworks”
You:
How does the part of the clue “of artworks” help in getting the answer?
Me:
One of the meanings of “A pair” is TWO. The word “Two” is embedded in the
phrase “of artworks”. So, TWO is the answer and not DUO.
You:
Is the answer always embedded within a Cryptic Clue?
Me:
Not really. That depends on the type of Cryptic Clue. Let us call this
type of clue as Cryptic Clue Type “A”.
You:
Are there different types of Cryptic Clues?
Me:
Yes…we will discuss them with specific examples in later posts.
RECAP
Summary
of General Ground Rules for Cryptic Clues
Answer
is always a word or phrase.
No. of
letters comprising the answer is always mentioned in parenthesis at the end of
the clue.
Answer
is always the meaning / synonym of a part of the clue.
Answer
is derived by using remaining part of the clue.
Hint
for Clue Type “A”: Answer is hidden within the clue itself!
PS:
Let me
recall one of the statements I made earlier….
Me: In
this clue “A pair of artworks (3)” “A pair” is the Question.
You:
What if we assume “of artworks” as Question?
Me: Let
us say your assumption is right. Now, using rest of the clue, think of a
meaning/synonym for the phrase “of artworks”
You:
I have no clue!
Me: I can
understand. That is because your assumption is wrong. Because, by using rest of the
clue, it is not possible to get a word that can relate to “artworks”. Hence, this part of the clue cannot be the Question.
Wanna try answering a few clues? ....Click CA 1 to CA 5
