How To Solve Cryptic Crosswords

We go through the basics of cryptic crossword clues:
The rule (yes, there's just one!); the basic conventions; useful tips; clue types.
This is an excellent how-to guide for anyone interested in getting into cryptics. The puzzle used is the Quick Cryptic no 2,000 by Des from The Times.

[@colinstamper7876]

This was like watching a magic show. My brain absolutely does not function this way, so having it explained so thoroughly was fascinating

[@saurabhbagai5982]

Mark, May we get at least one of these a week? This was a fantastic review

[@ZachGatesHere]

Seconded. I'm learning how to do cryptics currently and would love more of these

[@MunichFreak]

I think the target audience is a good bit smaller since non-natives have no chance of doing such a puzzle...

[@ZachGatesHere]

@@MunichFreak VERY good point. Forgot that sudoku doesn't really have a language barrier...

[@IguitarVreakI]

@@MunichFreak English as a second language here! I think you bring up a fair point. As a counter (and I'm sure I'm in the minority) I loved this. Very very difficult for me, since many of these words are so specific. However especially towards the end there were more and more answers I got right (though mostly because of given letters) and the clues started to click a bit although this is ridiculous at times. Still, I was thoroughly enthralled and would love more of these!

[@DhansakPuzzles]

My channel, DB Puzzles, does one of these every week. Join me!

[@andymion]

This reminded me of how much I miss the "Cryptic" part of Cracking the Cryptic. I do hope we can get some more of this.

[@weemanling]

Agree. The sudokus are really rather mundane.

[@MisterM2402]

The speed Mark gets the answers to these, it's as if he has the completed crossword in front of him and is just reading them off. I know that's not the case though, it's just a testament to his skill!

[@michaelhill4091]

Watching Mark talk thru this, as opposed to seeing a monthly club solve, may actually be more revealing to his crossword brilliance.

[@whereisawesomeness]

Cryptic crosswords are something I’ve never done before, and from the little I’ve seen I lack a lot of the vocabulary, but I could very easily fall into a rabbithole of doing these. Thanks for the new hobby, I suppose!

[@andrewzmorris]

Don't worry, the more crosswords you do, the more your vocabulary expands.

[@sandraraituma]

@@andrewzmorris I would agree with regular crosswords, but these cryptic ones require the vocab to begin with. Because of the word play and not all the clues are literal. I am not an English speaker, these are super hard for me, I am simply mesmerized by how quickly Mark and Simon do these! I could do them in my native language, but I have not seen these very often. I'll need to look harder :D

[@epd807]

More cryptic cracking on cracking the cryptic! Well done Mark!

[@Alexbrainbox]

Really happy to see cryptic crosswords back on the channel!

[@Kelters]

I used to do the G cryptic almost every day. My favourite (gone now alas) was Araucaria. But I lost the habit when I moved out of UK. I love watching Mark steam his way through the really difficult puzzles, but truth be told, I found this revision video both entertaining and inspiring. Time for me to brush the rust off. More of these please, Mark. I think you did an excellent teaching job. A series like this would bring most interested budding solvers up to a reasonable standard pretty quickly.

[@Jablicek]

Araucaria's crosswords were diabolical! A friend and I used to spend an afternoon "solving" the puzzles, but mostly having a glass of wine and talking nonsense. They were lovely days.

[@amandasteele9486]

As a budding novice, I totally concur with you Alan! I truly enjoyed this. Didn't know that a rook was also a bird. Just love when I learn new things like that.

[@Churahm]

This type of video needs to happen way more often. This was an amazing experience!

[@kilimanjarocruz660]

Yes, more crossword content! I absolutely adore to watch this. Cheers, KCruz.

[@isaacbragg-gardiner2456]

Since I watched this video on November 19th I've started doing the daily cryptic from the Globe and Mail every day. Finally today I did one completely on my own with no checking or letter-revealing! Thanks for the help :D

[@no-feetmcgee5577]

I can say from experience, teaching yourself how to do cryptics purely from Mark's videos on the Times Monthly Club Special is a grueling but ultimately effective experience... for new solvers, I would definitely recommend videos like this instead XD

[@AngrySanta]

I'm so happy to see crosswords on the channel again.

[@BijickY]

Congratulations for being featured in a Tom Scott newsletter! 🎉

[@troymcdougal9010]

This is definitely a video to recommend for those wanting to get into cryptic crosswords. I have been wanting and have tried a few times, but can't wrap my mind around it. By about 16 down, I was pausing the videos and trying to work it out before you and was successful on several of them. CTC has renewed my interest in CC.

[@UrbanPretzle]

Ahh wow, for 3 down, I got so excited to finally solve one before you revealed the answer. thank you for this amazing starter guide, I'll give more cryptic cross words a go!

[@pholloway]

Genuinely Approachable Crosswords

[@cassiodimande4992]

Been waiting for this video since stumbling upon one of your solves/explainers well over a year ago. Big fan of regular crosswords and your playlist really helps learn the language of cryptics (and I can now decypher some with time but have yet to complete an entire one). Thanks for the great videos, this really is appreciated!

[@accountnamewithheld]

I got CORN, CLAW, CROCUS, CHIDES, POLYSYLLABIC, TARMAC, METRIC, ACIDIC, COMMUTER So a pretty good showing from a noob like me... even if POLYSYLLABIC took an anagram solver :) Seconding the requests from the rest, please do these cryptics more regularly! Loving them as a newbie solver.

[@michaelgaunt1091]

Always a pleasure to see a crossword video. Thanks, Mark.

[@pattimcneill7531]

Absolutely loved this. Learned so much and would love to see more of these videos!

[@TheJamesRedwood]

I have been watching YT for over a decade, nearly every day, this is the first video I have seen without any dislikes!

[@fussyboy2000]

Please can we have more crossword content. I'd like to see a solve of the Private Eye crossword... and Cryptics from other places, no just The Times.

[@kaeco_]

it would be really nice to see these on the channel at least once a week! as much as i love sudoku, it's nice to have a change every once in a while

[@Enkil01]

Yes.! I've missed seeing you do crossword solves. I do like sudoku, but find only watching sudokus all the time gets a bit repetitive. Hope you can throw in a few of these occasionally, a bit like you used to in the earlier days of the channel.

[@johnclara7764]

Gratitude! You overindulge us, the first khan cryptic! [thank you… or at least trying to mean that :)]

[@widgetb]

Looking for a video like this is how I stumbled onto this channel. That was wonderful and I would love to see more of these!

[@gordonglenn2089]

I would love to see more of these approachable cryptic crosswords featured here. I have been doing them from Games magazine and Dell puzzles since about 1995, and won't ever go back to boring old definition-only puzzles. I still have a lot of trouble with most British newspapers' versions, but I now carry a book of The Times Quick Cryptics with me to pass the time in waiting rooms...

[@pearl1606]

I really like it when Mr G talks in a general way about these cryptic clues. Often I find it's like an exam when you see bizarre clues, getting flustered and then lost from the start! He is a brilliant teacher.,

[@keithlewis7205]

Excellent!! Please do more! Most enjoyable!

[@LorisLaboratory]

This was fantastic! I have no hope of doing these myself (much like the hard sudokus), but I find the talk through absolutely fascinating (much like the hard sudokus LOL) and would def be here if you do more explanation videos like this. Thanks!

[@Jodawo]

I don't know about everyone else but I do like the struggle only because it makes the victory so much sweeter.

[@Raven-Creations]

One of the tricks you didn't mention, is to look for defining words used unconventionally. My favourite example of this is "flower", used to clue a river. Another is words like "heard", or "broadcast" to denote a homophone. You could have mentioned the convention that reversal is indicated differently for across and down clues. For an across clue, it might be "returning", or "back". For a down clue, it might be "over", or "up".

[@nendwr]

And similarly "layer", which is a hen or some other type of bird.

[@glum_hippo]

What a marvelous treat to see Mark slowed down so we can actually watch him go by.

[@DitDede]

Thanks, Mark. That was very instructive. It was the first time I was able to partly solve some cryptic crossword definitions. I was able to use your hints and come up with: CROCUS, CORN, HIPPO, EPIDEMIC I got on my own: EVE, METALLIC, METRIC, COMMUTER

[@JaggerG]

I learned the basic premise of cryptics from some of your older videos, and tried some of Lovatt's. They felt more approachable to me as an American (although they're from Australia). This video pretty concisely provides pretty much everything needed to understand these things (minus the vocabulary one needs to develop over time, of course). Thank you for introducing me to another puzzle type!

[@VeritasUnae]

I think so much of this is definitely learning all the short form. I tried this puzzle out and definitely did better on some clues than others!

[@BillLamoreaux]

I learned so much from this. Thanks!

[@GordonjSmith1]

I have enjoyed Criptics for years, but this was still a really nice summary and I enjoyed it. More cryptic vlogs please!

[@Swisswavey]

Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries, I believe... Worth mentioning, having seen both Cur and Cad used, that the same synonym is unlikely to be repeated, i.e. it would be most unusual for both clues to use Cur.

[@CrackingTheCryptic]

Apparently actually the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, it seems Mark

[@elemenopy7605]

that was fascinating. i'd love to see more of this sort of content

[@jom548]

Thank you! Hope to see some more cryptics soon. I initally learnt through your videos and have been doing The Saturday Paper (Australia) cryptic for about a year now.in Australia

[@eddiejcc]

Many thanks for this Mark!!!

[@Anivacuum]

Wow! You can easily read lectures at Cryptic University. It is pleasant to listen to your easy to follow explanations. Thank you, Mark.

[@radd1865]

As an American, some of the language in these cryptics can be a bit difficult. But I was actually starting to understand how to work the answers out, somewhat, thanks to this video. Very interesting!

[@21deezer]

Thanks Mark, great and very interesting video, I normally focus on the wrong clue word lol. The reason for commenting is that after watching your video I was able to answer confidently a question on tonight's The Chase. The question was where would you find a coda in a musical piece lol spooky eh thanks again and keep up the good work, Dale

[@tomtucjr]

Hi Mark, I usually lurk on CTC videos and don’t comment but I really enjoyed this and would love to see more cryptic videos as it’s something my mathematical brain struggles with and I’d love to get better at.

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

I'm surprised Mark didn't mention the major solving blogs. They are Times for the Times, covering the Times of London, and Fifteensquared, covering the Guardian, The Financial Times, and The Independent. Most of the blogs come out as soon as the puzzle is available, unless it's a prize puzzle. Both blogs allow anyone to comment, and the comments are often very illuminating.

[@bristolrovers27]

An absolutely excellent video Clear and well explained

[@Yahula1edits]

This is in a way much more amazing then any of the sudoku solving stuff.

[@alexjohnson2473]

I'd like to see more of these if possible!

[@TobyWilliams1066]

Hurrah! I mentioned cryptic crosswords in a comment a few days back, and here we are! Let me grab some tea and solve along with you.

[@mariamaximov1891]

I always think my years of learning English had paid off until I see you solving these haha

[@micuthroame1209]

This is amazing. In my country crosswords clues contains only a definition of the answer. To confirm you are right you have to get some other letters. There is no "cracking" - you know the answer or go to the next one and hope you figure something out later. So this British crosswords are really awesome for me.

[@andrewzmorris]

We have those as well, but they are called quick crosswords here in Australia (and presumably in Britain). The crossword here is a cryptic crossword.

[@rupen42]

I love cryptics as a concept, but it's very frustrating that even the "easy" cryptic requires words like cur, cad and tar - which I've never seen before and never will again -and borderline unfair clues like 2D (substitution inside an anagram). And that's not even getting into the very regional clues. If all clues were like epidemic, corn or metric, I would love them so much. This is like if the easiest sudoku puzzles all required swordfishes and empty rectangles.

[@andrewzmorris]

You don't actually need to fully understand both halves of the clue to get the answer. For example, with the "colour" clue you might have left this answer until the end because you couldn't understand the wordplay, but once you saw that the answer was "CO_O_R" and the clue might have the definition "shade", you could work out the solution even never knowing the word "cur". They are definitely tough when you start out, but you get better at them by doing them. You will 100% learn the word "tar" if you do crosswords, I can guarantee that!

[@rupen42]

@@andrewzmorris Filling the puzzle is not the interesting part. You can do that with regular crosswords. The fun is the wordplay.

[@zmaj12321]

First of all, that substitution in an anagram thing is pretty controversial within the cryptic crossword community, so I wouldn't use that as a representative of the problems with all cryptics. Usually, even if you don't know what all the words mean, you can still deduce the structure of the clue. Since clues are double-checked by definition and wordplay, you would then be able to get a good guess for what the uncommon words are, and then you can search them up to confirm if you're right (for example, if I did the crossword in the video, I would probably still be able to get CROCUS despite not even knowing what that is before solving). In that way, I actually think that cryptic crosswords are naturally structured to help solvers overcome obstacles like tricky vocab. Also, if you're from the U.S., it might be worthwhile to try U.S. cryptics, which rely on words more commonly known in the U.S. (tar still appears, but I don't think I've seen cur and cad before). I'm not sure what the best resources are, but I personally really like chall.us/hex/hex_all_wsj.html. These cryptic clues lean on the easier side, but they are "variant" crosswords, which means that each has a funky set of rules on top of the cryptic part.

[@iabervon]

@@rupen42 Part of the intent is that you will sometimes need each of the definition, the wordplay, and the checked letters to solve a clue, and you verify your answer with the parts that were unfair to solve with. It's like rows, columns, and boxes in sudoku: you should be getting steps based on each at different times, not solving the whole puzzle from one part or another. It's not a regular crossword, but it's also not just wordplay or reasonable to solve without the grid.

[@bluerizlagirl]

@@rupen42 A common beginner's mistake is thinking of the definition part as authoritative, and "backing into" it from the wordplay as somehow cheating. In fact, this is usually exactly how the setter intends you to answer the clue! From the wordplay, 1A must be a six-letter word that has OLO in it and can mean either "scoundrel" or "shade", with the remaining letters meaning the other of those two. Most probably while you are pondering another clue, your subconscious will match "colour" with "shade" and OLO, leaving CUR. If you cared to look up "cur" and saw "vicious mongrel dog", that would be a reasonable metaphor for "scoundrel". But you aren't necessarily expected to know that from the outset. That said, it is not unheard of for a clue to have a really obvious direct definition, but need to be taken in an obscure sense to make the wordplay work! Subverting expectations is one of the things that defines a puzzle, after all. And the distinction between "the easy part" and "the hard part" is subjective anyway.

[@longwaytotipperary]

Oh - so glad for this one!! 🤗

[@LukeSumIpsePatremTe]

Normal sudoku rules do not apply!

[@niceguyeddie78]

This is really helpful!.

[@b34z47]

oh yeah it's crossword time always love the crossword content

[@PiersCawley]

Araucaria used to have a lot of fun with Spoonerisms as part of his wordplay too. Crops up still with various other Guardian setters.

[@Cogskate]

Really helpful refresher video, thanks! I think the only clue type that didn't get a mention in this video was the "cryptic definition", a.k.a. "&lit". Like "Flower of London" being a clue for "Thames".

[@abj136]

Flow-er of London. Took me a while.

[@mauefw]

&lit is slightly different to a cryptic definition, because it has cryptic wordplay but the whole thing is also the definition. For example 'Rub back softly to get this? (4)' would be BURP: the cryptic is RUB< + P (for piano), and the whole thing is also the definition.

[@jamesranson8693]

Edwin's upset about Lloyd's first fraud. That was the first cryptic clue I solved after watching this video, and many others since. Thanks for the fun new hobby.

[@EricAkaoka]

Wow okay I’m not sure if this was intentional, but I (Canadian, so not as familiar with Britishisms) got to ACIDIC this way: Ace detectives = (private) eyes = I, I In “charge” = AC/DC Certainly less elegant than the intended construction, but I’m fascinated it worked as well as it did! Thanks so much for this video, I always love it when experts explain their craft.

[@Anne_Mahoney]

This was really fun, and the puzzle itself was easy enough that I actually got most of the words. (I'm American, and though I'm very verbal I've never been good at anagrams; I was so proud of myself that I saw "corn"!).

[@andyparkerson]

This is wonderful! I got a few on my own once some letters had been filled out.

[@chrisefc3579]

Thankyou so much for this insight.

[@lemonadeslices]

so illuminative - thank you

[@henrymarkson3758]

May I suggest a speed run of the week's 5 Times Quick Cryptics as a new feature on the channel? (Similar to the weekly GAS run)

[@Anne_Mahoney]

Ooh, yes, I'd watch that!

[@vkts]

Oh, this time I was able to get some words! But not being a native speaker is severely detrimental. Some half of the time I just don't know the word or a synonym, or an alternative meaning. Still very fun to watch.

[@th3manias]

Really good video. Thanks

[@palooka4830]

Great vid, Mark. I've been doing crosswords for a while and still learnt something new

[@TheFreeBro]

Please bring back cryptic crosswords!!!!!!!!

[@Ed-et5zu]

Excellent overview

[@goldenghostinc]

My brain just isn't wired to do these, although I enjoy watching the videos. But after all the good explanations in this video I actually think Marc misinterpreted the clue for the final word. The commute jail time story is not needed in this case, because I believe "reduce" in this case means the abbreviation for "run" is needed (reducing run to r), thus giving the R. The rest of the clue would already give us "commute" wouldn't it?

[@limegreenelevator]

One point that Mark didn't make is that words in a crossword can only be used once, for one thing. So if "reduce run" meant "take the abbreviation for run," you wouldn't be allowed to use "reduce" again to mean "commute." Ergo "reduce" = "commute," and run -> R is a standard abbreviation.

[@goldenghostinc]

@@limegreenelevator but would you need "reduce" at all to get to commute? Isn't "traveling to work" already giving you that one it's own?

[@limegreenelevator]

@@goldenghostinc The definition is "one traveling to work." Since that whole thing is the def, none of it can be used in the wordplay as well.

[@goldenghostinc]

My brain just refuses to acknowledge this rule 😂. It so doesn't make sense to me that you would, as a rule, need to use wordplay when the definition is already giving you the answer 🤣.

[@iabervon]

@@goldenghostinc It's like the end of a sudoku, where you can get cells from just one of the box, the row, or the column, but the other two have to be correct for the puzzle to be valid, and you can use them to check that your solution is correct.

[@thedizzyexplorer]

Mark, I think you can do for Cryptics what you and Simon were able to do for Sudoku variants and pencil puzzles. Introduce broader audiences to niche interests through walk throughs. If this is already your intention, great, and I hope you will consider it if you haven't already.

[@johnschulz3887]

One fun bit with the "theme" of the puzzle can be seen when treating them as Roman Numerals and summing them

[@kellwillsen]

Minor quibble about the construction on 1D: I thought that in an anagram clue, the letters should all appear in the clue. Having to substitute "I" for "one" before starting the anagram seems a bit "Shaken players bear the load" to me. (orchestra = carthorse)

[@CrackingTheCryptic]

It's a very good point. Many crosswords, including the Times, the Listener, the Guardian and indeed The Magpie (for which I am partly responsible) now take the view that a 'very obvious' piece of indirectness (like "one" = I) is allowable within these clues. But as you say a full indirect anagram is not allowable ...

[@civilbeard]

This is neat! Though I think not being a Brit these would be basically impossible for me. Lots of British-specific things in this puzzle.

[@KarasuGamma]

The "Alpha Bravo Charlie" sequence you mentioned is the NATO Phonetic Alphabet, not the International Phonetic Alphabet. The IPA is primarily an extensive pronunciation guide and catalogue.

[@89ccullen]

I really enjoyed this introduction to these, could we have some more simpler ones like this solved? I almost managed to get the epidemic answer. :)

[@MrKrill7]

Great guide! But i’ve now learned that even with advice from some of the absolute best, Cryptic Crosswords are just too confusing for me.

[@amysteele2488]

5 down "...is false..." I somehow thought of the word 'codswallop' - which may be one of the last remaining vestiges of 'cod' = 'false'?

[@abj136]

My intuitive guess is codswallop is fish guts, specifically from cod, thus meaning a whole lot of worthlessness, metaphorically useless. I have never heard ‘cod’ to mean anything other than a fish.

[@Stephen-Fox]

Etymology online suggests that the cod in codswallop might be from testicles (and used to appear in the OED as cod's wallop, wallop in this context apparently being from the slang for beer). Which... Actually, I'm not convinced doesn't make it one of the last remaining vestiges of cod = false, but does change what I thought cod = false derived from (I thought it was from the fish rather than archaic vulgar slang, but I know I've called things that are clearly false to be a load of bollocks before so now that I'm aware of that definition of cod, I'm wondering if cod for a hoax or a fake might be from that use of cod)

[@andrewlemoine6975]

Have you guys tried Region for the Stars by Philip Newman? You promoted it in one if your videos a few weeks ago and it's mind blowing. Would love to see your solve!

[@eatdirtmofo]

Thank you Mark

[@Alex_Meadows]

Thanks Mark, I really loved this video. I've never really understood how cryptic crosswords work, even when I have the answers to work back from, and now it finally makes sense! I think there were 23 clues in this one, and thanks to your first few explanations I managed to get 15 of them on my own, which I find incredible. Can anyone help me out with this one?: 3 down - "Dangerous reptile descending on American plant (6)" I mostly understand this one, but how did Mark conclude that the 'dangerous reptile' bit was responsible for exactly four letters of the answer?

[@PhilPreen]

US is a common abbreviation for American. That leaves 4 letters to get for what goes on that.

[@davidmeijer1645]

I always enjoyed the Saturday Globe and Mail (Toronto, CAN) cryptic crosswords by Fraser Simpson. I understand his rules and conventions well. Are they other creators, similar to Fraser, whose cryptic I would enjoy? (Edit: The weekday cryptics are weak IMHO, don’t know why, other than they’re not Fraser Simpson cryptics)

[@BryanLu0]

When I saw this I thought it was an old video lol.

[@TheFreeBro]

Is there a good resource for learning things like “lo” from behold or “cur” from scoundrel. These little things always trip me up. Maybe it comes with experience

[@lroke2947]

Oh, I get it now. It's even more ridiculous when explained. And when you consider the actual synapses used to draw the conclusions. But I LOVE it as a spectator sport!

[@rodp2310]

Brilliant 👍

[@marowakcity3727]

Honestly, Ive never liked crosswords, and I think I finally figured out why. With sudoku, all of the information that you need to find the solution is given to you from the beginning, and you just need to put the pieces together. With crosswords on the other hand, you could just, not know one of the words in the puzzle and you'll have no way of finding it on your own, because you just don't know the word

[@PhilPreen]

That is very true of ordinary crosswords, but less so with cryptics. As Mark pointed out there are nearly always two ways of getting the answer, the wordplay and the definition.

[@parlabaneisback]

Is it a convention that the definition is at the beginning or end of a clue, but never in the middle?

[@accountnamewithheld]

Usually yes.

[@kacperk886]

I watched this the same way I watch Jeopardy: Racking my brain with the clue. Then kicking myself for not seeing the answer in front on me.

[@bluerizlagirl]

16D "valuable" could also have been "pricy", which still gave the right answer if you took off _both_ ends. That was what I got, the first time I saw it, anyway .....

[@bruresende]

No experience on crosswords in my native language, even less in English crosswords... The cryptic ones? I couldn't even get a slight grip on what was going on with them by the beginning of this video... But I was proud as hell when I got the "metallic" correctly...

[@mostman]

Loved this. Let’s do it every week. Like GAS.

[@f.b.jeffers0n]

Took me a bit, but I get it!

[@Draedaja]

Even with the explanation, I don't think I could've solved a single clue in this - at least not without a dictionary. Probably easier if you use one to find synonyms. But one solution that stood out to me was "tarmac": I haven't ever heard any of the 3 words involved in the solve xD

[@alexm.2960]

Is there just no 360p and 480p resolutions or is it like that only for me?

[@MarinaArtDesign]

it takes time for the video to process in all resolutions.

[@alexm.2960]

@@MarinaArtDesign oh, you are right. they are there now.