Cryptic crossword facts for kids

A cryptic crossword is a special kind of crossword puzzle where each clue is like a mini-puzzle on its own! Instead of just a simple definition, you have to solve a riddle or a word game to find the answer. It's a bit like being a detective with words!

These clever puzzles are super popular in the United Kingdom, where they first started. You'll also find lots of fans in Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, and many Commonwealth countries. This includes places like Australia, Canada, India, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, and South Africa. In the United States, people sometimes call them "British-style" crosswords. The people who create these puzzles are often called "setters" in the UK.

What Makes Cryptic Crosswords Unique?

Cryptic crosswords are different from regular crosswords because their clues have two parts. One part is a normal definition, just like in a regular crossword. The other part is a wordplay puzzle, like an anagram, a hidden word, or a pun. Both parts of the clue will lead you to the same answer! This makes solving them a fun challenge.

How Do the Clues Work?

Imagine a clue like "Smallest amount of money for a penny (3)".

• The definition part might be "Smallest amount of money".
• The wordplay part could be "for a penny".
• The answer is "CENT". Both parts point to it!

Common Clue Types

There are several common types of wordplay used in cryptic clues:

• Anagrams: These clues hint that you need to rearrange the letters of some words in the clue to find the answer. For example, "Terrible ruin" might lead to "RUIN" being an anagram of "UNIT". Words like "terrible," "mixed," or "broken" often signal an anagram.
• Hidden Words: The answer is hidden inside the clue itself, often across two words. For example, "Some of the past or present" hides "TOR" (a hill).
• Reversals: Sometimes, you need to spell a word backwards to get the answer. Clues might use words like "back" or "up" (for down clues).
• Homophones: These clues use words that sound like the answer but are spelled differently. For example, "Heard to be a flower" might lead to "ROSE" (sounds like "rows").
• Charades: The answer is made up of smaller words put together, like "CAR" + "PET" = "CARPET".

Types of Cryptic Crosswords

There are two main kinds of cryptic crossword puzzles you might find:

• Basic Cryptic: In this type, you simply write the answer you've figured out directly into the crossword grid. It's the most common kind.
• Themed or Variety Cryptics: These are a bit more advanced! For these puzzles, you might have to change some or all of your answers before you write them into the grid. There's usually a hidden rule or pattern you need to discover first. It could be something like removing a letter, adding a letter, or shifting letters around. These puzzles add an extra layer of mystery and fun!

Solving cryptic crosswords is a great way to improve your vocabulary, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. It's like a brain workout that's also a lot of fun!

Images for kids

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  This animation shows how the letters in "CORSET" can be rearranged to form "ESCORT," which is an example of an anagram in a cryptic crossword clue.