Cryptic Crosswords: Hidden Word Clues
This sounds like it would be far too easy, but actually these answers can be very hard to spot - even when you know the answer.
They are also quite common so definitely worth looking out for - typically there is one per puzzle, although there can be two or even more on rare occasions, whilst some puzzles might not have any.
How do you spot them? Well there will be some sort of indicator that the answer is in the clue. The sorts of words to look for are: concealing, extract, featuring, hiding, in, inside, internal, partially, selection, smuggling, veiled and within.
Once you know to look out for these words as hidden word answers, then they get a lot easier, as there are a manageable number of indicators used to show something is hidden inside: probably twenty or so words that are used in most instances, like the examples we've given you above.
Of course, they can still be hard to spot even if you know what indicators to look out for, and can be very clever constructions indeed: often spanning across several words. Remember that these clues still contain a straight definition part, too so do let that help guide you towards the answer too.
Also remember that the answer doesn't need to be hidden between words, it could just be a substring of a single word: thus you might be required to take 'ones' from 'honestly' if the clue is 'Singles come across honestly, in part': singles is ONES and it is also hONEStly in part.
Hidden word clue are loved by some solvers and loathed by others, partly because some people just find them so much easier to spot than others.
If a clue just doesn't seem to be allowing you any progress under a standard cryptic clue analysis, then consider if it could be a hidden word clue.
Also, because hidden word clues clearly lead you to the answer when you spot them, then some solvers like to quickly scan the grid at the start looking for hidden word indicators and then writing those in if they find them to give them some letters for other clues in the grid.
Do you like this clue type? Have you come across any particularly good examples? Please do share your thoughts with us below.
Date written: 17 Apr 2015
Comment on this post
You must be logged in to comment - please Register or Login
Homophone Clues In Cryptic Crosswords
Cryptic crossword clues, as you'll have seen through this series of blog posts, come in various distinct types, and the list we've covered is not even exhaustive!
One of the clue types that people often struggle with is the homophone clue, or...
Added: 13 Apr 2015
Solving US Crosswords As A Brit
British solvers who venture across a US crossword, perhaps when on holiday, will notice that it is a very different beast.
The main difference you'll notice is that there are so many more clues and answers in a grid of a given size, and that answers...
Added: 14 Jun 2015
Creating A New Type Of Word Puzzle
Creating a new type of puzzle is always exciting. Here are some suggestions as to how to go about the process:
Firstly, you need the idea. This is obviously the most important element. The best way to go about this is often to look at an existing...
Added: 17 May 2015
Solving Aids And Solving Crossword Clues
When it comes to solving crosswords, where do you stand on the debate with regard to using solving aids?
Some people think that there is something "wrong" with using solving aids - in the very particular sense that it is a form of cheating, whilst for...
Added: 30 Apr 2015
Wordwheel Solving Tips
When it comes to solving wordwheel puzzles, then there are only really two methods you can use to solve the puzzle: systematic or random.
The random method is probably the more common: here you simply look at the letters in the grid, and allow your...
Added: 09 Apr 2015
Back to Puzzle Blog
Puzzle Types:
