How To Solve Anagram Clues
In contrast, with cryptic crosswords, it is never quite clear what the anagram is of: that is, which letters form what is called the 'anagram fodder'. However with practice you can spot anagram indicators, and there are some quite common words often used to do so - see our blog article on anagram indicators in cryptic puzzles for more on this.
Assuming you know what the letters are, there are a few ways to solve the anagram:
1) Just look at the letters 'as is' until the answer comes to you
2) Use an online tool - enter the letters into an anagram solver and see what comes up
3) Solve it yourself, but by writing the letters in another order. Common options include:
a) Writing the letters in alphabetical order ;
b) Writing all the vowels, then all the consonants (or vice versa);
c) Not writing the letters of the anagram in linear format but rather something else, most popular seems to be in a circle, like a word wheel.
Solving anagrams definitely requires practice - the more you solve, the quicker you can spot them. Of course some people are naturally more adept at spotting anagrams than others, but anyone can get better with practice.
If you are struggling with an anagram, then it could contain unusual letter combinations, such as consonants that rarely go together. Or perhaps it is what many consider the hardest form of anagram to spot - a word that is a combination of words itself (eg stagecoach) - for whatever reason many people find these sorts of anagrams particularly tricky to solve.
Remember too that in a crossword it's possible the anagram answer will be a proper noun, such as a city, so don't think about just finding dictionary words.
When you do solve an anagram clue, you'll want to quickly check that you can't think of any other words that are also anagrams of the same letters, as it can be frustrating to place one anagram only to find another one later and have to change your answer.
If you have any particular methods you find help you solve anagram clues, then please do share them below - it would be interesting to know and also no doubt be of help to other Wordy Puzzle members.
Date written: 21 Mar 2015
Comment on this post
You must be logged in to comment - please Register or Login
Quick Crossword Solving Tips
Solving a quick crossword is both straightforward and difficult. Difficult because, with many short clues, there are often multiple words that fit each answer until you have crossover letters in place, and straightforward in that the solving method does...
Added: 30 Mar 2015
New Fun Games Added Today
You told us you wanted more word games, so we listened!
Today and yesterday mark the start of two new fun games in the words section - and as with all the fun games here at Wordy Puzzle, they are completely free to play for all members.
The games...
Added: 29 Jul 2015
Skeleton Crosswords And Symmetry
Skeleton crosswords are one of the hardest puzzles there are, and certainly one of the hardest crossword variants - probably alongside the cryptic crossword with the specialist solving skills that puzzle requires.
Like the cryptic crossword, one's...
Added: 01 Apr 2015
Novelty Crosswords: Anagram Puzzles
An anagram crossword is a novelty type of crossword puzzle, in that it is a crossword variant that is both rare and is fundamentally different to a normal crossword puzzle.
As you may have guessed, in an anagram crossword the clues are replaced with...
Added: 28 Mar 2015
Become A Cryptic Crossword Writer
Are you interested in crosswords, and would like to become a crossword author? Then this could be your chance to get your puzzles published on our expanding website!
We are currently looking for some new, talented crossword writers to create puzzles...
Added: 15 May 2015
Back to Puzzle Blog
Puzzle Types:
