Comments on Crossword Unclued: Camouflaging Anagrams

Don't know if it is appropriate to leave answers i...

2009-11-13T09:18:58.724+05:30

Don't know if it is appropriate to leave answers in comments, but:
Fortuitous and Considering?

I often grapple with anagrind suitability myself, ...

2009-11-13T02:39:34.362+05:30

I often grapple with anagrind suitability myself, sometimes having to split hairs to decide whether a word is a solid anagrind. For example, the OUTDISTANCE clue previously had "racing" as the anagrind, based on the rationale that "race" embodied the sense of being out of control. Based on feedback from other cruciverbalists however, I concluded that the out-of-control element of "race" refers to the speed of the racer rather than his demeanor. So I dropped "racing" as too questionable an anagrind and replaced it with "jostling".

Here are some hints for the last two:

Fluky setup of our outfits (10)
The answer can also mean "fortunate".

Entertaining one in jazzy second band (11)
Think of all possible meanings for "entertain". What's a four-letter word for "band" ending in -ing?

@ Sriram - I think it is REC(LUSI)*ON - Recon ( sh...

2009-11-12T22:18:47.962+05:30

@ Sriram - I think it is REC(LUSI)*ON - Recon ( short for reconnaissance) being the word for Surveillance

Surveillance catches Luis' suspect hiding (9) SECL...

2009-11-12T20:57:29.881+05:30

Surveillance catches Luis' suspect hiding (9) SECLUSION?
Luis' suspect is LUSI. How does SECON come in for surveillance?

favour surface reading over wordplay cleverness, s...

2009-11-12T15:20:04.032+05:30

favour surface reading over wordplay cleverness, so if you write an anagram clue with a flawless or near-flawless surface, run with it even if you think the fodder is obvious

The dilemma is usually over wordplay correctness than cleverness, in my experience. A word is great for the surface but questionable as anagrind. Should I use it, should I not?

In this tussle between wordplay and surface, for me wordplay usually wins. Of course, if it renders the surface totally nonsensical then it's better to rework the idea altogether. I say 'usually' because I'm more willing to give latitude if the clue makes some awesomely clever use of an idiom in the surface, or can be worked into an &lit.

Anagrams are ... a good indicator of the general standard of the crossword.: Totally agree with that, maddy.

Thanks Tony and Shuchi for such an entertaining an...

2009-11-11T10:45:05.311+05:30

Thanks Tony and Shuchi for such an entertaining and insightful article. Anagrams are generally the first ones tackled by most solvers and are therefore a good indicator of the general standard of the crossword. Can't wait to read the second installment.
P.S - I couldnt agree more with your statement "I usually favour surface reading over wordplay cleverness"

Very impressive. Is Ms. Jaggi reading? Answers to...

2009-11-10T19:45:37.263+05:30

Very impressive. Is Ms. Jaggi reading?

Answers to some clues:

Notice a stud jostling to finish ahead (11) OUTDISTANCE Anagram of (notice a stud)

Pirates drunkenly meander (7) TRAIPSE Anagram of (pirates)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well-written art...

2009-11-10T15:58:42.852+05:30

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well-written article.
I agree that as setters we must not be satisfied with the first draft of a clue: if we pause and re-examine it, we may probably be able to give it a zing.
Yet the scene in India sometimes makes me wonder if clues come from a crossword factory - that too one in disrepair!