Comments on Crossword Unclued: French Isn’t Always The Language

Hello Jotter, Thanks, and congrats for compiling ...

2009-11-04T10:20:30.659+05:30

Hello Jotter,

Thanks, and congrats for compiling a full grid! I'll surely have a look.

You might want to read two articles written by one of my favourite compilers Anax who sets for Times/Indy. These have lots of good tips for aspiring setters:
Actually Setting
A start-to-finish story of setting a cryptic crossword puzzle

And CVasi's article about creating your own grid, here: Make your own crossword grid

Very informative, thanks. As of last month, I did...

2009-11-04T02:54:46.899+05:30

Very informative, thanks. As of last month, I didn't even know there were such things as crossword communities...now I am amazed at the depth of knowledge that is out there.

Also, at the risk of self-promoting, I used many of the tips found in your blog to compile a crossword myself using a standard THC grid. If you or any readers have some time, I would love to hear how I fared *trying* to be cryptic...

http://jottingsofajaunt.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/cryptic-crossword-1/

Following on AQUIVER... In a book review that I s...

2009-10-31T06:41:20.640+05:30

Following on AQUIVER...

In a book review that I sent to a well-known newspaper, my first sentence was: "Times are achanging." But it saw the light of day as "Times are changing".

Ask the sub why he changed it and he might say, "Space is limited".

He may not be aware of the subtleties in the use of the language.

RESIDE and AQUIVER :) Thanks for the hints!

2009-10-30T23:48:38.865+05:30

RESIDE and AQUIVER :) Thanks for the hints!

Hi Vasana, Good tries! COUPLES is correct, and QU...

2009-10-30T23:23:19.694+05:30

Hi Vasana,

Good tries! COUPLES is correct, and QUIVERS is almost there. Hints...

Lodge with French art found in the course of journey (6)
Hint: Think of "art" as in "thou art". "Lodge" is the definition.

Times 24365: Parisian who enters state positively trembling (7)
Hint: Read "state positively" together.

NIE 9814: Joins up with the French company first (...

2009-10-30T23:08:47.853+05:30

NIE 9814: Joins up with the French company first (7) COUPLES
FT 13179 (Bradman): Lodge with French art found in the course of journey (6) DEPART Not sure...
Times 24365: Parisian who enters state positively trembling (7) QUIVERS??

Also, ignore my flippant comment (along with the typo). Merci for offering to change your posting time, but you do not have to!

Hi Vasana, Thank you. You could still have a go ...

2009-10-30T21:19:04.232+05:30

Hi Vasana,

Thank you. You could still have a go at the three open clues at the end of this post - French Words In Crosswords.

I should sometimes publish when my readers from US get to write the first comments :) 10am PST next time, what say?

The party is usually over by the team the part of ...

2009-10-30T18:28:20.287+05:30

The party is usually over by the team the part of the world I reside wakes up. Nevertheless, a great post. Capital indeed ;)

I've updated the post to mention Gridman with the ...

2009-10-29T15:56:17.253+05:30

I've updated the post to mention Gridman with the THC clue, thanks CVasi.

About the CAPITAL clue, I agree with Kryponologist that "and" is a flaw. No quarrel with "It may show interest". Despite the nitpick, I like that clue!

"It may show interest" is fine with me. It does as...

2009-10-29T15:24:43.221+05:30

"It may show interest" is fine with me. It does assume a bit of artist license and is somewhat vague, but in cryptics this is allowed precisely because there is a second way to get to the answer. In this one, both definitions are a little vague in fact, so finding the right answer depends on both halves of the clue supporting each other and, in the case of a double definition, on both agreeing grammatically with the answer.

While agreeing with Kryptonologist's revised versi...

2009-10-29T14:41:43.501+05:30

While agreeing with Kryptonologist's revised version of the last clue, I am not sure if the solution depends so much on the second part of the clue.
I believe that it depends on the first part.
"It may show interest" clearly expects the answer to be singular.
My own doubt is if 'capital' just shows interest or yields it.

My first thought on that last one was CAPITALS, bu...

2009-10-29T12:21:51.378+05:30

My first thought on that last one was CAPITALS, but it didn't fit the enumeration. Had I paid more attention to the first part, I'd've realized the clue was written incorrectly. It should be:

It may show interest in Paris or London, for example (7)

THC clue that you cite is by Gridman when the puzz...

2009-10-29T10:20:04.097+05:30

THC clue that you cite is by Gridman when the puzzles were not being attributed.
This can be determined if one is familiar with the grids that he uses to this day.

He He. Thank you, Ganesh.

2009-10-29T10:12:29.230+05:30

He He. Thank you, Ganesh.

Or, it may not be in the clue at all! E.g., Two fo...

2009-10-29T10:11:52.506+05:30

Or, it may not be in the clue at all!
E.g.,
Two foreign nationals together might give a gleam (6,6)

CAPITAL post!

2009-10-29T10:09:14.423+05:30

CAPITAL post!