Wednesday 5 January 2011

Stuttering Clues

stuttering In a stuttering clue, a letter or syllable gets repeated in the clue and the answer follows the same pattern of repetition. To show by example:

THC 9318 (Gridman): Whispering America rises twice to c-complain (9) SUSURRANT
RANT is "complain"; because of the stuttering effect, "c-complain" becomes R-RANT.

We don't come by stuttering clues too often but this is by no means a new device – Ximenes mentioned it in his 1966 book Ximenes on the Art of the Crossword, with the remark that it's entertaining if it isn't overdone. Here is a sample clue by the old master – an interesting one as as it repeats not one letter but a speech pattern:

Ximenes: I was thought magical, but I'm fer-futile (7) VERVAIN
futile = VAIN; fer-futile = VER-VAIN!

Caution: letter repetition isn't always stuttering

Stuttering clues are hard to disguise, so setters play the same trick on us as with the other easy clue type, anagrams [read more on misleading anagram signals] - they make other clues look like stuttering clues.

THC 8622: Tendency to t-tear (5) TREND
T and REND (tear). "R" does not get repeated as we'd expect it to. The stuttering effect is for the surface only - just a way to get the letter "T" into the answer.

Solve These

Azed 1989: Fur flying in wild d-duel primed for a milkmaid? (8)
FT 13450 (Falcon): Odd, Eric pinching c-coin of little value (9)

A clue for Hindi film viewers - something the most parodied stutterer of filmdom, Rahul of Darr, would say:

Chaos when I'd flipped over K-Kiran (8)

Related Posts:

If you wish to keep track of further articles on Crossword Unclued, you can subscribe to it in a reader via RSS Feed. You can also subscribe by email and have articles delivered to your inbox, or follow me on twitter to get notified of new links.

13 comments

Venkatesh said...

{UDDE(RFU*)L*}
{E(C-CENT)RIC}
{DI SA<-}{R-RAY}

Albatross said...

1. DDUEL + FUR* = UDDERFUL

2. C-coin ---> CCENT
=> ECCENTRIC

3. K-Kiran is a ray so --> RRAY
When I'd = asid flipped => DISA

So DISARRAY? :)

anax said...

There are occasions when the stutter isn't shown as 'x-x...' in the clue. This one is from a Times puzzle of mine from a few years ago (can't remember the number!):

A clergyman, stutteringly faithful (8) ---U---E

maddy said...

Interesting post as usual and belated new year year wishes to you.

Azed - FUR* in D-DUEL* - UDDERFUL

FT - E{C-CENT}RIC

Anax - A C-CURATE - Lovely clue

Shuchi - is it DI SA<-{R-RAY}
Did you make it up? awesome stuff, just couldn't stop smiling. This will be the first entry in my list for the best clues (I ve come across) in 2011 :)

Shuchi said...

Thanks @anax. Great clue.

@Albatross, @maddy: Well-cracked. I did indeed make up DISARRAY, thanks for liking it :)

SandhyaP said...

Great clues for DISARRAY & ACCURATE :)

Shuchi said...

Thanks Sandhya!

Anonymous said...

Utterly Butterly Stutterly d-delicious. How did I miss to see this write up?

Shuchi said...

Hi Kishore, Use RSS, you'll get instant home delivery of blog updates :) Especially if you read several blogs, an RSS reader is THE best way to keep track.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, have gone in for the email option

SandhyaP said...

There was a stuttering clue in today's The Telegraph:

English g-gala may be flowery (6)

Anonymous said...

A parody on stuttering clues, the trailing stutter ( I dont think a stutterer repeats last alphabets/sounds):

A highlight-t of the Beatles (5)

Shuchi said...

Came across this ultra-stuttering clue by Paul in the Guardian:

Those hi-i-i-tting birds (3-6)