CCCWC March competition voters’ comments

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A clue to EASTER (Misprints).
209 comments were received for this competition (from 16 competitors, 1 other)
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Comments on the competition
1.
Several clues (10 11 12 13 22 23 54) contain a definition for EASTER. Whether cryptic, &lit or plain, a definition is not wordplay as I understood the instructions. This point was commented on in the Christmas 2012 Special competition. A couple of clues (14 and 15) use "hesitation" to indicate "er", which doesn't seem right to me. "Sign of hesitation", perhaps. Some excellent clues among the others; preference given to those which combine the two key words seamlessly. Found it hard to separate my top five, finally scored them 3.5, 3, 3, 3, 2.5.
2.
Overall a good effort by the community! Almost all clues have good surfaces. For me the surfaces which put a bit of smile on my face are found in clues 8,17,19,25,30,32,34,49,50,52 & 53. I could spot only two 'misfires' in 10 and 11 which provided definition for Easter and word-plays for the misprint. Some clues were educational for me like 44 (I never related the aster in asterisk & asteroid)and 50 from where I learnt about the raster. I gave max points to 8 for the sheer simplicity and ease of the surface though I'm not sure about the definition.
3.
Great to see such a large number of entries this month – more to chose from than the Grand National ! A couple of clues (13and23) did fall at the first, unfortunately. The rubric specifically required the clue word (EASTER) to be distinguishable by wordplay, effectively ruling out the use of 'double definition' clues. Imagine if the misprinted letter were unchecked, the solver would not know which word to enter ! The second hurdle was avoiding link words. I may be wrong, but it seems untenable to use the customary 'wordplay' FOR 'definition' or 'definition' FROM 'wordplay' structure for 'misprint' clues, as by their nature the 2 elements differ by one letter. I therefore preferred clues without such an explicit connection, accordingly marking down 8,11,15,20,21,25,35,36,38,39,40,41,42,43,47,48and52. On the other hand, the '& lit' clue was quite acceptable, though only 4 were attempted, with varying degrees of success. Other fallers included a nounal anagram indicator 50 and a few dubious single letter indicators (20,24 and 44). Of the 13 possible choices for an EASTER misprint just 4 were absent (BASTER,LASTER,PASTER and VASTER) and 2 had single entries, so the best EASTED (9) and GASTER (51) were easy to choose ! Of the other clues, exactly half (26/52) defined MASTER (14) or TASTER (12), and 6 of these received my points, along with 2 WASTERs and 1 EASIER. My favourites for the 5 commonest definitions chosen were 53,6,27,29 and 19. It only remains for me to wish good luck to all the runners and riders in this month's competition, and may the best clue win !
4.
Lots of people (8, 11, 15, 20, 21, 25, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 47, 48, [58]) used link words (is, 's, gets, has, making, from, giving, as, for, revealed, etc). These say that the letters of the word defined are the same as the letters the wordplay produces. For clues like this that's not true so some very nice ideas were wasted on unsound clues.
5.
I usually spread my fifteen points over fifteen or more clues but this time, clue 13 is so outstanding that I have had to adjust my policy. It is magic!
6.
A lot of very good clues this month as we might have expected. I tmeans of course that we can't award points to some of them.
7.
Difficult to judge when there are so many different definitions to clue.

Comments on the clues

1. A bum steer – a dud

1.	No real faults here but there are more inspired entries this month, I'm afraid.
2.	I am not sure that it is correct or fair to have the anagram indicator in-between two parts of the material to be anagrammed.
3.	unnecessary first 'A'

2. A director usually releases teaser

1.	'releases' isn't really an anagrind
2.	Perhaps not a successful anagram indicator or fair definition. Isn't a director more than a caster? Chambers has the definition 'casting dir
3.	'Releases' does not work as an anagrind – 'released' would have worked better

3. Are joining set embroidering sampler

1.	Sentence with no subject, and "embroidering" is the wrong part of speech (and arguably has the wrong meaning) for the anagram indicator.
2.	'embroidering' rather weak for an anagram indicator
3.	The surface does not read very smoothly here
4.	Perhaps 'embroidered' would better define what happens in this clue – though that spoils the surface reading. It doesn't quite work.

4. Base on which swivel seat runs?

1.	Valid alternative spelling for CASTOR but anagrind "swivel" is unconvincing. (Swivelling?)
2.	'which' seems superfluous in the wordplay; perhaps 'swivelling' would be a better anagrind, though not sure that this verb conveys mixture
3.	Ingenious and original.
4.	A clever & lit., but the grammar of the cryptic reading doesn't quite work for me
5.	'Swivel' as the imperative doesn't quite fit grammatically – the anagram material is 'swivelled'. Otherwise very clever.
6.	Really good clue and one of the best this week (and there are some good ones).
7.	brave attempt does not quite work

5. Breasts are jiggling; bra's sadly lacking control

1.	Excellent humorous clue despite slightly inelegant surface. Equal second with 3 points.
2.	"(Br)e(as)ts are jiggling without bra's control" would perhaps be neater – there's no need for the double anagram – joint third place though
3.	Amusing, but I'm not sure 'sadly' is needed.
4.	An amusing surface reading.
5.	Made me smile and the definition is really well hidden being coupled with 'lacking'.
6.	I find this clue vaguely smutty ('jiggling') without being amusing, and the subtracted letters are not anagrammed

6. Consumer sipping a sample of Syrah?

1.	Don't like "sample of" for initial letter. (Or "bit of")
2.	Could drop the 'a' perhaps ? My second favourite clue from the 53
3.	An interesting variant on the usual 2-part clues.

7. Consumer society's in control

1.	Neat and accurate clue, surface vague and debatable. (In control of what?)
2.	Nicely economical.

8. Difficult teaser is not so difficult

1.	You can't have it both ways. "Difficult" doesn't convince as an anagrind.
2.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
3.	Reads well. However not sure whether 'is not so difficult' exactly defines'easier'.
4.	Does 'difficult' work as an anagram indicator?
5.	Would like this more if the first 'difficult' was in quotes

9. 'e and 'er, collecting a season ticket initially, headed off to the Orient long ago.

1.	Too contrived.
2.	Abbreviations are not used in the clue this way.

10. Feast on piece of cake! (6)

1.	Wordplay is required for EASTER, not a definition.
2.	'on' not part of definition or wordplay
3.	Piece of cake = easy, not easier!
4.	Definition indicates 'easy' not 'easier', and 'on' has no cryptic role
5.	The redundant 'on' spoils this clue.
6.	You are not meant to be defining 'Easter' – need wordplay to Easter, definition to a misprint

11. Festival for a Muslim in July, possibly

1.	Wordplay is required for EASTER, not a definition. Definition for FASTER is vague. (Possibly a Muslim, possibly in July)
2.	Not sure if this is technically correct, not restricted to July alone (unless specific to a given year)
3.	I would have preferred 'Muslim in Ramadan' – it does not always fall in July
4.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
5.	There is almost a double leap required here to get from the 'Muslim in July' to the definition 'faster'
6.	Suppose a double def may be allowable but I think that 'festival' as wordplay for 'Easter' is not really in the spirit of what's required

12. Festival time waster (6)

1.	You have misunderstood the instructions – WASTER needs to be defined, not EASTER.
2.	This doesn't really fit the instructions
3.	Too short, a good surface reading ideally tells a short story. The wordplay isn't really cryptic enough and the misprint appears en clair
4.	WASTER should have been indicated by a definition.
5.	This is definition and solution, not wordplay and definition
6.	so if this is a double def clue, 'waster' is a definition of 'waster' – how entertaining is that?

13. Follower of Lent?

1.	A double definition presumably, but unfortunately the solver cannot tell which answer is the misprint
2.	Very neat idea but wordplay is required for EASTER, not a definition.
3.	Brilliant – why didn't I think of this! It is concise and works superbly.
4.	Neat, but 'follower' is a slightly odd word for an event
5.	Easy this clue-writing isn't it? Simple and perfect!
6.	double def as an &lit? ok I suppose but I'm a bit uncomfortable with this clue
7.	Really lovely clue

14. Food quality assessor eats stew with hesitation (6)

1.	Rather cumbersome definition, and hesitation does not equal er.
2.	Clever use of 'stew' and topical reference.
3.	Quite good, but 'stews' would be preferable to 'stew'
4.	prefer ''sign/expression of hesitation' for 'er' – it does not mean hesitation

15. Food sampler's hesitation holding dodgy eats

1.	Rather weak surface, hesitation does not equal er.
2.	Nice idea but better handled by 14 I think
3.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
4.	prefer 'sign/expression of hesitation' for 'er' – it does not mean hesitation

16. Get the hang of sin, originally, biting into apple

1.	Definition doesn't seem quite right to me – mastery is a bit more than getting the hang of something.
2.	An inspired clue!
3.	'Biting into' does not seem like a valid indicator for insertion. 'Original sin' would be a better phrase to use.
4.	Good idea, but the use of "originally" (to reference "original sin"?) makes it clunky
5.	eater<>apple … 'kind of apple / apple for example'

18. Idler: term of abuse as applied to chumps in unemployment zone, right?

1.	Rather wordy, wordplay contrived and the surface is poor.
2.	Rather convoluted.
3.	chump can also mean 'head' … and is it 'end' or is it end of a lump of wood/meat etc, not end of a word

19. In essence, a sterile, unproductive animal?

1.	This has a pleasing surface reading
2.	what is a semi &lit – either it is one or it's not

20. Irrational Goldilocks, say, has a bit to try (6)

1.	I wouldn't be able to solve this without looking up "Goldilocks". Link word "has" doesn't really work.
2.	Solvers might struggle with 'irrational' = 'e'
3.	don't see how 'e' is irrational

21. Is sage a drug plant?

1.	Might be better without the first word (e.g. Sage, a drug plant?) but still rather weak.
2.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
3.	is?

22. It's on the heels of a fast vessel

1.	Wordplay is required for EASTER, not a definition.
2.	'vessel' as a definition of 'caster' seems insufficient, but any elaboration could blur the distinction between definition and wordplay

23. It's the end of the diet he's on.

1.	Wordplay is required for EASTER, not a definition.
2.	I'm not sure which of these two words is given by the wordplay (the solver would need to know for the purpose of grid entry)
3.	Same idea as clue 13 but not quite so clever.

24. Lent fellow salt in diner (8)

1.	"Lent fellow" for "faster" is weak.
2.	'salt' doesn't really indicate 's'
3.	Nice ideas, I'm not entirely convinced by the 'Lent fellow' though
4.	Surface appears to be meaningless.
5.	s=salt is not supported in Chambers
6.	Nice idea, but S for salt is not a standard abbreviation, and that should be indicated somehow
7.	A fine surface reading

25. Messy eaters will get just a small portion of course (6)

1.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
2.	Two words too long, and "will get" is a rather cumbersome link.
3.	Nice definition.
4.	A pity there were the rather clunky link words.

26. Models see art teacher

1.	"Models" doesn't work as an anagrind like this – cryptic sense needs "modelled".
2.	'Models' seems the wrong case for an anagrind ?
3.	Cryptic grammar needs to be correct, like English grammar. "MODEL see art" BEFORE the fodder or "See art MODELS after the fodder.
4.	A good surface reading

27. More relaxed when out of uniform, otherwise austere

1.	Nice clue, especially use of "uniform". "when" could perhaps be omitted. Equal second with 3 points.
2.	Very nice wordplay.

28. No new oriental guru (6)

1.	Nicely constructed short clue. Equal second with 3 points.
2.	Too short – a good surface reading ideally tells a short story.
3.	The word order is not totally seamless – with the 'no new' coming first.

29. Non-consumer in a Consumer Society

1.	Not as clever use of the two words as clue 13 but pleasing all the same.

30. Not so hard puzzle set in The Listener

1.	"puzzle set" is dubious to indicate an anagram of set.
2.	Very neat use of 'The Listener'.

31. Orient queen more simply

1.	Easier = 'more simple' not 'more simply'
2.	Weak surface.
3.	'More simple' fits better in my opinion
4.	It works as word play but the surface reading doesn't say much.

32. Perfect Asian flower

1.	Simple and elegant clue with clever use of "perfect". 3.5 points – my top score of several good clues.
2.	Should this read 'eastern' rather than 'Asian' ?
3.	Most concise and effective.

33. Prodigal son? Type to enjoy fatted calf, having rejected father initially

1.	Rather too long on the definition.
2.	Very good surface
3.	Nice idea. Would prefer 'Prodigal is…' – 'son' is unnecessary

34. Relax, begin revising, take time to learn

1.	"taking" would be better.

35. Reset a switch to get cathode ray pattern.

1.	Using a noun (switch) as an anagram indicator may count against it. See discussion on CC
2.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay

36. Riddle, after second time, is less difficult

1.	Nice idea with the wordplay, but nothing to suggest the T moves as opposed to adding an extra T
2.	Nice surface, the wordplay lets it down for me
3.	Needs something to indicate that the T has to move and not just be inserted
4.	I am not sure that there is sufficient indication here that the T of TEASER has to move along in the clue.

37. Sample Sauternes cocktail beneath parasol perhaps (6)

1.	'beneath parasol perhaps' = remove S-u-n before performing the anagram This is too indirect to be fair to the solver
2.	Very unfair on the solver in my opinion – nice idea but too many steps in the wordplay
3.	Deletion of SUN requires a second anagrind.
4.	Too indirect, why not 'out of sun'?
5.	Doesn't that count as an indirect subtraction anagram? We need to be directly told that the letters of SUN are being separately removed.
6.	no way does 'beneath parasol' mean without 'SUN'

38. Sampler gets extremely eager after spreading eats (6)

1.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
2.	I see how it works, but the overall surface reading is rather unnatural.
3.	The link could be left out to improve the clue.

39. Scanning lines from novel about assam and ceylon.

1.	Even if the link word is overlooked, isn't this a DOUBLE indirect anagram ?!
2.	Assam and Ceylon (both should be capitalised, I think) are EXAMPLES of tea, which I think needs to be indicated.
3.	I can't bring myself to give points to an indirect anagram like this, sorry
4.	Wordplay doesn't seem to work as intended.
5.	Indirect anagram, which is actually a reversal
6.	This is an indirect anagram. It requires an unfair double step (guessing the RE and TEAS then anagramming them).

40. See art involved making sampler

1.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
2.	A bit more than a simple anagram is probably needed to get among the points.
3.	The weakness is, the clue reads like a clue!
4.	Surface reading would grammatically require an IN – a pity, as, other wise, it works.

41. See art nouveau as original

1.	A bit more than a simple anagram is probably needed to get among the points.
2.	Excellent surface, concise, and nice anagrind. Top marks.
3.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
4.	Clever but the AS rather spoils the polish of this one.

42. Skipper's always about when close to port

1.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
2.	Works well enough cryptically but who or what does "when close to port" refer to?.
3.	Originally different from all the other MASTER TASTER FASTER clues.
4.	Very nicely done on a different tack to most!

43. Somehow Teresa may gain control we hear

1.	'may gain control we hear' = master This definition seems a little clumsy
2.	Why "we hear"? – there's no homophone. Needs a link between "may" and "gain control".
3.	I don't think 'we hear' is necessary – there's no homophone
4.	why the "we hear"? Surely it works without it.
5.	'We hear' appears to play no role in the wordplay. baggage.
6.	'we here'?
7.	I'm not sure what 'we hear' here
8.	Why 'we hear'?

44. Spendthrift Greek star backs euro

1.	Not seen 'euro' = 'e' before

45. Take a steroid extract with more speed

1.	"With more speed" is rather too obvious for the definition.
2.	Nice idea, but surface about gaining/increasing speed would be better

46. Take absolute control after invading overseas territory.

1.	Sounder without 'after' perhaps ?
2.	Good idea, but 'after' is redundant
3.	Isn't the AFTER redundant here?
4.	Why 'after'?

47. Tantalise… let top slip down roguishly – initially giving just a sample

1.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
2.	The dash is mildly unfair – not just cleverly deceptive

48. Teacher's breasts are saggy without bras

1.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
2.	Deletion of 'bras' requires a second anagram.
3.	How many bras does she need? Not a great surface reading.
4.	Amusing like clue 5
5.	An "anagram minus anagram" type of clue, but both anagrams would preferably be indicated, as in 5 for example. "Saggy" is a bit weak.

49. Tea's terrible with this type of sugar

1.	'with this' isn't really a proper 'container' indicator
2.	No containment indicator. (e.g. SOME tea's terrible…)
3.	nice surface, and nothing superfluous.
4.	Hint that EASTER is hidden is missing or is 'with this type' used as such a hint? .
5.	'With' is not enough to indicate a hidden word
6.	'With this' doesn't really work as a container indicator.

50. The lines on a television set are interference.

1.	'interference' isn't really an anagrind
2.	Nouns as anagram indicators (interference) are best avoided because many people regard them as ungrammatical.
3.	Interference as an anagram indicator is sailing close to the wind to me, but I do like the clue overall.
4.	The noun anagram indicator doesn't really fulfil its function grammatically ('interfered with' might work slightly better)
5.	The nounal indicator lets it down I think.

51. This entomic region starts behind middle sections of bee and wasp

1.	Very ingenious, although this use of "entomic" seems a bit odd.
2.	Clever & lit.

52. Use a sterile environment for sample

1.	I have given preference to clues that avoid a link implying equality between definition and wordplay
2.	Needs to indicate the hidden word somehow.
3.	The noun containment indicator might be more efficiently replaced by a verb that explained what was happening in the clue.

53. Virtuoso set crackers in The Listener

1.	Nice clue although the Listener/Ear idea is perhaps a little hackneyed. Fifth place with 2.5 points.
2.	Master was the commonest word defined and this was the best of the lot I reckon
3.	Superb clue, lovely use of 'crackers'
4.	Amusing 'in joke' for present company (those of us on Derek's site).

54. When the stone rolled away, it revealed a revolutionary movement

1.	Wordplay is required for EASTER, not a definition. It's a very vague definition in any case.
2.	The past tense sounds a bit awkward in the definition
3.	How 'When the stone rolled away' can possibly relate to 'Easter'?
4.	Good idea, bot the second definition is too strained