| Comments on the competition |
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| 1. |
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An excellent choice of clueword which gave solvers a variety of options for anagrams and containers. Common weaknesses in clues were faulty or absent anagram indicators(9, 19, 32, 35, 36, 44, 50), superfluous words (21, 29, 44, 48, 52) and failure to combine a clear definition with a sensible surface reading (3, 4, 5, 7, 13, 14, 16, 18, 23, 25, 28, 39, 42, 42, 46, 48, 52) . In fact three clues seemed to define 'nebulous' rather than 'nebular' (16, 21, 26). Of the rest, 24 referred in some way to the heavens and another 21 used cloudy/misty in a general sense. Only two clues used the ophthalmological meaning (8 and 45), and just one tackled 'of the nature of a liquid for spraying', which deserved a mark for bravery ! (42)
There were 16 variations on straight or simple compound anagrams, with UNABLE + R being the most popular by far (7 in total, clues 15 and 51 were the best of these). Personal favourites were LAUREN + B (6) and LUREXBAN – X (24), which I made joint winners – well done ! In third place was
LUNARBASE – AS which conjured up images of Space 1999.
Of the container clues, variations on BUL in NEAR or NE+AR were by far the most popular (13). My favourite of the BULKs was 10, and of the BULLs 30. |
| 2. |
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| Some of the clues here as lamentable as I've seen in a long time and they'd have Ximenes turning over in his grave! The best advice for difficult words like this is keep it simple — unless you can manage something complicated that really comes off well, such as 41 which got my five-point award. |
| 3. |
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| I thought this was a very hard word to clue, and I don't think many of the clues pass muster. Many of the surface readings are either meaningless, or at least implausible. Some clues have fallen into the basic trap of defining a noun instead of an adjective. Several falsely claimed &lits, despite previous comments – even if a clue is otherwise OK, this may cause it to be marked down out of sheer exasperation. |
| 4. |
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I had some uncertainty about the distinction between nebulous and nebular and wondered whether some of the definitions were more appropriate for the former although I didn't penalise any for that. What do others think?
I felt that while the Crab Nebula, for example, is clearly nebular I was not convinced that Crab by itself is adequate for a definition. |
| 5. |
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| It was a very tough word to define this month and I am afraid it shows in many of the clues. Usually I find that I can't award points to some good clues but this month I am struggling to allocate my points. |
| 6. |
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| Someone commented on my use of the term "semi-&lit" in relation to my clue last month, remarking that a clue is either &lit or it is not. In a sense, this is obviously true, and perhaps the term "semi-&lit" is an unfortunate one, but there is a serious and, I believe, valid point that I was seeking to express. A true &lit clue is one in which definition and s.i. are co-terminous and which contains no word or words that do not have a valid role in both definition and s.i. Many clues which claim to be &lit – especially perhaps composite anagrams – do not strictly meet these criteria. For example, the excellent composite anagram 45 in this competition contains the words "without bad pain", which are necessary to the s.i., but which are not, in my view, a valid part of a definition of NEBULAR. In my own clue for EASTER/WASTER -"In essence, a sterile, unproductive animal?" – the words "unproductive animal" play no part in the s.i., but both "unproductive animal" and the clue taken as a whole constitute a reasonable definition of WASTER. Thus, in both cases, the clue shares certain characteristics of a true &lit, while failing to meet the criteria fully. This is what I meant by semi-&lit. |
| 7. |
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| Seems a distinct bunching of clues around 3-4 central themes. Some splitting of votes as a consequence. Many surfaces having good wordplay didn't impress with the surface unfortunately. Other things being equal, have given more points to a non anagram type of clue |
| Comments on the clues |
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| 1. … as Horsehead is close to bringing oil up for energy (7) |
| 1. | 'Bringing' doesn't really do the job it needs to in the wordplay, and why the ellipsis ? | | 2. | A horsehead pump would not normally be capitalized, so this is rather contrived. | | 3. | Can't see deletion indicator for E (energy) | | 4. | Slightly outré wordplay, but concise and I like the use of an actual nebula | | 5. | Complex yet sound construction and good surface. | | 6. | Why the dots? Surely a good clue must make sense by itself |
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| 2. Abandoned lunar base as forgotten as the distant stars |
| 1. | A neat clue with a good surface reading | | 2. | Very clever – neither 'as' is quite what it seems. | | 3. | The def is not correct | | 4. | Nice surface and construction though definition is not perfect. |
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| 3. Almost bottles a lot of rubbish of cloudy appearance |
| 1. | I'm not sure what the surface reading means exactly | | 2. | Surface makes little sense. | | 3. | Surface not very convincing |
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| 4. As lacklustre bunch, British upper class overwhelmed by renal disorder |
| 1. | What's the connection between being lacklustre and having renal disorder? | | 2. | Surface appears a bit awkward. | | 3. | Unusual surface! | | 4. | No clear definition nor a meaningful surface reading |
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| 5. Ban rule change concerning horse's head? |
| 1. | This has a good surface but 'horse's head' for 'Horsehead' is stretching it, even with the '?' | | 2. | Clever surface. For me 'Horse' should have a capital letter, which could be hidden by making Horse the first word somehow (see 14) | | 3. | Unconvincing surface, referring to some unspecified regulation. | | 4. | surely 'Horsehead' is the name of the nebula? | | 5. | This doesn't really work unless the clue reads 'Horsehead' |
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| 6. Being of heavenly appearance, Lauren Bacall initially modelled |
| 1. | A clever anagram and excellent surface | | 2. | Well done for spotting the LAUREN B anagram. | | 3. | Nice surface, and good def in a round of weak defs. Joint first. | | 4. | Excellent and original clue, and she did indeed work as a model. | | 5. | A very nice surface, but the definition is on the borderline of being too imprecise. | | 6. | This is too close to a similar clue from Guardian 21644, so am marking it down, though a good clue | | 7. | Nicely done. |
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| 7. Blue ran badly, giving off a cloudy appearance. |
| 1. | A novel anagram but the surface reading is rather nebulous ! | | 2. | Surface doesn't make any sense. | | 3. | what is "Blue" supposed to be in the surface reading? Seems a bit too contrived. | | 4. | Race course visualisation is hazy. |
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| 8. Boss unable to rule as a result of eye defect |
| 1. | Does 'as a result' = 'results in' without some form of punctuation ? 'rule' = R also seems unusual | | 2. | I'm not convinced by 'boss' as an anagram indicator, but otherwise works well | | 3. | R = to rule or rule? Is it fair? |
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| 9. burnable mixture: bout of gassy bodies |
| 1. | 'bout' = b out is stretching it somewhat and 'mixture' isn't really an anagram indicator | | 2. | Bout doesn't fit the surface meaning, and "b out" is unorthodox (although no more so than pup for praised, which was in "The i" recently.) | | 3. | I'm not sure whether bout = b out is inspired or wrong, but the surface is too nonsensical for me. | | 4. | Sorry but bout does not parse as 'b out' – at least not for the purists | | 5. | bout = b out won't do. Is 'mixture' an instruction to mix 'ture'? | | 6. | bout = b-out is very innovative but not fair on the solver. | | 7. | Inventive, but this kind of wordplay is generally not accepted |
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| 10. Close to catching endless mass of interstellar dust |
| 1. | good. impeccable def and nothing superfluous. Joint first | | 2. | Well done. Simple construction, definition and surface. | | 3. | Works well but the surface doesn't seem to ring true |
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| 11. Cloudlike mass almost hindered approach |
| 1. | The surface is good but not so sure about 'hindered' as a container indicator | | 2. | This indicates NEAR in BUL(K) to me | | 3. | Excellent construction and surface. |
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| 12. Cloudy with rain – I'm missing blue terribly |
| 1. | The wordplay's punctuation isn't quite right here making it difficult to work out the anagram fodder (see clues 33 and 37) | | 2. | "I'm missing" won't do for the cryptic reading, which requires "I is missing". | | 3. | I'm missing is wrong. Afraid it needs to be I's missing / missing I … which kills the surface | | 4. | 'I'm missing' refers to the clue-writer or solution. In the wordplay I is missing | | 5. | Good effort. | | 6. | Needs to be "I is missing" | | 7. | The indication to subtract I doesn't really work – should be I is missing, not I am missing | | 8. | Not convinced with I'm missing for I is missing |
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| 13. Crab in space is sadly unable to run |
| 1. | A rather surreal image ! | | 2. | wrong part of speech for def | | 3. | … and the 'to' ? Also definition wrong – clue needs to be to NEBULAR not NEBULA | | 4. | Definition is not an adjective. | | 5. | Amusing surface but I don't think the definition works – 'like the Crab in space' seems more accurate to me |
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| 14. Crablike, for instance, able to run obliquely to left |
| 1. | The surface is good but the definition is stretching it a bit | | 2. | Avoids the capital C problem, but crablike = like a crab, which really only applies to the crab nebula itself. | | 3. | nice surface | | 4. | Nice idea, 'crablike' is ok (just) as a def. | | 5. | Definition is correct in this crab clue. |
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| 15. Craft unable to find pier without confusion; it's misty |
| 1. | Clever use of "craft". | | 2. | To delete 3 letters using a proxy to get one final letter is a bit much?! Have rated lower for that reason | | 3. | Some other word for confusion would've ensured a smoother surface. | | 4. | Liked this, but just missed out due to double negative |
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| 16. Endless blarney you said misleadingly lacking clarity |
| 1. | 'lacking clarity' = nebulous, as is the surface reading perhaps | | 2. | Works cryptically but surface reading is rather clumsy. | | 3. | Fairly good. | | 4. | Why 'you said'? | | 5. | Indicating 'U' in the anagram fodder with a homophone indicator doesn't feel right to me |
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| 17. Form of a space blur? |
| 1. | Indirect anagrams are not generally considered fair to the solver | | 2. | An indirect anagram (first think of a word meaning space, then use it in an anagram). Considered poor cluing. | | 3. | good &lit def, though 'form of' as anagram indicator and partially literal partially not anagram fodder a bit clunky. | | 4. | Don't really like form of as anagrind. Shame | | 5. | Indirect anagram. Space could be em, etc. | | 6. | A very good clue. However not too fond of indirect anagrams, and just for that reason marking it down | | 7. | Nice innovative approach. | | 8. | Clever idea, but a bit too demanding having to first find a defined word for the anagram | | 9. | Nice succinct & lit, but I don't like the indirect anagram, would prefer EN reversed + anag of A BLUR |
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| 18. Galaxy's economical, carrying reduced weight |
| 1. | The surface is good but the definition is stretching it a bit | | 2. | I wasn't aware of 'near' as meaning economical. It's in Chambers as meaning 'economically' (adv) while 'economical' only as adjective | | 3. | Not convinced by this definition, and bulk is not the same as weight. | | 4. | how near is near to economical? |
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| 19. Hazy areas looking like a blur (7) |
| 1. | North and East are points (of the compass) rather than areas (see clue 52) and 'looking like' isn't really an anagram indicator | | 2. | 'areas' weak for N E. Looking like for an anagrind – surely it should be NOT looking like as the whole idea is that the letters change order | | 3. | 'Looking like' doesn't really indicate an anagram | | 4. | Tautological (hazy/blur). "looking like" is a poor anagrind, and putting it in the middle of the anagram fodder doesn't work. | | 5. | Too many grey hazy areas. areas = n e, looking like as *ind. | | 6. | Areas = n and e? And "looking like" surely cannot work as an indication to make the letters look unlike their original form. | | 7. | Nice succinct surface, 'areas' seems too vague for N E and 'looking like' seems a bit weak as an anagram indicator |
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| 20. Holy book unites left and right leaders: cloudy result. |
| 1. | Definition part is not smooth. Otherwise a good clue. |
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| 21. It is unclear how to reform New Labour without leaving them. |
| 1. | 'unclear' = nebulous
'how' and 'them' seem superfluous to the wordplay | | 2. | Nice surface, but 'It is unclear' as a definition for nebular? for me It's too vague, and also nebular is an adjective. | | 3. | need to indicate W and O not adjacent | | 4. | and 'them'? how is 'how to reform' an anagrind? | | 5. | Very well done!! |
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| 22. It's cloudy for stargazers, can't observe all of Taurus when in close proximity? |
| 1. | Wouldn't "close proximity" be nearness? (Unless "in" is doing double duty). | | 2. | and 'for stargazers'? | | 3. | 'close' = near, 'proximity' = nearness | | 4. | Good effort |
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| 23. It's not clear domestic help's to be provided after 62.5% state cutback |
| 1. | Don't like 62.5% cutback, sorry. (See also 30). | | 2. | Where does the universal come from? Don't really like the domestic help bit | | 3. | It's certainly not clear why 'cutback' rather than just 'cut' and where 'universal' fits in | | 4. | Too difficult on the solver. | | 5. | Sorry if i'm missing something, but where is the U? |
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| 24. Kiss ignored new lurex ban applying to star groups (7) |
| 1. | Original but the lurex ban fails to convince. | | 2. | I can just about remember Kiss! | | 3. | Great surface, good wordplay | | 4. | Good effort. |
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| 25. Learn about taking backup on cloud |
| 1. | Clearly NOT an &lit as the definition is just the last two words. Bu is bushels in Chambers. | | 2. | not convinced by 'on cloud'. (or about the &lit aspect) | | 3. | it's NOT &lit | | 4. | I don't recognise this abbreviation | | 5. | 'backup' = bu seems unusual, perhaps 'in cloud' would be a closer definition – this isn't an & lit. clue however | | 6. | 'Taking' as a container can be a bit ambiguous, also the def. Still a neat clue | | 7. | Nice surface but this abbreviation is not in my dictionaries. The whole clue does not work as a definition so this is no & lit. | | 8. | couldn't find bu=backup – so no points awarded. Worth saying which dictionary was used if it isn't Chambers |
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| 26. Left, adopting mostly pretentious talk, lacking clarity |
| 1. | 'lacking clarity' = nebulous | | 2. | Nice topical reference. | | 3. | I don't get NEAR=Left. It's not in Chambers. | | 4. | Surface is great but how's left= near? |
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| 27. Lift off leads new exploration beyond Uranus, looking at region resembling a cloud |
| 1. | Don't need to remove first letters, need to USE first letters | | 2. | We're retaining the leads rather than lifting them off | | 3. | Perhaps 'Initially' rather than 'Lift off leads (of)' with 'looks' for 'looking' ? | | 4. | "Leaders of" is needed. I would have given some points to "Leaders of new expedition (sic) beyond Uranus look at region resembling a cloud". | | 5. | The initial part doesn't read correct. How can a 'Lift off' lead an exploration. | | 6. | Why 'lift off' – skip that and the clue reads better, though should be 'leads to/for/of/in' or 'leaders of' etc |
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| 28. Light mostly divides to approach like a misty appearance in the sky |
| 1. | wordplay fine, but accommodating the "divides to approach" makes the surface a bit clunky. | | 2. | I'm not sure what the surface reading means exactly | | 3. | Surface seems meaningless. | | 4. | Good idea but not a convincing surface | | 5. | Not sure I agree that light = bulb |
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| 29. Like a little glowing object, shrouded in gases |
| 1. | 'Like' is indeed redundant in the wordplay and 'gases' is too vague to indicate Ne and Ar (see clue 43) | | 2. | I think it really needs neon and argon in the clue for the abbreviations. (I wouldn't like to see element used for FE for example.) | | 3. | Sadly, like does give it the right part of speech, but in doing so destroys this as an &lit clue as it forms no part of the wordplay. | | 4. | "Little" seems unnecessary, otherwise I was almost convinced, except for the explanation of "like". | | 5. | A nice idea and one of the few that work well without resorting to anagrams. 'Little' seems a bit out of place, 'endless' would be better? | | 6. | I like this one! | | 7. | Liked this, but nebulae are hardly 'little'… so didn't quite make the final cut |
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| 30. Like a misty cloud close-by surrounding 75% of the constellation Taurus |
| 1. | It's rather unconvincing to use arbitrary percentages to get part of a word. (See also 23). | | 2. | 'surrounding most of Taurus' might be neater ? | | 3. | Nice idea but surface should've been less jarring. |
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| 31. Like faint heavenly mist in the northeast; a blur dispersed. |
| 1. | Perhaps 'from' instead of 'in the' | | 2. | Nice. |
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| 32. Like many stars, Laura doesn't have a problem after a bill is presented |
| 1. | 'problem' isn't really an anagram indicator | | 2. | why "a bill" not "bill"? def not quite correct. | | 3. | so who is Laura? | | 4. | Almost excellent, but the anagram indication doesn't work for me | | 5. | Use of arbitrary personal names in clues is rather feeble. (Compare with 6 where the name is justified by the clue as a whole.) | | 6. | Well constructed. | | 7. | Quite like this but I think using random names is a slight weakness and the noun anagram indicator will probably be looked on unfavourably |
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| 33. Like sort of cloud splashing rain, masking blue out? Not I |
| 1. | Not really a semi & lit. | | 2. | there's no such thing as semi &lit – either it is or it isn't. This isn't | | 3. | Rather contrived surface reading, especially "masking". | | 4. | Not a very convincing surface IMHO | | 5. | Quite like the idea, although not sure about 'splashing' as an anagram indicator, and don't agree with the 'semi & lit.' claim |
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| 34. Like where lots of stars congregate, unable to get close to door for jostling |
| 1. | Made me smile, thank you | | 2. | Perhaps the anagram indicator should precede 'unable' ? | | 3. | Nice idea, although "Like where" is awkward, if not downright ungrammatical. | | 4. | Nice surface visuals. |
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| 35. Maybe lunar perturbation, skipping a month, is to do with gaseous cloud. |
| 1. | 'perturbation' isn't really an anagram indicator | | 2. | What phenomenon does "lunar perturbation, skipping a month" refer to? | | 3. | Ok. Surface is perturbing. |
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| 36. Misty, blear, unsettled |
| 1. | Combining anagram fodder and anagram indicator in the same word doesn't really work | | 2. | there's no 'un' in the clue except as part of another word. Not one for the purists I'm afraid | | 3. | 'unsettled' is not 'un settled' or 'unset T led' for that matter | | 4. | Requires unsettled to be read as two parts. Unorthodox (although I've seen worse) but settled doesn't convince as an anagrind. | | 5. | Brilliant. Love the use of settled for an anagram indicator when one expects it to be unsettled. | | 6. | Settled as anagrind is ok but it being joined with part of a fodder is not. Otherwise a fantastic effort. | | 7. | I don't think it's fair if a word needs to be split prior to solving, 'settled' alone seems weak as an anagram indicator to me |
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| 37. Misty blue rain with one missing at sea |
| 1. | Good try, although "blue rain" seems a bit odd. |
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| 38. Monstrous carbuncle Charlie completely overlooked in distant haze |
| 1. | Superb, I wish I could award it more than 5. | | 2. | Lovely surface – well spotted! – but I couldn't convince myself that 'in' turns nebula into nebular | | 3. | would 'twice overlooked' have been better? | | 4. | Are "c" for "Charlie" and "completely" given in Chambers? | | 5. | Nice. | | 6. | Made me laugh | | 7. | Couldn't quite give this a point – 'completely' doesn't work for me, 'doubly' maybe? Liked the idea otherwise |
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| 39. New evidence basically upholds Laplace's astronomic rationale. |
| 1. | No indication of acrostic and no clear definition | | 2. | Where is the definition? And the acrostic indicator? | | 3. | can't see the def or the acrostic indicator. | | 4. | What's in the clue to say that it's an acrostic? | | 5. | … but not a cryptic clue | | 6. | Beautifully done. | | 7. | This is not a clue as I know it – there is no definition or indication to use initial letters |
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| 40. Of slight cloudiness spread round circling scattered blue |
| 1. | Soundly constructed. | | 2. | I'm not sure what the surface reading means exactly | | 3. | Good try, although "spread round" and "circling" make for a tautological surface.. | | 4. | Surface not smooth | | 5. | Nice ideas but surface does not read very smoothly |
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| 41. Oil that's spread over backs of certain heavenly bodies? |
| 1. | Why the '?' | | 2. | Very clever, ingenious use of 'backs' and 'heavenly bodies'. | | 3. | nice surface. | | 4. | Good attempt at a complex construction. Not convinced about containment indication. Surface is great too. | | 5. | Good clue and kudos for avoiding the anagram | | 6. | Ingeniously constructed and misleading clue with natural surface and accurate definition. | | 7. | Nice idea if the 'heavenly bodies' on the surface means what I think it does! |
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| 42. Republican unable to be shifted on the issue of guns |
| 1. | Nice surface, but I thought (spray) guns was a but of a stretch | | 2. | Pretty good – definition rather oblique | | 3. | Wow! To get something so topical is great. The definition is bit too long a road. | | 4. | Nice topical clue but "on the issue of guns" for "nebular" is not convincing. | | 5. | The definition is rather vague and 'Republican' = R seems unusual | | 6. | I desperately want to like this, but the definition is a stretch too far for me – suggests all guns are spray guns |
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| 43. Resembling a cloud – bulk almost entirely surrounded by neon and argon (7) |
| 1. | a bit basic | | 2. | Interesting surface. Innovative wordplay. | | 3. | Works cryptically but doesn't really make much sense. | | 4. | Too many giveaways |
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| 44. Somewhat hazy – to lure and nab… |
| 1. | No discreet anagram indicator, 'to' is superfluous to wordplay | | 2. | I'm afraid the surface doesn't make much sense. | | 3. | Def should be at front – not fond of "to" | | 4. | Simple and sound. | | 5. | 'Hazy' is doing two jobs but the rest of the clue isn't | | 6. | I'm not keen on hazy being used for definition and anagram indicator, especially withthe 'to' inbetween. Why three dots at the end? |
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| 45. Such a faint opacity (without bad pain) could make cornea a bit faulty |
| 1. | Clever, if rather long-winded, but seems to define a noun, and is not an &lit as worded. | | 2. | I don't get it. Solution + this = anagram fodder should be the formula? | | 3. | This anagram is a bit over-compounded | | 4. | A very accomplished composite anagram. A clear winner in my book. | | 5. | Blimey that took some working out! winner I would think! | | 6. | A bit wordy and not smooth on the surface |
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| 46. That ends leaving turntable playing "Misty" |
| 1. | Nicely done. | | 2. | Clever use of "that ends" for TT, but it makes for a rather fragmentary surface. | | 3. | 'That ends' for 'ends of that' does't seem natural, nor somehow does the surface reading | | 4. | I like the different track (pun intended) to the rest. |
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| 47. The nature of a slight mist is almost to hide some rubbish (6) |
| 1. | Nice surface. | | 2. | 'some' is too imprecise for 'all but the last letter' | | 3. | Unlikely surface meaning. | | 4. | Perhaps 'a lot of' or 'endless' would be more precise than 'some' (see clues 3,10 and 48) | | 5. | Not a convincing surface |
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| 48. This endless mass, amdist all that is close at hand is stardust |
| 1. | 'This' and 'all that is' seem superfluous to the wordplay and 'nebular' = 'as stardust' | | 2. | "Amdist" is presumably a typo for "amidst", but the real problem is that NEBULAR is an adjective and STARDUST is a noun. | | 3. | 'This' before endless mass and 'all that is' before close at hand are redundant. | | 4. | Pity about the typo | | 5. | Doubtful if Stardust = Nebular | | 6. | Stardust is a noun, so not quite right as a definition. 'This' and 'all that is' are superfluous to the wordplay |
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| 49. Unable to move right like a group of ancient stars. |
| 1. | I like the humour implicit in this clue – "Strictly Come Dancing" perhaps? | | 2. | Soundly constructed. The surface is not so appealing. | | 3. | Surface seems contrived |
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| 50. Urban landscape's outline softens in a mist |
| 1. | I've not seen 'outline' to indicate first and last letters before, nor 'softens' as an anagram indicator | | 2. | Softens as anagrind is interesting though not totally convincing. | | 3. | Natural surface with a nice poetic image. Slightly dubious about "softens" as an anagrind. | | 4. | Liked this, but 'softens' doesn't mean 'melts', which would work just as well in the surface |
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| 51. With cloud unable to disperse, heading for rain |
| 1. | Definition (with cloud) is not convincing. | | 2. | Don't think "with cloud" really works as a definition. | | 3. | Very nice clue. |
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| 52. With points forming a blur |
| 1. | The definition is a little nebulous and 'With' seems redundant in the wordplay | | 2. | A valid &lit, although it doesn't make for a convincing definition. | | 3. | I don't see how the "with points" can be part of the &lit. | | 4. | What forms a blur with points? Shouldn't it be without? | | 5. | Doesn't seem to work too well as an &lit, wordplay is fine but def? |
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