| Comments on the competition |
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| 1. |
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The best Printer's Devilry clues are those in which the devilled version significantly alters the meaning of the clue whilst still making as much or almost as much sense as the devilled version. This was achieved by only a small bunch of PEARs, clue 49 being the pick of the bunch. Clues in which the two versions were close in meaning were accordingly marked down (7, 12, 15, 20, 32, 42). These tended to be those omitting the whole PEAR or where the undevilled clue included a cyclical anagram of the clue word (EARP in the case of clue 15), always best avoided in PD clues.
The main challenge is of course to disguise the gap where the clue word originally was in such a way that the clue reads easily and convincingly in both devilled and undevilled forms (the latter being the more important of the two). The wording of the undevilled version should certainly not be forced to accommodate that of the devilled version and should avoid too many punctuational pauses. Clues which make more sense in the devilled version were therefore penalised and preference was given to clues whose undevilled version forms a complete sentence.
The second requisite is to ensure that there is no space before and after the clue word both before and after its removal. All but one competitor avoided this trap (clue 12).
The inclusion of a definition of the clue word is definitely not a requirement of PD (clue 2), nor should the devilry be overdone (38).
6 clues omitted the whole PEAR (2, 12, 20, 31, 38, 42*) , the remaining clues making either one split (42) or the double split made possible by the 'A' (10, 21 and 37*). Of the three possible single splits, the central PE/AR just proved the most popular (22), with clues 5 and 51 being the most noteworthy. The P/EAR splits (20) used variations of EARNER/EARNING, EARLY (47*), EARP, EARNEST and EAR+, and PEA/R understandably did not feature. |
| 2. |
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| PEAR is rather too similar to STEAR from a couple of years ago, and elicited the same set of 'earn' and 'early' ideas, which by and large are the best ones. It was an entertaining comp with some wonderfully wacky clues, and it wasn't a complete repeat, but I think, say, PEAL or PEAT or PEAS would have been a better choice. |
| 3. |
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| I usually find it hard to work up enthusiasm for PD clues, but I thought 47 and 49 were simply superb, both of them boasting perfectly natural (and significantly different!) readings in their devilled and undevilled versions. A well-deserved 5 points to both. |
| 4. |
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| The challenge in Printer's Devilry clue is not merely to get two sensible surface readings for the two versions. It is also important that the individual readings are interesting in themselves and more importantly there is a good/amusing contrast between the two readings. Not many clues meet this requirement though practically all are technically in order. The clues with sufficiently contrasted readings are 49,47,46,35,29,23,18,12,11,9,7,5 and 2 of which 49 is the pick. |
| 5. |
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In my view, there are four criteria for a really good PD clue:
a. it should not be too obvious from the devilled version where the letters have been omitted;
b. both versions should have a credible surface;
c. there should be a marked contrast between the meanings of the two versions;
d. the devilled version should transform a relatively mundane statement, question or whatever into a startling, amusing or outrageous one: the devilry should at least make one smile or, better still, laugh.
This is far from easy to achieve, witness the generally rather uninspiring crop of entries to this competition (not excluding my own). Indeed, only two clues (the very similar 11 and 29) come close to achieving this and seem to me to be head and shoulders above the rest. 5 scored well on a. and c., but fell down on b. in the devilled version.
Without c. and d., PD strikes me as a pretty pointless and uninteresting exercise, while a convincing surface (b.) is surely a requirement of any good crossword clue. |
| Comments on the clues |
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| 1. A big printer's toner can seem very expensive |
| 1. | I think here the devilled version makes slightly more sense than the undevillled | | 2. | The undevilled version seems a tad forced. |
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| 2. A fruit reaped! |
| 1. | Including a definition doesn't help. The undevilled version makes little sense. | | 2. | 'A fruit reappeared' is a strange sentence – I'm not sure I'd know whether I'd got the right solution | | 3. | What is the state of a fruit that has reappeared? Sorry, this makes no sense to me. | | 4. | A bit too short – neither version seems to read particularly convincingly and a definition should be avoided. |
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| 3. Acting Professors named with resolution |
| 1. | I'm aware of Professor Snape but I don't understand the surface reading of the deviled version. Sorry. | | 2. | Neither version seems to read particularly convincingly. |
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| 4. After a year of training, toners see a rise of many pounds |
| 1. | Rather wordy – why would 'top earners' need so much training, and why hasn't the toning worked after all that time ? (see {1}) |
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| 5. Aiming toe scares the flies off |
| 1. | Original idea | | 2. | Nice change in meaning with a slightly zanier devilled version, excellent! | | 3. | Excellent! #1 for me. | | 4. | The best of the PE/AR splits – nicely done ! |
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| 6. An Italian pot fully supplied with Chianti |
| 1. | This seems to make more sense in the devilled version. |
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| 7. As sad rebels losing, Homs will be supplied by US |
| 1. | The two versions are too similar and why is 'US' undevilled to 'us' – is this a typo ? | | 2. | Good idea, but you wouldn't call the Syrian opposition 'Assad rebels' |
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| 8. Avoids kids – wise! |
| 1. | A witty attempt but perhaps too brief for the devilled version to make much sense. | | 2. | I wondered if anyone would be bold enough to use this. Nice try. | | 3. | Gross… but hilarious | | 4. | Even a P.D competition doesn't warrant vulgarity. Distasteful. |
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| 9. Badlands cat should be dumped in the bin |
| 1. | http://www.aspca.org/about-us/contact-us | | 2. | Nice wordplay. Thing is, as an animal lover, I can't agree with the sentiment! | | 3. | Best of the art clues I think, I like the 'badlands cat' but wonder if the remainder could give more of a hint |
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| 10. Butchered stomachs resulted in triaging success. |
| 1. | Not sure four times a little in only some areas counts as 'a raging success' ! |
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| 11. Canings – that's my remedy for greedy bankers! |
| 1. | An excellent effort, though I prefer the devilled remedy ! | | 2. | Excellent clue, I wonder which 'remedy' the entrant would really want enforced! | | 3. | Canings and cap earnings is too good for them |
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| 12. Chews mint gum :
Chew Spearmint gum ! |
| 1. | Too brief, so the two versions are virtually the same. To close the gap in the devilled version, there should be no space before 'mint'. | | 2. | The clue-writer has misunderstood the instructions here in some way | | 3. | The undevilled version given as part of the clue itself? By accident or design? Either way it works and neatly at that | | 4. | The break occurring between words is a weakness here (even allowing for the presentation error!) |
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| 13. Comes after getting a strait-jacket: one's cat is tripping one up! |
| 1. | The devilled version seems rather nonsensical ! | | 2. | The deviled clue makes no sense. |
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| 14. Drop earing, and use a pendant instead |
| 1. | Not a PD clue. The clue should omit the solution. | | 2. | This looks like the undevilled version, but how is the gap closed ? | | 3. | I think the entrant misunderstood the rules for Printer's Devilry clues! | | 4. | You've not understood the requirements and you've misspelt 'earring' |
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| 15. Early silver miner in Arizona |
| 1. | Could equally well be Earl, leading to LEAR? I thought Earp was a lawman. | | 2. | Although PEAR has been removed, it is effectively a removal of Earp, and I think this is a big weakness | | 3. | The deviled and undeviled versions are too similar for my liking. | | 4. | The two versions are too similar due to the repetition of 'EAR' – best to avoid cyclical anagrams of the clue word in PD clues. |
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| 16. Early visitor shot gallery (Open) – sin, morning at eight |
| 1. | The devilled version is just too nonsensical | | 2. | Not sure what the devilled version means ! | | 3. | It might be me, but I don't understand the deviled version. Some explanation required I think. |
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| 17. Following city riots Met chief sends cops to Goa, resting everyone under the sun |
| 1. | The undevilled version seems rather forced and doesn't read convincingly. |
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| 18. For Christmas, to be at the Masses is holy |
| 1. | One of several with the same good idea | | 2. | Perhaps 'At Christmas' would read more smoothly, otherwise this is an excellent PD clue ( see also clue 47). |
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| 19. George and Harris knocked July as it was time for their boating trip (4) |
| 1. | A novel clue (in more ways than one). Not sure if it reads that smoothly, but a fine job in introducing 'pear' into this | | 2. | An nice slant on the P/EAR split, but why would they knock July ? |
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| 20. Hope, aping with Bing, made many Road movies. |
| 1. | Sound, but the two versions are too similar (see clue 42) | | 2. | As with some others, the deviled and undeviled versions are just too similar |
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| 21. I house works that others can appreciate. |
| 1. | This seems to make more sense in the devilled version. | | 2. | The deviled version makes no sense to me |
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| 22. Is corn cob ash in glass? |
| 1. | 'earbashing' does not require an object, otherwise both versions are rather obscure. |
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| 23. Is holy for Christmas but not for Easter |
| 1. | A good try, but the devilled version seems rather nonsensical (see clues 18 and 47) |
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| 24. Is that 'Twirl' in the TV ads somewhat 'Flaky?' |
| 1. | The undevilled version seems rather forced and doesn't read convincingly. |
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| 25. Keening — that's how I will honor Marley's passing, Scrooge resolved |
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| 26. Ma dates cat; is to keep him in the bag |
| 1. | Quite amusing, but the solution is a bit unnaturally worded | | 2. | The devilled version is nonsense and the punctuation in the undevilled version seems forced. | | 3. | It might just be me, but I don't understand the deviled version |
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| 27. Madonna was named 'a stoner' by the music press |
| 1. | Not sure what the devilled version means ! (see also 34) |
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| 28. Michael Stich's in germankind's best |
| 1. | What's an arch-singer? | | 2. | Neither version seems to read particularly convincingly. | | 3. | I really want to give you points, but the deviled version is just not up to it. |
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| 29. Miliband: "Canings for fat-cat MPs" |
| 1. | Nice topical clue | | 2. | Can't we have both? | | 3. | One of the better clues using the P/EAR split (see also 11). |
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| 30. Military craftsmen’s hat is a ‘narrow-head’ |
| 1. | Not sure what the devilled version means ! |
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| 31. Only reapers reaping early / in among the bearded barley, / wraithlike like the ghost of Marley, / see crop circles mark the spot |
| 1. | A lot of clue but very little devilry | | 2. | Rather random and far too long, could be AKED for example ('m/AKE D/ark the spot). | | 3. | This is the best (or worst) example of the deviled and undeviled versions being too similar. |
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| 32. Our shared Jack Russell outsmarts any burglar alarm |
| 1. | Good example of P.D. | | 2. | Sound, but the two versions are too similar – perhaps 'beats having a' would read better than 'outsmarts any' ? |
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| 33. Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" is the best Christmas song |
| 1. | I can't imagine the Pope would make this argument! | | 2. | The wording of the undevilled version seems forced to accommodate that of the devilled version (see clue 50. |
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| 34. RAF stoners are real high-fliers! |
| 1. | Very clever to get a different pun in each version! | | 2. | Not sure what the devilled version means ! (see also 27) |
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| 35. Rarest of the parliamentarians, Tory of the year! |
| 1. | 'the' seems superfluous and might be better with a '?' | | 2. | Brilliant. If mine doesn't win ( ;-) ), I hope yours does. |
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| 36. See the children mocking Amy's every move. |
| 1. | The undevilled version seems rather forced and doesn't read convincingly. | | 2. | I don't understand the context of either version. |
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| 37. Sex pest felt the urge to groom any woman. |
| 1. | Needs something to justify 'Romany', e.g. 'Traveller' at the start. | | 2. | The wording of the undevilled version seems forced to accommodate that of the devilled version. |
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| 38. Shake seed, it ionises part of olio made using grass |
| 1. | Super devilry but the result isn't entirely convincing | | 2. | As a result of overdoing the devilry, the devilled version seems rather nonsensical. |
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| 39. Show man's hip not. That's vulgar. |
| 1. | The devilled version is nonsense and the punctuation in the undevilled version seems forced. | | 2. | The deviled version makes no sense. |
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| 40. Some homies will lay down their weapons |
| 1. | Excellent P.D. clue, concise and effective | | 2. | What are homies ? |
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| 41. Spot, Alan D's cat, working litter that's tacky |
| 1. | Neither version seems to read particularly convincingly (who is Alan D ?). | | 2. | The deviled version makes no sense to me |
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| 42. Star impresssionist's aping at The London Palladium tonight |
| 1. | Best of the 'appearing' clues | | 2. | As with others, the deviled and undeviled versions are just too similar |
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| 43. The partridges came, backs to nest, searching for the fruit of love. |
| 1. | Neither version seems to read particularly convincingly. | | 2. | A merit for getting 'partridge' in a 'pear' tree-tment. |
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| 44. The printing industry needs toners to work efficiently. |
| 1. | I think this is the best of the many 'toner/top earner' versions. | | 2. | The undevilled version seems rather forced and doesn't read convincingly. |
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| 45. This is no tap, it is treasonably asserted |
| 1. | Good idea | | 2. | The devilled version seems rather nonsensical ! |
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| 46. To avoid masses is holy? |
| 1. | The devilled version seems contradictory (see 18 and 47) |
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| 47. To be at the Masses, at them all, is holy |
| 1. | Best of the early shoppers. | | 2. | The best of the early shoppers – well done ! |
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| 48. To demonstrate prowess, draws hat displayed publicly |
| 1. | Neither version really makes any sense | | 2. | Neither version seems to read particularly convincingly. |
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| 49. Toners will leave skin richer. |
| 1. | The comma in the undevilled version must be a typo ? Otherwise a perfect PD clue – very well done ! | | 2. | Nice change of meaning between the two readings | | 3. | Cracking clue, I am not sure it needs the comma though. |
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| 50. Using strong language, the Pogues song is blasphemous |
| 1. | Sound, but the two versions are too similar. |
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| 51. Witness great poise at Vatican |
| 1. | One of the best PE/AR splits – well done ! |
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