Cryptic crosswords for beginners: the states of the US

In the example clues below, I explain the two parts of each one. There is a definition of the answer and there is some wordplay – a recipe for assembling its letters. In a genuine puzzle environment, of course, you also have the crossing letters, which hugely alleviate your solving load. Also, here, the setters’ names tend to link to profiles of the individuals behind the pseudonyms.

Any reasonably familiar set of abbreviations is going to catch a crossword setter’s eye as a useful way of indicating part of a word. The entertainment industry means that British solvers are more likely to have come across abbreviations used for the 50 states than they are, say, Bolivian departmentos. Here are some that a beginner should keep an eye out for.

California = CA

Staying with the entertainment industry, “California” in a clue often indicates CA in an answer. Sometimes, setters might combine it with another state. Two examples, both from Pan:

In the first we combine CA and VA for the drink, CAVA, and in the second CO and CA for the shrub, COCA.

Rhode Island = RI

You don’t have to be a big state to figure in crosswords. Texas is certainly large and much discussed but, unless the setter has a burning urge to include Pope Innocent XI in a puzzle, the TX abbreviation is not much help to anyone.

By contrast, here’s tiny Rhode Island in a clue from Nutmeg …

… for ORIFICE. Do setters always give the full name of the state? They do not. Here’s Brendan …

… cluing RISKY. OK, so do they always help you narrow down which state you’re looking for? Read on.

Florida = FLA

Before that, another warning. You’ve seen some states referred to with three-letter abbreviations, so here’s Everyman …

… with a clue for GRANNY FLAT. And, so, the cautious solver will be wondering, does a “California” always indicate a two-letter CA?

California = CAL

It certainly doesn’t. Here’s Crucible …

… with a clue for FOCAL, which leaves you to work out for yourself which state we’re talking about.

This is a handy reminder that, as often as not, you might crack a clue by seeing a word that fits and matches the definition, and confirm it with the wordplay part. And, let’s be clear, a reminder that we embrace the unexpected: it’s part of the fun.

Beginners, any questions? Seasoned solvers, any favourite examples?

More guidance

Cryptic devices: hidden answers; double definitions; cryptic definitions; soundalikes; initial letters; spoonerisms; containers; reversals; alternate letters; cycling; stammering; taking most of a word; naked words; first and last letters; middle letters; defining by example.

Bits and bobs: Roman numerals; Nato alphabet; Greek letters; chemistry; abbreviations for countries; points of the compass; playing cards; capital letters; boys and girls; apostrophes; cricket; alcohol; the church; Latin; royals; newspapers; doctors; drugs; music; animals; cars; cities; rivers; boats; when the setter’s name appears; when the solver appears; “cheating”.

Individual letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M.

The Shipping Forecast Puzzle Book by Alan Connor, which is partly but not predominantly cryptic, can be obtained from the Guardian Bookshop.