Sunday August 17Th 2014

[Vimto]

I suppose many of us who send crosswords in from time to time and hope to win a prize make a mistake on the fair copy. I generally use liquid paper or similar to correct these errors. Is this practice accepted by judges or are they all discarded or does it vary depending on the publication? Your answers, I am sure, would be of interest to many on the AB. Please advise.

[Mamyalynne]

As long as your answers are legible, correction is allowed by most if not all publications.

[JandyAF]

Nowadays I always take a photocopy of the crossword grid first to fill in, and this has saved my bacon several times. To save on paper, I use backs of sheets I would be discarding anyway.

[factor-fiction]

Yes, photocopying is a great idea.
They only open enough envelopes until they have enough winners, and I can't see any reason why they'd discard a correct entry just because of Tippex. I wonder whether they even give more than a cursory check of the completed grid anyway

[Vimto]

I photocopy all my crosswords but it doesn't stop me making mistakes when transferring my answers to the original through sheer carelessness or lack of concentration.
Factor-fiction, you are a true cynic and a man after my own heart.
Jandy, it's not the paper I find expensive as I too use redundant letter-headings when I can find them but the ink as crosswords use a lot of it because of the blank sqares. I tried using refilled cartridges; bad idea, they leaked and ruined my printer.