Substitution

[donny48]

I am learning the art of cryptic and am enjoying it immensely. I recognise various indicators but where a substitute word is used I get confused, for example http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puzzles/Crosswords/Question1484816.html , in this Danny has substituted region for area. Are there indicators for this and if so is there a specific name for them.
Many thanks Don

[frugalfred]

synonyms?

[donny48]

The term synonym is used as a term for a word of similar meaning but is there an indicator to show when it should be used or is it just experience and practice.

[ladyalex]

Hi Donny48

I do not know the term for suh substitution. Sorry.

I too am learning the art of cryptic and can wholeheartedly recommend Big Dave's site.
It is very much based on the Daily Telegraph cryptics, but the advice is applicable to all.

www.bigdave44.com

Good Luck!

[Patsy33]

Me personally, it's the latter. You have to think on all angles of the clue. You need to get into the head of the profiler! When you're doing cryptic crossword from a regular compiler, you do get used to his/ her way of thinking. So I would say it is a matter of patience and practice. Keep up the good work Donny!

[donny48]

Thanks for the words of encouragement the one thing I have found is just how addictive the cryptic can be

[olichant]

Hi Donny. There's no specific word to indicate this, but it's quite common. You see it a lot when the defined word is built up of other words.

So for example, in the clue "Pierce special fruit (5)"
- the answer is "SPEAR" (means "pierce")
- the wordplay is "S" (common - sort of - abbreviation for "special") plus "PEAR".

So, the word "pear" could be thought of as a substitution for "fruit". I wouldn't really think of it as a substitution though. What the clue is really asking you to do is think of a word for fruit, or a type of fruit, after the letter "S".

Put another way, if you were to "unpick" the clue, it would read something like "you're looking for a word that means "pierce", made up from the letter "s" followed by the name of a fruit".

[Patsy33]

Very well put Olichant..

[donny48]

Again many thanks for all help

[DocHH]

Donny48,
At times the clue might even suggest daughter becomes large, so comedy might become comely. Or the clue might suggest changing hands or directions, so in a word L might become R, N become S etc. Partners are frequently NS or EW, as in bridge partners. It will take time to recognise all these indicators.
To be honest there is only one way to get to grips with cryptic crosswords and that is to have a go at them, then work through the answers when the solution is given in the next edition of the paper. You will need an open mind however, and some are more difficult than others. BigDaves blog does include a guide for beginners, and give hints for solving particular types of cryptic clues.

In the example you have given a link to Danny knew that O was a standard abbreviation for OLD, that AREA also meant REGION, and that the clue said I was abandoned, so leave it out of REGION to become REGON. Then R(ight) goes inside end (TAIL). Of course it helps if you know the OREGON TRAIL! However normally it is possible to deduce the actual answer from the cryptic element of the clue.
There is a very good book called Bradfords (crossword solver's) that might be of use as well. Pleased to hear you are enjoying solving ccryptic crosswords. I have been doing them for over 40 years now and still run into difficulties.