Why Is Wallop The Answer To Sunday Times 4862 10Ac

[Fjgmhc]

10across in cryptic Could be wallop or gallop - why

[ubasses]

What is the clue?

[Lie-in King]

Hi Fjgmhc - it's always nice to post the full clue so that people without the puzzle can more readily help :-)

10a Smack with speed? There's no good in that! (6)

Wallop - 'w(ith)' + '(g)allop' (speed, no 'g[ood]')

[Prudie]

Is that how poor cryptic setters are these days, just the word 'with' and you assume that means a single w?

[Lie-in King]

That's been a standard for as long as I can recall, Prudie.

[Prudie]

Not in Araucaria's day LIK but yes I've seen it on here in explanations many times last few years, still think it's very poor

[Lie-in King]

I'm sure the "great" (not, IMO) Araucaria would have used it.

From Collins -

w. in British
abbreviation for
1.
week
2.
weight
3.
width
4.
wife
5.
with

[Fjgmhc]

Hi Lie-in King, thanks for your answer. I'm new here, will remember to include clue in future.

[jeffreywoodham]

I’ve been doing cryptic crosswords for at least 40 years and every time I see the word ‘with’ then I know it’s going to be shortened to W and I’m sure that Araucaria, Custos, et al used it hundreds of times. It’s just another example of somebody who can’t get the answer then blames the compiler.

[Old_Geezer]

This is why I get few cryptic clue answers. One needs to know a load of unwritten rules :-( Never mind I'll try to keep trying.