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HERCULIS - a comment

Aquagility | 15:11 Mon 30th Mar 2009 | Quizzes & Puzzles

9 Answers

I think it significant that in today's Herculis one of the clues (18a) clearly states that either spelling would be acceptable.
I have not seen this before, and I take as confirmation that this is not usually the case.

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Rollo

I would not want to make that assumption, although it may be correct, of course.

I wonder how many setters don't even know that there is an alternative spelling that will fit the pattern.

In the particular case today, I did not know that there are two spellings. But I now see that, because of the way the clue is worded, another (distinct) type of pasta would fit and would answer the clue.

So, if I am reading it correctly, it is not so much an alternative spelling of the same thing, but an alternative thing.

Tallulah!

Could it be the 5 letter word beginning with r and ending with n that has s in the middle?
I don't do this crossword but someone asked about it this morning.

bitslimited

Tallulah!: that's a reasonable assumption.

Aquagility

Question Author

Thanks, Tallulah! and bitslimited. No, nothing to do with that clue.
Indeed, this post is a comment, not a question.

sincnoel

it's a very minor difference ... either 'ini' or 'oni'.

Aquagility

Question Author

so, what is your point, sincnoel?

seekeerz

as is my usual habit, I promptly wrote in tortellini, but having now read the question properly, I think perhaps I should have written something else entirely - I shall go away and find out what !!

seekeerz

Nope, back where I started, so as this started off just being a comment, then I agree, it's very rarely specified that alt. spellings are acceptable.

Aquagility

Question Author

Good morning, Steff. I was sleepimg like a dog when you posted.

My aim in opening this thread was not to discuss tortelloni, tortellini or even tortellina (as it happens, I agree with you), but to fire another shot in the long-running battle over whether alternative spellings are acceptabl to crossword setters, in particular Kate Mepham.

I have always maintained that, unless otherwise stated, there would be only one acceptable solution. Not everyone agrees with me. Funny!

Stay upright down there. Aq.

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