Once in a while you'll come across a clue which doesn't fall neatly
into one of the aforementioned categories. The key is to look at
the literal cryptic instructions for the solving hint. Some
examples
of these different types of clues are:
Sample clue (Replacement):
Replace Republican with Liberal in true brilliance (5)In this clue, the instructions replace Republican with Liberal in true are telling us to replace the R with an L in a word for true (right) to get a word which means brilliance (LIGHT).
Sample clue (Replacement):
True brilliance with a new leader (5)This clue is very similar to the above replacement, though in this case the replacement letter is not given directly. With a new leader is telling us to replace the first letter (leader) of a word that means brilliance (light). That is, light with a new leader equals RIGHT, defined as true.
Sample clue (Fuddism):
Spineless stink from Elmer Fudd (4)Here the answer is WEAK, defined as spineless. When reek (a word meaning stink) is spoken like Elmer Fudd (from Elmer Fudd) it sounds like the word weak.
Sample clue (Spoonerism):
Remove the centre of an apple quickly, by Rev. Spooner's prediction (8)
This is a play on words where the consonants of two words or
syllables
are transposed, as Reverend Spooner was famous for doing. Remove
the centre of an apple quickly (core
fast), when said in this manner (by
Rev. Spooner), is ('s) a
word that means prediction.
Have
you got the answer? It's FORECAST.
Of course, there are other types of clues that, while rare, you will
come across from time to time. As with the above examples, the
cryptic
instructions will literally guide you to the answer. With a few
crossing
letters (and perhaps a little bit of practice), you should be able to
solve,
enjoy, and appreciate any clue that a wily constructor might throw at
you.