Why are some crossword clues questions?

So why is there a question mark? Hi Sharon - This is a common practice in American style crossword puzzles. The question mark is intended to warn you that the answer relies on some wordplay, so that the clue shouldn't be taken too literally.

Why do some crossword clues have question marks?

Clues that end in question marks indicate a play on words in the clue or answer.

Why are some crossword clues in brackets?

Short exclamations are sometimes clued by a phrase in square brackets, e.g., "[It's cold!]" = BRR. When the answer can only be substituted for the clue when preceding a specific other word, this other word is indicated in parentheses.

Why do some crossword answers not make sense?

Because of the constraints of the fill, puzzles are not fully checked (meaning some characters are used in only one answer) and are generally not symmetrical.

What does it mean when a crossword clue is in parentheses?

Parentheses either indicate additional information to the clue or indicate that the word within the parentheses when combined with the answer completes a phrase.

How the OED can help you with crosswords

What does it mean when a crossword clue is just a hyphen?

You've probably noticed that some of the clues are nothing but dashes, and the entries for those clues are not numbered. Those are not production errors. The dashes represent the end of the entry after we've added the SUN back to the entry on the other side of it. Let's take a look at 20A.

What does it mean when someone puts a word in parentheses?

Parentheses are used to enclose incidental or supplemental information or comments. The parenthetical information or comment may serve to clarify or illustrate, or it may just offer a digression or afterthought. Parentheses are also used to enclose certain numbers or letters in an outline or list.

What is the most used word in crossword puzzles?

“ERA” is the most common word in crossword puzzles, as well as “ARE,” “AREA,” and “ORE,” according to Gaffney.

Do crossword puzzles help brain function?

Memory and thinking skills may improve with regular crossword practice. A study published in NEJM Evidence found that people with mild memory problems who did web-based crossword puzzles showed improvement in cognition and experienced less brain shrinkage, compared to those who played web-based cognitive games.

Does doing crosswords prevent dementia?

Now, a study published in NEJM Evidence has found that regularly attempting a crossword may help slow decline in some people with mild cognitive impairment, an early stage of faltering memory that can sometimes progress to dementia.

What does FR mean in crossword?

Identifying an Abbreviation in a Clue

Most of the time, abbreviations have a period at the end of two to three letters. Some common crossword abbreviations include: Fr. – French.

What does a comma mean in a crossword clue?

Essentially, comma say means that the entry and the clue can mean the same thing, in certain contexts, but they're not a perfect 1-to-1 definitional match.

What does [] mean in crosswords?

By convention (no firm rule on this), clues in square brackets indicate a non-verbal action or a utterance.

What is the rule of crossword puzzle?

The goal is to fill the white squares with letters, forming words or phrases that cross each other, by solving clues which lead to the answers. In languages that are written left-to-right, the answer words and phrases are placed in the grid from left to right ("across") and from top to bottom ("down").

What does it mean when a crossword clue has numbers in brackets?

Cryptic clues are followed by a number or numbers in parentheses indicating the length of the answer: (5) means it's a five-letter word, while (2,3,4) indicates a three-word phrase like “in the know.”

Why are some squares GREY in a crossword?

Clues marked in gray indicate that a word has been entered.

Are crosswords good for ADHD?

Crossword puzzles actually improve attention for words and sequencing ability, while picture puzzles—in which your younger child has to look for things that are “wrong” in the picture or look for hard-to-find objects—also improve attention and concentration.

Do crosswords help ADHD?

Even crossword puzzles have been shown to increase attention among ADHD students.

Why are some people good at crossword puzzles?

So-called "fluid intelligence", or the ability to "make the mind jump through hoops" while solving problems, is directly linked to the ability to untangle cryptic clues, researchers found.

Is there a strategy to crossword puzzles?

Tackle the easiest clues first.

Scan through the clues, and knock out all the easiest ones. Not only will this give your gameplay some structure, but also it'll give you an ego boost! Typically, fill-in-the-blank clues are the easiest.

What is the hardest times crossword day?

Mondays have the most straightforward clues and Saturday clues are the hardest, or involve the most wordplay. Contrary to popular belief, the Sunday puzzles are midweek difficulty, not the hardest. They're just bigger. A typical Monday clue will be very straightforward and drive you almost directly to the answer.

What does () mean around a word?

Parentheses ( ) are used to enclose nonessential or supplemental information in a sentence. Parentheses are always used in pairs; you must have both an opening and a closing parenthesis. In formal academic writing, it is a good practice to use parentheses sparingly.

When to use {}?

How to use braces { } Braces are used to group items or to show a relationship among lines, symbols, or formulas in mathematical, statistical, or chemical equations.

What is the name of {}?

Curly brackets {}

Curly brackets, also known as braces or curly braces, are rarely used in formal writing and are more common in other fields such as science, math, and computing.