Comments on: Guardian 24,218, Quantum: 4-ing troubles http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/ Never knowingly undersolved. Wed, 22 May 2013 20:39:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: neildubya http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6471 neildubya Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:20:24 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6471 Re mistakes in on-line puzzles. One Guardian compiler has told me that he (and indeed the xwd ed) only get to see proofs for the versions that appear in the paper, which would explain why there are more mistakes online.

]]> By: nmsindy http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6450 nmsindy Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:07:55 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6450 Re 1 and 8, these are issues that I think are probably not noticed by solvers, nor does it hinder them. But, convention, as I understand it, is that in down clues, indications are based on how the answer will appear in the grid. However, as the clue itself is written (just like this posting) from left to right you could argue that whatever you use for across clues is just as valid for downs – I’d be happy with the convention, though.

So if a clue led, say, to CON TACT as CON plus TACT, CON on TACT would be fine for a down clue, whereas, in an across clues it could be TACT on CON.

]]> By: Paul B http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6434 Paul B Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:36:39 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6434 Re 1 the convention – certainly at The Times as Colin says, and for other papers too AFAIK – is that ON signifies an appearance after another element, but I’m fairly sure this applies to across clues only.

In down, as ON is very likely to be taken to mean ‘above’ or ‘on top’, I suppose solvers might have legitimate cause for complaint were it to be used also to signify ‘after’.

I’m actually not at all sure what the Times rule on this is for down clues, but I should say I’ve always written them as they appear in the grid, from top top bottom: example would be reversal indicators having to say ‘up’ (generally speaking – this is my get-out clause) rather than merely ‘back’.

]]> By: muck http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6427 muck Sat, 27 Oct 2007 15:50:38 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6427 As Judy Bentley pointed out, the problem with 2dn appeared in the paper version as well. However, I agree that the on-line version appears to have more sloppy editing. Complain, as I have, to

crossword.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk

]]> By: Ygor http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6424 Ygor Sat, 27 Oct 2007 12:48:54 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6424 Why are these on-line puzzles so sloppily edited? The problem with 2D was the second error this week (see 24215, clue 5A) that effected the interpretation of a clue.

I am but a humble American struggling to overcome my inferior education and master the British idiom. If I can’t trust my crossword puzzle editors, whom can I trust?

]]> By: Judy Bentley http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6406 Judy Bentley Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:08:25 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6406 Thank you Shirley. You learn something every day. 2D was also given as a 15 letter word in the paper, and Grandma Alice came up with ‘no words found’ but ploughing through the dictionary gave me sodium, after which it was plain sailing.

]]> By: muck http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6405 muck Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:00:23 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6405 2dn: should be two words (6,9 not 6,8). This confused me too! Sodium carbonate is washing soda.

]]> By: Shirley http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6404 Shirley Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:53:21 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6404 Judy – Flats are the technical name for the flat pieces of scenery which are moved up and down on the stage within the fly tower.
2D was given as a 15 letter word in the online version instead of 6,8. This made it difficult to solve!

]]> By: Judy Bentley http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6401 Judy Bentley Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:51:06 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6401 Yes, ‘flats’ threw me. Please explain.

]]> By: Colin Blackburn http://www.fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6398 Colin Blackburn Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:12:43 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2007/10/26/guardian-24218-quantum-4-ing-troubles/#comment-6398 12dn. I think ‘on’ works both ways, except at The Times. My head is on my neck when I’m upright, it’s equally on my neck when I’m hanging by my feet.

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