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From: [e-mail] (James A. Lundon)
Subject: FAQ rec.puzzles.crosswords part 1/3
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Summary: This Posting Contains a List of Frequently Asked Questions about Crosswords.
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Archive-name: crossword-faq/part1
Last-modified: 13/10/1993
Version: 2.10

        Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for rec.puzzles.crosswords
                               Version 2.10

                          Compiled and edited by
               James A. Lundon ([e-mail])

   This file contains the answers to many questions which people from time to
   time have asked in the conference and it will act as a convenient store
   of knowledge which the participants in the conference may find useful or
   even interesting.

   This file will be posted around the first of each month with any updates
   marked together with a new version number.

   This FAQ is stored at location rtfm.mit.edu in the directory
   /pub/usenet-by-hierarchy/rec/puzzles/crosswords.  There are other mirror
   sites where the file is available via anonymous FAQ.


   Last modified: 13 October 1993

   Changes
   -------

   V1.0 Original.

   V2.0 Re-write of many sections including incorporation of material previous
        stored in the rec.puzzles archive.

   V2.01 Spell check and errors from V2.0 corrected.

   V2.10 Augmented the section about crossword software available and added
         some extra detail to some other answers.

                            Questions
                            ---------

   1/  What's the charter of rec.puzzles.crosswords?
   2/  What are ACC, CWC, and PCWC and what words have been used in these
       competitions?
   3/  What are good dictionaries for crosswords?
   4/  Are there good books of word-lists for crosswords?
   5/  What technical papers are there about crosswords?
   6/  What books are there for (solving) crosswords?
   7/  What software is available for crosswords?
   8/  Are there any on-line dictionaries around?
   9/  Is there any FTP site for crossword related material?
   10/ Standard tips for solving a cryptic crossword?
   11/ Misc. questions of interest.
   12/ What crossword related associations or publications are there?
   13/ What are some of the indicators used in crossword setting and
       solving?

                             Answers
                             -------

1/ What's the charter of rec.puzzles.crosswords?

   NAME:
    rec.puzzles.crosswords

   STATUS:

    unmoderated

   DESCRIPTION:

    Forum for discussion of grid-based word puzzles

   CHARTER:

   To provide a forum for the submission of articles dealing with word
   puzzles such as crosswords, acrostics and word-searches.  Any puzzle
   which involves determining words arranged in a gridlike structure and in
   which there is no opponent (except perhaps the setter of the puzzle :-)
   is included within the coverage of this group.

   Posts of the following types are expected:

   o Complete puzzles to be solved by the readers
   o Computer programs for generating (solving?!) such puzzles
   o Details on how to go about creating your own puzzles
   o Individual favourite clues
   o Requests for help in solving and/or explaining cryptic clues
   o Explanations of how to solve cryptic crosswords in general
   o Sources for puzzles in your area of the world
   o Discussion of cryptic conventions, etc.

   though this is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

   The language used in the postings to the group is left up to the poster,
   but they should bear in mind the target audience they are trying to
   reach and what languages they are likely to understand.  The puzzles
   themselves can be in any language(s) the poster desires.

2/ What are ACC, CWC, and PCWC and what words have been used in these
   competitions?

   These are cryptic clue writing competitions run more or less regularly
   on the newsgroup.  In each of them, a word or words are set for you to
   clue.  You E-mail the setter a cryptic clue.  The prize is that the
   person who set the winning clue gets to set the next round of the
   competition.  The competitions don't have a final round; they just keep
   going.

   The three competitions are:

   ACC, for "Araucaria Clueing Contest", was started by Ray Steiner (and
   named by Dave Corne, the first winner).  The winner of each round gets
   to set and judge the next round.

   CWC, for "Clue Writing Competition", was started by Ian Gent.  There is
   no great distinction between it and ACC, but two words are usually
   given, for the sake of variety (the best single clue wins).  Also, it
   often has a shorter time between setting the words and the submission
   deadline than ACC, but that is up to each person who runs it.

   PCWC, for "People's Clue Writing Competition", was started by Guy
   Jacobson.  Unlike ACC and CWC, submitted clues are posted before the
   winner is judged.  Readers of the newsgroup then vote for their favourite
   clues.  The winner sets the next word, but the judging is done by the
   people.

   Here are the lists of all CWC, PCWC, and ACC words used to date
   (October 1993):

      CWC words:                     PCWC words:         ACC words:
      1 mousetrap, convolvulus       1 democratic        1 ophelia
      2 demonstrate, scherzo         2 recapitulate      2 valetudinarian
      3 pirates, pistachio           3 scapegoat         3 pride
      4 enterprise, karaoke          4 landslide         4 chocolate
      5 flounder, jerk               5 macedonia         5 marsupial
      6 integrated, paranoia         6 administer        6 ace
      7 moderate, unrequited         7 wistful           7 controversial
      8 stranger, shocked, iced tea  8 cardinal          8 catastrophe
      9 alternate, rhythm            9 inaugurate        9 sunbather
     10 considerable, knuckle       10 discriminate     10 software
     11 elaborate, juxtapose        11 frequency        11 obesity
     12 miscreation, aardwolf       12 phantasm         12 all saint's day
     13 condiment, faculty          13 sforzando        13 separate
     14 sullen, childhood           14 kitten           14 chaste
     15 picaresque, colophon        15 right            15 callipygian
     16 weathered, exempt           16 prehistoric      16 foreplay
     17 stratagem, squeeze          17 deliberate       17 inebriated
     18 bullwinkle, rocky           18 cargo            18 monkey-puzzle tree
     19 china, hongkong             19 marmalade        19 horseradish
     20 around, asbestos            20 carousel         20 come up to scratch
     21 pedestrian, azure           21 woody allen      21 enfranchise
     22 delivery, flibbertigibbet                       22 temperate
     23 nineteen                                        23 without a clue
     24 principal, corroborate                          24 pandemonium
     25 piercing, state of grace                        25 engagement
     26 carol singer, homologue                         26 caricature
     27 transparent, kookaburra                         27 proper
     28 resolution, epiphany                            28 a shot in the dark
     29 helicopter, macrobiotic                         29 game set and match
     30 arsenic, cyanide                                30 double entendre
     31 spectacle, ingenuous                            31 maintenance
     32 refrain/malice
     33 clarinet, kazoo
     34 blizzard, cloud
     35 orchestra, symphony
     36 lemon/distress
     37 carpenter, vodka
     38 bandicoot, chinchilla
     39 degree, nuptial
     40 motive, archipelago
     41 solution, concentrate
     42 itinerary, prerogative

   There is now a fourth clue setting/crossword setting exercise taking
   place in the conference.  It is hosted by Felix Lee.  Felix, maybe you
   can you give a better explanation of what's it about than I can?

3/ What are good dictionaries for crosswords?

   There's no one dictionary that you must have for doing crosswords.  On
   the other hand, in some contexts it helps to know what dictionary has
   been used in setting a crossword, particularly for hard crosswords
   containing unusual words.  For example, The Listener crossword (now
   published in The Times) almost always uses "Chambers English
   Dictionary", with deviations from that being noted.  On the other hand
   in America Merriam-Websters 9th Collegiate Dictionary is the standard of
   the National Puzzlers League (NPL - a wordplay club which devotes some
   of its time to crosswords).  In both countries there are many other good
   dictionaries of usable size.  Two mammoth dictionaries that people
   sometimes have to resort to are The Oxford English Dictionary and
   Merriam-Webster's Third New International Dictionary.

   The NPL rank the well known dictionaries in order of preference as
   follows:

   9C (Merriam-Websters 9th Collegiate Dictionary) is better than NI3
   (Webster's Third New International) is better than NI2 (Webster's New
   International, 2nd Edition) is better than everything else.

   Great slang dictionaries for true word mavens include Partridge's "A
   Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English", "A Dictionary of the
   Underworld", and "The Routledge Dictionary of Historical Slang".
   Spears's "Slang and Euphemism" is also quite good, and Cassidy's
   "Dictionary of American Regional English" is also great (but only two
   of the three volumes have been published).

4/ Are there good books of word-lists for crosswords?

   You can probably find books of word-lists in your nearest bookshop.
   These are generally of two types: they may be a simple list of words or
   they may arrange their words by subject (birds, bees, etc).  Of the
   latter type, the classic American publication is Baus's "The Master
   Crossword Puzzle Dictionary".  Of the former, the classic British one
   is "Chambers Words", which contains all the words in Chambers English
   Dictionary, listed by word length and then alphabetically.  Or rather,
   it purports to contain all those words.  It has numerous errors, which
   are not corrected in subsequent additions.  See "What errors are known
   in Chambers Words?".  On the other hand, the errors still represent a
   tiny percentage of the whole, and Chambers also publishes "Back Words"
   (words listed in reverse alphabetical order) and "Anagrams" (words
   indexed by their letters collected into alphabetical order, so "anagram"
   is under "aaagmnr").  The New York Times also publish an adequate
   word-lists book.  See question 6.

5/ What technical papers are there about crosswords?

   Does anyone know any other E-Mail addresses of the authors detailed
   here? It would make correspondence with them much easier.

   %T A Prototype Crossword Compiler
   %A P.D. Smith and S.Y. Steen
   %J The Computer Journal
   %V 24/2, pp 107-111
   %Y 1981

   %T XENO: Computer-Assisted Compilation of Crossword Puzzles
   %A P.D. Smith
   %J The Computer Journal
   %V 26/4, pp 296-302
   %Y 1983

   %T The Generation of Cryptic Crossword Clues
   %A G.W. Smith, J.B.H. Du Boulay
   %J The Computer Journal
   %V 29/3, pp 282-283
   %Y 1986

   %T Crossword Compilation with Horn Clauses
   %A H. Berghel
   %J The Computer Journal
   %V 30/2, pp 183-188
   %Y 1987

   %T Crossword Compilation Using Integer Programming
   %A J.M. Wilson
   %J The Computer Journal
   %V 32/3, pp 273-275
   %Y 1989

   %T Crossword Compiler-Compilation
   %A H. Berghel, C. Yi
   %J The Computer Journal
   %V 32/3, pp 276-280
   %Y 1989

   %T A Proposed Standard for Measuring Crossword Compilation Efficiency
   %A H. Brerghel, R. Rankin ([e-mail])
   %J The Computer Journal
   %V 33/2 pp 181-184
   %Y 1990

   %T Computer Assisted Analysis of Cryptic Crosswords
   %A P.W. Williams, D. Woodhead
   %J The Computer Journal
   %V 22/? pp 67
   %Y 1979

   %T Crossword Compiling Puzzles the Programmer
   %A J. Cox
   %J Computer Weekly
   %V pp 17
   %Y 30 August 1979

   %T A Program for the Construction of Crossword Puzzles
   %A O. Feger
   %J Angewandte Informatik
   %V 17/5 pp 189-195
   %Y 1975

   %T An Investigation of Computer Generated Crossword Puzzles
   %A L.J. Mazlack
   %J P.hD. Dissertation Washington University St. Louis
   %V
   %Y 1972

   %T The Use of Applied Probability in the Computer Construction of Crossword
   Puzzles
   %A L.J. Mazlack
   %J IEEE Conf. on Decision and Control San Diego CA. 5-7 December.
   %V pp 497-506
   %Y 1973

   %T Data Structures Required for Crossword Puzzle Construction
   %A L.J Mazleck
   %J 36th Annual meeting of the American Society for Information Science L.A
   21-25 Oct 1973
   %V pp 141-142
   %Y 1974

   %T Computer Construction of Crossword Puzzles using Precedence Relationships
   %A L.J. Mazlack
   %J Artificial Intelligence
   %V 7/1 pp 1-19
   %Y 1976

   %T Machine Selection of Elements in Crossword Puzzles
   %A L.J. Mazlack
   %J SIAM Journal of Computing
   %V 5/1, pp 51-72
   %Y March 1976

   %T Automation of Crossword Puzzle Solutions
   %A G. Harris, J. Spring
   %J Division Of CAD, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia
   %V Manuscript?
   %Y 1979

   %T Redundancy Exploitation in the Computer Construction of Double-crostic
   %A E.S. Spiegelthal
   %J Proceedings of the EJCC.
   %V pp 39-56
   %Y 1960

   %T A Program to Solve Crossword Puzzles
   %A H.A. Bauer
   %J Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
   %V
   %Y 1973

   %T Crossword Compilation Puzzles the Programmer
   %A J. Cox
   %J Computer Weekly
   %V 30 August, pp 17
   %Y 1979

   %T Automatic Crossword Compilation and Solution
   %A E.J. Jushvol
   %J B.Sc Thesis. Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland.
   %V
   %Y 1984

   %T Microprocessor Compilation and Solution of Crosswords
   %A R.H. Davis, E.J. Jushwol
   %J Microproc. Microsystems
   %V 9/10 pp 500-506
   %Y 1985

   %T PICCUP: a Program for the Interpretation of Cryptic Crossword Clues
   %A M. Hart
   %J M.Sc Thesis Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland.
   %V
   %Y 1991

   %T Cryptic Crossword Clue Interpreter
   %A M. Hart, R.H. Davis
   %J Information and Software Technology
   %V 34/1 pp 16-27
   %Y January 1992

   %T The world's fastest Scrabble program
   %A A.W. Appel, G.J. Jacobson ([e-mail],[e-mail])
   %J Communications of the ACM
   %V 31/5 pp 572
   %Y May 1988

   %T Search  Lessons Learned from Crossword Puzzles
   %A Matt L. Ginsberg et al
   %J Proceedings of AAAI 90
   %V ?
   %Y 1990?

   In the publication "Word Ways" many crossword related technical papers
   have been published.  Anyone with a list please?

6/ What books are there for (solving) crosswords?

   %T Chambers Crossword Manual (Second Edition)
   %A Don Manley
   %P Chambers
   %Y 1992
   %N 0-550-19034-1

   I have to plug Manley's book as the best introductory book about solving
   non definition based crosswords I've read.  It goes through all the major
   clue types and there's even a section about setting your own crosswords.

   %T Observer AZED Crosswords
   %A Jonathan Crowther
   %P Chambers
   %Y 1991
   %N 0-550-19032-5

   %T The AZED Book of Crosswords
   %A Jonathan Crowther
   %P Pan
   %Y 1977
   %N 0-330-25227-5

   %T The ABC of Crosswords (Originally: Teach Yourself Crosswords)
   %A Alec Robins (The Guardian's 'Custos'/Observer's 'Everyman')
   %P Corgi
   %Y 1981
   %N 0-552-11843-5

   %T The Modern Crossword Dictionary
   %A Norman G. Pulsford
   %P Pan
   %Y 1967
   %N 0-330-63128-4

   %T Chambers Words
   %P Chambers
   %Y 1985
   %N 0-550-19010-4

   %T Chambers Backwords for Crosswords
   %P Chambers
   %Y 1986
   %N 0-550-19012-0

   %T Chambers Anagrams
   %P Chambers
   %Y 1985
   %N 0-550-19011-2

   %T The Strange World of the Crossword
   %A Roger Millington
   %P Book Club Associates
   %Y 1975
   %N

   %T The Crossword Phrase Dictionary
   %A R.J. Edwards
   %P Stanley-Paul
   %Y 1981
   %N 0-09-143340-1

   %T The Newnes Crossword Dictionary
   %A J.M. Bailie
   %P Newnes Books
   %Y 1984
   %N 0-600-31923-7

   %T Ximenes on the Art of the Crossword
   %A D.S. Macnutt
   %P Methuen
   %Y 1966
   %N

   %T The Ninth Book of Sunday Times Crosswords (Solver's Guide)
   %A Elizabeth and Derek Jewell
   %P Penguin
   %Y 1989
   %N

   %T The ANAGRAM Dictionary
   %A Michael Curl
   %P Robert Hale
   %Y 1982
   %N 0-7091-9674-1

   %T Best of AZED Crosswords /* Selected from Azed 1-200 */
   %A Jonathan Crowther
   %P Chambers in association with the Observer
   %Y 1989
   %N 0-550-19030-9

   %T The (Almost) Impossible Crossword Book
   %A Gyles Brandreth
   %P Sphere
   %Y 1984
   %N 0-7221-1864-3

   %T The Complete Guide to Cryptic Crosswords
   %A J A Coleman
   %P Collins
   %Y 1989
   %N 0-00-434570-3

   %T Longman Crossword Solver's Dictionary
   %A Anne Bradford
   %P Longman
   %Y 1986
   %N 0-582-89301-1

   %T The Book of Lewis Carroll Crosswords
   %A Edited by Alfreda Blanchard
   %P Lewis Carroll Society
   %Y 1992
   %N

   %T Cryptic Crossword Solver
   %A Jennifer Chandler
   %P Allen and Unwin Sydney
   %Y 1991
   %N 1-86373-043-5

   %T Cryptic Crosswords and How To Solve Them
   %A Michael Kindred and Derrick Knight
   %P Chambers
   %Y 1993
   %N 0-550-19036-8

   %T How to Solve A Crossword
   %A Colin Parsons
   %P Coronet Paperback
   %Y 1988
   %N 0-340-43079-6

   %T Crossword Dictionary
   %A Dawn Garrick
   %P Ace/Stoneshire Books
   %Y 1984
   %N

   %T Crossword Puzzle Dictionary
   %A Tophi Books
   %P
   %Y
   %N 0-86288-170-6

   %T Crosswords: How to solve them
   %A Ruth Crisp
   %P Hodder & Stoughton
   %Y 1992
   %N 0-340-57398-8

   I am certain there are a lot more books out there, especially from our
   American cousins.  Please, if you have more information on books, let me
   know?  The incentive is that I will include your name at the bottom of
   the FAQ.  Lasting fame, eh :-).

7/ What software is available for crosswords?

   Most crossword related software is available via shareware with the
   usual rules and regulations applying.  Quite a few of the developers of
   crossword based software are in the conference so if you have any
   questions you will probably get the answer either in the conference or
   by mailing them personally.

   The products are:

   1. Crossword Creator

   Name:        Crossword Creator
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:        Brad Kaenel
   Address:        PC help-line, 35250 Silver leaf Circle, Yacaipa, CA
            92399. USA.
   E-Mail address:  [e-mail]
   FTP site:
   File name:
   Cost:        $49

   2. The Electronic Alveary

   Name:        The Electronic Alveary
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:        Ross Beresford
   Address:
   E-Mail address:  [e-mail]
   FTP site:        SIMTEL
   File name:        PD1:<MSDOS.TXTUTL>TEABD100.ZIP,TEADLING.ZIP,TEADWEB.ZIP
   Cost:        Freeware

   3. Crossword Creator II (TM)

   Name:        Crossword Creator II (TM)
   Platform:        Atari ST/STe/TT, DOS
   Developer:        John Hutchinson
   Address:        Fair Dinkum Technologies, P.O. Box 2, Los Alamos, NM
            87544. USA.
   E-Mail address:  [e-mail]
   FTP site:
   File name:
   Cost:        $34.95

   4. Wordlok

   Name:        Wordlok
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:
   Address:        Virtual Solutions, 4925 University Dr. Suite 176-211,
            Dept. 6, Huntsville, AL 35816. USA.
   E-Mail address:
   FTP site:        SIMTEL
   File name:        PD1:<MSDOS.EDUCATION>WRDLK11B.ZIP
   Cost:        $15

   5. Enigmax

   Name:        Enigmax
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:        Sam Bellotto
   Address:        133 Akron St., Rochester, NY 14609-7618. USA.
   E-Mail address:
   FTP site:
   File name:
   Cost:        shareware

   6. Logos

   Name:        Logos
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:        Jeremy W. Riley
   Address:        7 Norword Way, Rochdale, Lancs OL11 5QS, England.
   E-Mail address:
   FTP site:        oak.oakland.edu
   File name:        /pub/msdos/txtutl/logos.zip
   Cost:        ú10

   7. Cross Word Finder

   Name:        Crossword Word Finder
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:        Benjamin White
   Address:        1923 Marietta Drive, Lexington, KY 40505-2371. USA.
   E-Mail address:  [e-mail]?
   FTP site:
   File name:
   Cost:        $25

   8. Criscros

   Name:        Criscros
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:        Jerry Collins
   Address:        Box 110, 875A Island Drive, Alameda, CA 94501. USA.
   E-Mail address:  Mail Brad Kaenel ([e-mail])
   FTP site:
   File name:
   Cost:        $95

   9. Counterpoint Crossword Generator

   Name:        Counterpoint Crossword Generator
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:        Nicholas Petreley
   Address:        Counterpoint, ATTN: Nicholas Petreley, 8 Makefield
            Circle N. Allentown, NJ 08501. USA.
   E-Mail address:
   FTP site:        msdos.archive.umich.edu
   File name:        /msdos/games/crssword.arc
   Cost:        Donationware

   10. Crossword Construction Kit

   Name:        Crossword Construction Kit
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:        Kijin Jung
   Address:        32633 Surrey Lane, Avon Lake, OH 44012. USA.
   E-Mail address:  [e-mail]
   FTP site:        garbo.uwasa.fi
   File name:        /pc/passtime
   Cost:        Shareware

   11. AX303

   Name:        AX303 (AXTOOLS)
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:        Doug Butler
   Address:        Doug Butler PO Box 303 Oaklands Pk 5046 Australia
   E-Mail address:  [e-mail]
   FTP Site:        garbo.uwasa.fi
   File Name:        /pc/pastimes/axword
   Cost:        Shareware

   12. Crossword Generator

   Name:        Crossword Generator (I think)
   Platform:        MAC
   Developer:
   Address:
   E-Mail Address:
   FTP Site:        wuarchive.wustl.edu
   File Name:        /mirrors2/info-mac/Old/game/crossword-generator.hqx
   Cost:

   13. Crossword Modus

   Name:        Crossword Modus
   Platform:        DOS
   Developer:        Eric Deeson
   Address:        20 Vaughan Avenue, London NW4 4HU. England.
   E-Mail Address:
   FTP Site:
   File Name:
   Cost:        ú37.45

   14.

   Name:        CrossMaster
   Platform:        MAC?
   Developer:        ?
   Address:        Focus Development, 903 SW 43rd Street #202, Fargo, ND 58103.
   E-Mail Address:  ?
   FTP Site:        sumex-aim.stanford.edu
   File Name:        /info-mac/game/com directory/cross-master-112-demo.hqx
   Cost:        ?

   15.

   Name:        WordCross
   Platform:        ?
   Developer:        ?
   Address:        Hi Tech.
   E-Mail Address:  ?
   FTP Site:        ?
   File Name:        ?
   Cost:        ?

   16.

   Name:        CrossPro(tm)
   Platform:        MAC
   Developer:        Mike Phelps
   Address:        8740 E. Yale Ave, Unit C, Denver, CO  80231
   E-Mail Address:  [e-mail]
   FTP Site:        Soon!
   File Name:        Soon!
   Cost:        $38, incl 250 magazine-quality puzzles

   17.

   Name:        Crossword Magic
   Platform:        ?
   Developer:        ?
   Address:        Mindscape.
   E-Mail Address:  ?
   FTP Site:        ?
   File Name:        ?
   Cost:        ?

   18.

   Name:            The Crosstik Program
   Description:     Tool to help you solve acrostic puzzles.
   Platform:        anything with DOS or a DOS emulator
   Developer:       Peter Kurrasch
   Address:         2004 Glenwood, Royal Oak, MI  48073-3032
   E-Mail address:  [e-mail] (until 05/94)
   FTP site:        wuarchive.wustl.edu
   File name:       /pub/msdos_uploads/games/cross2.zip
   Cost:            Free ($15.00 to register)

   There are some other packages which deal specifically with solving
   prepackaged puzzles.  A few games companies have released products in
   this bracket in the past while.  They include:

   1. Take-A-Break Crosswords from Sierra Games.
   2. Puzzle Master from Centron Software Technologies.
   3. The New York Times Crossword Puzzles from Swfte International Ltd.

   Some software which, while not a product in its own right, could be
   helpful to people developing and printing crosswords was advertised by
   MT Raghunath ([e-mail]) a while back in the conference.  His
   program translates an input file into a LaTeX file containing the
   crossword.  This LaTeX file can then be translated into postscript for
   printing.

8/ Are there any on-line dictionaries around?

   There are quite a few locations where complete dictionaries are to be
   found on the Internet and thanks must go to Ross Beresford for the
   following list.  The list could be much greater in size but at the cost
   of vast duplication:

    File name(s)   : web2.Z
    File size(s)   : 1038775
    Site(s)        : many (use archie to find a local one)
    Origin         : Websters 2nd Edition words (cf web2a.Z)
    Entries        : 234932
    Inflected Forms: no
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : yes
    Comments       :

    File name(s)   : web2a.Z
    File size(s)   : 434291
    Site(s)        : many (use archie to find a local one)
    Origin         : Websters 2nd Edition phrases (cf web2.Z)
    Entries        : 76205
    Inflected Forms: no
    Phrases        : yes
    Mixed case     : yes
    Comments       :

    File name(s)   : OSPD.shar.Z
    File size(s)   : 472885
    Site(s)        : wayback.cs.cornell.edu,ramses.cs.cornell.edu
    Origin         : U.S. Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary
    Entries        : 113901
    Inflected Forms: yes
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : no
    Comments       :

    File name(s)   : mrc2.dct
    File size(s)   : 11179399
    Site(s)        : black.ox.ac.uk
    Origin         : Shorter Oxford English Dictionary
    Entries        : 119888
    Inflected Forms: yes
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : yes
    Comments       : Maintained by the Oxford Text Archive.

    File name(s)   : PD1:<MSDOS.LINGUISTICS>WORDS[1234].ZIP
    File size(s)   : 95306,74597,99024,84500
    Site(s)        : SIMTEL and mirrors
    Origin         : Uncertain (see read.me file)
    Entries        : 109582
    Inflected Forms: yes
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : no
    Comments       : This list has also been seen split into zip
             files as evanwrd[1234].zip

    File name(s)   : words.english.Z
    File size(s)   : 288385
    Site(s)        : sparta.nmsu.edu,haywire.nmsu.edu
    Origin         : Unknown
    Entries        : 69964
    Inflected Forms: yes
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : yes
    Comments       :

    File name(s)   : Unabr.dict.Z
    File size(s)   : 951951
    Site(s)        : arthur.cs.purdue.edu,ftp.denet.dk
    Origin         : Unknown
    Entries        : 213557
    Inflected Forms: no
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : no
    Comments       :

    File name(s)   : unabrd.dic.Z
    File size(s)   : 1041512
    Site(s)        : src.doc.ic.ac.uk, world.std.com
    Origin         : Unknown
    Entries        : 235544
    Inflected Forms: no
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : yes
    Comments       :

    File name(s)   : pocket.dic.Z
    File size(s)   : 85821
    Site(s)        : ftp.uu.net
    Origin         : Unknown
    Entries        : 21111
    Inflected Forms: no
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : no
    Comments       :

    File name(s)   : w130794.Z
    File size(s)   : 522533
    Site(s)        : ftp.uu.net
    Origin         : Unknown
    Entries        : 130794
    Inflected Forms: yes
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : no
    Comments       :

    File name(s)   : ispell-3.0.09.tar.z
    File size(s)   : 467745
    Site(s)        : prep.ai.mit.edu
    Origin         : Uncertain (see README files)
    Entries        : ca. 50000
    Inflected Forms: yes
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : yes
    Comments       : This is the GNU ispell package which could undergo
                         quite frequent releases. Hence the file name and
                         size could change.

    File name(s)   : roget13a.zip
    File size(s)   : 643011
    Site(s)        : mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu
    Origin         : Roget's Thesaurus, 1911
    Entries        :
    Inflected Forms: yes
    Phrases        : yes
    Mixed case     : yes
    Comments       : Since this edition is out of copyright, it appears
                         in several different forms on the net. The one
                         above is maintained by Project Gutenberg.

    File name(s)   : dictionaries.tar.Z
    File size(s)   : 485521
    Site(s)        : ftp.uu.net
    Origin         : Unknown
    Entries        : 53091
    Inflected Forms: no
    Phrases        : no
    Mixed case     : yes
    Comments       : A collection of specialised word lists, primarily
                         intended for password screening.

9/ Is there any FTP site for crossword related material?

   This is one of the reasons why I am doing the FAQ is to centralise the
   mechanism for obtaining information or software about crosswords on the
   Internet.

   There is, to my knowledge, no FTP site where someone has made a concerted
   effort to collect together crossword based material of any type.

   Anyone offering to help with this task?  Unfortunately, I cannot
   initiate the process as I am restricted by the FTP facilities in
   Digital.

   ===========================================================================
   | PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE is there anyone who can donate some room |
   | on a machine?  It would make the distribution of crossword related      |
   | software much easier.                                                   |
   ===========================================================================

10/ Standard tips for solving a cryptic crossword?

   The explanation below is taken from rec.puzzles and I will endeavour to
   take over the responsibility of maintaining and improving this list from
   the maintainer (Chris Cole) of the rec.puzzles archive.

   This is a brief set of instructions for solving cryptic crossword
   puzzles.  For a more complete introduction, send a self-addressed,
   stamped envelope to The Atlantic Puzzler, 745 Boylston Street, Boston,
   MA 02116, USA.  The below description is taken from this introduction.
   It was written by Henry Rathvon and Emily Cox, who do the puzzles for
   The Atlantic.  It is slanted towards the American type cryptic.

   The characteristic common to all cryptic crossword puzzles is the format
   of the clues.  Each clue is a miniature word puzzle consisting of a
   straight definition of the answer and a cryptic definition of the
   answer.  For example,

    Axle is poorly splined (7)

   yields SPINDLE.  Axle is the straight definition.  The cryptic
   definition (poorly splined) indicates an anagram of "splined".  The
   number in parentheses is the number of letters in the answer.
   Punctuation and capitalization may be ignored in interpreting the clues.

   There are *only* (really?) eight categories of clues, as follows:

   1. Anagram

   An anagram is a word formed by mixing up the letters of another word.
   An anagram clue is indicated by some word that means "mixed up", for
   example, out, crazy, bizarre, insane, etc.  One or more words may
   contribute to the anagram.  For example:

      Tim goes insane from selfishness (7)

      for EGOTISM (anagram of "Tim goes")

   2. Double Definition

   A double definition is simply two definitions of the word.  Most
   two-word clues are double definitions.  For example:

      Release without charge (4)

      for FREE

   3. Container

   A container clue indicates that something is to be put in (or wrapped
   around) something else.  A container is indicated by phrases such as
   eaten by, contains, in, gobbles, etc.  For example:

      In Missouri, consumed by fear (7)

      for AMONGST (MO = Missouri in ANGST = fear)

   4. Hidden Word

   A hidden word is a word embedded in another word or words.  It is
   indicated by phrases such as spot in, hides, at the heart of, covers,
   etc.  For example:

      Worn spot in paper at typo (5)

      for RATTY (find ratty in "paper at typo")

   5. Reversal

   A reversal is a definition of a word with the letters reversed.  It is
   indicated by words such as back, reversed, up (for down clues), leftward
   (for across clues), etc.  For example:

      Egad! Ray entirely reversed the lot of cloth (7)

      for YARDAGE ("Egad! Ray" reversed)

   6. Homophone

   A homophone definition is a definition of a word that sounds the same as
   the answer, but is spelled differently.  A homophone is indicated by
   words such as in audience, I hear, mouthed, verbally, etc.  For example:

      Regrets prank, I hear (4)

      for RUES (the homophone is RUSE = prank)

   7. Charade

   In a charade, the pieces of the word are "spelled" out in order.  There
   are no auxiliary words that indicate a charade.  For example:

      Excite a jerk extremist (7)

      for FANATIC (FAN = excite, A, TIC = jerk)

   8. Deletion

   A deletion is a clue where you are instructed to remove a part of some
   word to make another word.  For example,

      Times with poor wages (4)

      for AGES (with-poor WAGES, where with is abbreviated by W)

   Often the clue types are combined.  Some common examples are 1) hidden
   word reversals where the answer is found backwards embedded in other
   words, and 2) containers or charades where the parts are anagrams.  For
   example:

      Car shops have broken gear immersed in gasoline. (7)

      for GARAGES (RAGE = gear anagram in GAS = gasoline)

   All manner of common abbreviations, acronyms, and other symbology such
   as roman numerals are allowed.  For example:

      c     one hundred, cup, or centigrade
      vi six
      h     hot
      s     small
      ca california

   Two punctuation marks at the end of the clue have been reserved for
   special meaning.  A question mark (?) indicates that the straight clue
   is not entirely straight (usually a pun).  For example:

      I tie down mascara holder soundly? (7)

      for EYELASH (homophone of "I lash", mascara holder is a punning
      definition of EYELASH)

   An exclamation point (!) indicates that some part (usually all) of the
   clue overlaps.  For example, the straight definition may also be the
   anagram indicator.  Here is an example that entirely overlaps:

      A moped also has these! (6)

      for PEDALS (hidden word)

   Here, the entire clue indicates the hidden word, but the entire clue is
   also a straight definition of the answer.

   After all that explanations an example is needed.  This crossword was
   compiled by Roy Treadle ([e-mail]).  It originally
   appeared in the rec.puzzles archive?

   Each clue has two solutions, one for each diagram; one of the answers
   to 1ac. determines which solutions are for which diagram.

   All solutions are in Chamber's and Webster's Third except for one solution
   of each of 1dn, 3dn and 4dn, which can be found in Webster's 2nd. edition.

     #######################################################################
     #1   |2   |    |    |3   |4   |5   #1   |2   |    |    |3   |4   |5   #
     #    |    |    |    |    |    |    #    |    |    |    |    |    |    #
     #----+----###########----#----#----#----+----###########----#----#----#
     #6   |    |7   |    |    #    #    #6   |    |7   |    |    #    #    #
     #    |    |    |    |    #    #    #    |    |    |    |    #    #    #
     #----#----#----######----#----#----#----#----#----######----#----#----#
     #    #    #    #8   |    |    |    #    #    #    #8   |    |    |    #
     #    #    #    #    |    |    |    #    #    #    #    |    |    |    #
     #----#----#----######----#----#----#----#----#----######----#----#----#
     #9   |    |    |    #    #    #    #9   |    |    |    #    #    #    #
     #    |    |    |    #    #    #    #    |    |    |    #    #    #    #
     #----#----#----######----#----#----#----#----#----######----#----#----#
     #    #    #10  |    |    |    |    #    #    #10  |    |    |    |    #
     #    #    #    |    |    |    |    #    #    #    |    |    |    |    #
     #----#----#----###########----+----#----#----#----###########----+----#
     #11  |    |    |    |    |    |    #11  |    |    |    |    |    |    #
     #    |    |    |    |    |    |    #    |    |    |    |    |    |    #
     #######################################################################

   Ac.
   1.  What can have distinctive looking heads spaced about more prominently
       right. (7)
   6.  Vermin that can overrun fish and t'English tor perhaps. (5)
   8.  Old testament reversal - Adam's conclusion, start of sin.
       Felines initially with everything there. (4)
   9.  Black initiated cut, oozed out naturally. (4)
   10. For instance, 11 with spleen dropping I count? (5)
   11. Provoked explosion of grenade. (7)

   Dn.
   1.  Some of club taking part in theatrical function, for the equivalent
       of a fraction of a pound. (6)
   2.  Close-in light meter in one formation originally treated as limestone. (6)
   3.  Xingu River hombres having symmetrical shape. (5)
   4.  About sex-appeal measure - what waitresses should be? (6)
   5.  Turned stale - died - was preserved. (6)
   7.  IRA to harm ruling Englishman; extremes could be belonging to group. (5)


   Answers:
             +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
             |r e d c a p s|d e x t r a l|
             + + +-+-+ + + + + +-+-+ + + +
             |o t t e r|o|a|r o a c h|s|a|
             + + + +-+ + + + + + +-+ + + +
             |u|a|h|f a l l|a|z|m|t o m s|
             + + + +-+ + + + + + +-+ + + +
             |b l e d|r|i|t|c o o n|m|i|t|
             + + + +-+ + + + + + +-+ + + +
             |l|o|i r a t e|m|o|n o b l e|
             + + + +-+-+ + + + + +-+-+ + +
             |e n r a g e d|a n g e r e d|
             +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

   Notes.
   Left grid: Ac. 1. R + spaced (anag). 6. T'E tor (anag). 8. F-all. 9. B-led.
   10. I-rate. Dn. 1. Ro-ub-le. 2. T.A.L. in one (anag). 4. it in pole.
   5. anag of D+stale. 7. anag of initial letters.
   Right grid: Ac. 1. D-extra-L. 6. 3 mngs. 8. OT (rev) + m-s.
   9. initial letters. 10. No.-b(i)le. Dn. Dra-c-ma. 2. Zoo(m) in one (anag).
   3. hidden. 4. SA (rev) + mile. 5. anag of D+stale. 7. anag of final letters.

   How I built it: it was hard!

   Basically, I started with a couple of word pairs which were easy to clue
   (e.g. enraged/angered - same meaning and anagrams of each other) and
   built a grid around them, trying to ensure corresponding words had
   something in common, either in meaning (their, among) or structure,
   (EtalON, EOzooN) and making sure that there was at least one word which
   could be used to distinguish the two grids (dextral).

   The clues were built in one of two ways:

   either the words had a common definition, and so a subsidiary indication
   which could refer to either was needed; or it was necessary to define
   each word in such a way that it was a subsidiary definition for all or
   part of the corresponding word, and deal with any remaining parts as
   before. I think the single hardest part was finding a definition of
   "interferometer" which could also be interpreted as "zoo" or "ozo".

11/ Misc. questions of interest.

   Q: What is "The Grauniad" ?

   It's a joke name for British newspaper "The Guardian" which is legendary
   for its numerous typos.  For example, in a 1992 crossword in the weekly
   version of the paper, the last clue was omitted!

   Q: Is Bill Clinton a crossword fan?

   Yes.

   Q: I'm British: what are "British style" crosswords?  "American style"?

   "British style" is a common American name for cryptic crosswords.

   "American style" is the type of crossword that appears in all the daily
   newspapers there.  They are not cryptic, so are like British "concise"
   or "quick" crosswords.  The main difference is that every square is
   checked: i.e. every square is in two clues, and there are many fewer
   black squares than in a British concise.  Often this means that obscure
   words, names of famous people, initials etc. appear as answers.

   Q: What is the difference between British and American cryptic clues?

   Of course, British and American clues will use different spellings.  One
   might use "hue" to clue "colour" and the other to clue "color".  There
   are less obvious differences though, because there is no absolute rule
   about the fairness of a crossword clue.  Americans tend to insist that
   each word in the clue contribute to the definition or wordplay, while
   British people may be less strict.  For example, the following clue
   once caused a few disagreements in this newsgroup:

   "Could this replace a super tom?"

   The answer (spelt backwards) is PARTESUOM.  It's an anagram and the
   whole clue is the definition: this type of clue is known as an "&lit"
   clue.  Some Americans complained that the words "Could this" were
   superfluous as they didn't enter into the wordplay, while some British
   people thought they added to the clue in an indefinable way.  Another
   example is that Americans don't like clues with only a single definition
   and no subsidiary indication.  For example, a Times (of London) clue:

   "Kosher diet?"

   The answer (backwards) is TESSENK.  Although difficult to define, this
   is acceptable because it's misleading and, once you've got the answer,
   you can be sure you have it right.

   It's impossible to define exactly what is acceptable, either to
   Americans or to British people.  You just have to learn from experience.

   Q: What errors are known in Chambers Words?

   Chambers Words is a tremendously useful publication, but assorted people
   have found many errors in it.  The following errors are due to Ian Gent,
   Hubert Gent, Roger Phillips, and Judith Underwood.

   Words in Chambers Dictionary but not in Words:

   aband, abelia, aemule, aflaj, aidos, alaap, alap, alapa, alcazar,
   alferez, alforja, alkene, alkyne, alopecoid, an-heires, andvile, antick,
   anticke, ashet, astun, atchieve, avant-propos, bandeirante, berob,
   bibite, bro, brust, camaron, cilia, clamor, Datel, Datin, Datuk, Dayak,
   demarche, diner-out, diseur, dojo, douane, Dyak, edite, emplonge, emule,
   ennuying, epuise, estro, etatiste, etrenne, eudiometer, Exocet, falaj,
   franticly, geare, gerle, glom, good-sense, graduateship, graphicly,
   griped, grypt, hadal, holesom, holesome, hombre, honey-seed, hony-seed,
   illite, iroko, jamahiriya, jamahiriyah, karsey, karsy, karzy, kazatzka,
   kazi, Kru-boy, Kru-man, ksar, latrant, lavatera, leaperous, leaporous,
   leaprous, limail, macro, matinee, missa, mnemonic, mose, Navaho, Navajo,
   nomen, nomina, nork, noyes, ocotillo, one-time, oneyer, oneyre, oppo,
   ossa, oughly, ouglie, pierst, plast, plaste, pousse, preif, pursew,
   rallye, red-wing, redwing, relie, requight, rewarewa, rurp, shalom,
   simi, sowsse, spavin, spudding, spyre, stater, sted, stedd, steddy,
   stede, stedfast, steedy, Syncom, tagmeme, talak, talaq, talek, tarp,
   thread-lace, todde, tranchet, unhip, vahine, vicegerent, vigoro, whidah,
   whydah

   Words spelt incorrectly in Words:

   Anglophabiac for anglophobiac
   artillary for artillery
   bibliogical for bibliological
   bumalc for bumalo
   cacodaemom for cacodaemon
   cullysim for cullyism
   daiquari for daiquiri
   double-mined for double-minded
   glassfulls for glassfuls
   inseperableness for inseparableness
   jodphurs for jodhpurs
   Nothofagust for Nothofagus
   nephratic for nephrotic
   olephilic for oleophilic
   outerware for outerwear
   Owlspiegel for Owlspiegle
   ouabian for ouabain
   pachydacious for pachydactylous
   priep for prief
   pugilistial for pugilistical
   reconsituent for reconstituent
   retensionist for retentionist
   sabre-battling for sabre-rattling
   smarago for smaragd
   stenpoaeic for stenopaeic
   synonimical for synonymical
   syzgial for syzygial
   tasseiling for tasselling
   totemastic for totemistic
   transferribilty for transferribility
   trisulphine for trisulphide
   turbidimiter for turbidimeter
   unforgiveable for unforgivable

   Q: What new words are there in Chambers latest edition?

   Ross Beresford and Roger Philips have collected over 1100 such words and
   the list can be obtained on request from Ross Beresford
   ([e-mail]).

   Q: Who sets the crossword in your daily newspaper?

   The Times uses a number of crossword setters but they are not named.
   There is a crossword editor at the Times, but that person is not well
   known (though you get through if you write to him/her).  The Guardian
   and Independent use pseudonymous setters.  The Listener uses a huge
   variety of setters.  Probably the people behind them are  less
   interesting than the source (e.g. Times, Guardian etc).  There are one
   or two exceptions, like the crossword in the Observer which I think is
   always the same person.  The setter for the Irish Times cryptic
   crossword is probably an exception in that he recently celebrated his
   golden anniversary of setting crosswords for the paper.

   Q: What is ROT13 ?

   This is a very simple encryption: each letter is mapped to the letter 13
   away from it in the alphabet.  You can decode it easily by hand.  In this
   newsgroup it is usually used only to disguise clue answers or other
   small items that some people may not want to see.

   Q. What is an &lit clue?

   From Felix Lee ([e-mail]):

   &lit stands for "and literally".  In non-cryptic crosswords, &lit is
   usually attached to clues that are meant to be read two ways: as a
   definition, and as a form of wordplay (eg, literally).

   In cryptic crosswords, &lit is a term applied to clues where both the
   definition and the cryptic parts are the whole clue itself, and not
   separate parts of the clue.  These clues are usually signalled by a ? or
   a ! at the end.

    Milk: it tenderly laps it! (6)

   is a clue for KITTEN.  This is a perfect &lit, since every word is
   essential to both the definition and the cryptic.

   Perfect &lits are hard to create.  Partial &lits seem to turn up more
   often:

    You'll see nude imp moan horribly here! (11)

   is a clue for PANDEMONIUM.  The whole clue is the definition, but only
   "nude imp moan horribly" is pertinent to the cryptic.

    Straighten girth! (5)

   is a clue for RIGHT.  The whole clue is the cryptic, but only
   "straighten" is pertinent to the definition.

   From Roger Philips ([e-mail]):

   A "conventional" cryptic clue may be split into two (or more) distinct
   parts, at least one of which is a straight definition of the answer.

   For example, in: A person selling things cheaply arranged reductions
   (10)

   the two parts are a definition of DISCOUNTER: A person selling things
   cheaply, and an indication that the answer is an anagram of REDUCTIONS:
   arranged reductions

   The only difference in an &lit clue is that the two parts are overlaid.

   For example, in: I arrange reductions (10)

   the definition is the whole clue (the answer is someone who makes
   reductions happen), and the cryptic indication is also the whole clue
   (the required word is a rearrangement of REDUCTIONS).

   The mistake most often made is for part of the clue to contribute to
   only one of the readings. To be an &lit clue, the *whole* clue must be
   susceptible to two interpretations.

12/ What crossword related associations or publications are there?

   Thanks to Chris Long for this description!

   Organizations:

     American Cryptogram Association
      Publication:
        The Cryptogram
          Bimonthly
      Dues:
        See below
      Treasurer:
        ACA Treasurer
        18789 West Hickory St.
        Mundelein, IL 60060
      Comments:
        Devoted to cryptography.  Every issue of the journal contains
        several thoughtful articles and a large number of puzzles, including
        aristocrats, patristocrats, xenocrypts, cipher exchanges and
        cryptarithms.  Members have the option of picking a "nom" (nom de
        plume), e.g. the president is Gizmo.  As it is a specialized
        organization, you should request a sample issue first (I don't
        know the procedure for this, but $1 and a SASE should do it).

     The National Puzzlers' League
      Publication:
        The Enigma
          Monthly
      Dues:
        See below
      Editor:
        Judith E. Bagai
        Box 82289
        Portland, OR 97282
      Comments:
        Simply the best organization devoted to word puzzles.  The "Enigma"
        contains over 80 word puzzles per issue, ranging in difficulty from
        easy to extremely difficult and in type from the familiar anagrams
        and riddles to such obscure forms as spoonergrams and acrostical
        enigmas.  Each issue also includes a member-written cryptic.  Members
        get to pick a "nom" (nom de plume), e.g. I'm Cubist and Chris Cole
        is Canon.  The NPL is a somewhat specialized organization, so you
        should send a SASE with a request for a mini-sample to the editor
        to see if it's for you.

   Publications:

     Algorithm
      Quarterly
        $19.95 per year US, $24.95 Canada, $23.95 elsewhere (all prices US)
      Subscriptions:
        Louis Magguilli
        Algorithm
        P.O. Box 29237
        Westmount Postal Outlet
        785 Wonderland Road S.
        London, Ontario N6K 1M6
        Canada
      Comments:
        A. K. Dewdney's magazine devoted to recreational computing.

     Games
      Bimonthly
        $17.97 per year US, $22.97 Canada, $27.97 elsewhere (all prices US)
      Subscriptions:
        Games
        P.O. Box 605
        Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0605
        1-(800)-827-1256
      Comments:
        The best-known puzzle and game publication.  A wide variety of puzzles
        and articles in every issue.

     Graffiti on the Sphinx
      Monthly
        $1.50 per issue
      Subscriptions:
        Philip M. Cohen
        50 DeKalb Avenue #S6
        White Plains, NY 10605
      Comments:
        Members of the NPL use GotS for discussions on all types of topics
        such as comments on puzzles that have appeared in "The Enigma" to
        reviews of publications that may be of interest.  Put out by Philip
        Cohen, who is Treesong in the NPL.

     The Journal of Recreational Mathematics
      Quarterly
        $23.45 per year for US and Canada, $28.30 elsewhere
      Subscriptions:
        Baywood Publishing Company, Inc.
        26 Austin Avenue
        P.O. Box 337
        Amityville, NY 11701
      Comments:
        A must for anyone interested in recreational mathematics.

     PuzzleSIGns
      Quarterly
        $7 per year for Mensa members, $8 non-members, $10 foreign
      Subscriptions:
        Chuck Murphy
        Puzzle SIGns Coordinator
        11430 East Palomino Road
        Scottsdale, AZ 85259
      Comments:
        Publication of the Mensa "Puzzle" SIG.  This fledgling newsletter
        contains a variety of puzzles in every issue.  Sample issue $1.

     REC (Recreational & Educational Computing)
      8 issues per year
        $27 per year US, $28 Canada, $36 elsewhere
      Subscriptions:
        Michael Ecker
        909 Violet Terrace
        Clarks Summit, PA 18411
      Comments:
        Devoted to recreational computing.

     Word Fun
      Bimonthly
        $5 per year US and Canada, $10 elsewhere
      Subscriptions:
        Jill Conway
        Rte. 6
        3001 Johnson Lane
        Columbia, MO 65202
      Comments:
        Publication of the Mensa "Fun with Word" SIG, but anyone may
        subscribe.  A variety of wordplay and puzzles; fantastic bargain.
        Sample issue $.50 stamps per coin (no checks) + business-size SASE.

     Word Ways
      Quarterly
        $17 per year
      Subscriptions:
        Faith W. Eckler
        Spring Valley Road
        Morristown, NJ 07960
      Comments:
        An absolutely fantastic journal devoted to recreational linguistics;
        a must for anyone who loves words or word puzzles.

     Tough Cryptics
      Bimonthly
        $19 per year US, $35 elsewhere
      Subscriptions:
        The American Crossword Federation
        P.O. Box 69
        Massapequa Park, NY 11762
      Comments:
        Also publish "Tough Puzzles". "Tough Cryptics" has clue writing
        contests, a cryptic solving contest and a "Cryptic Clinic" which
        will help you write better clues.

   Many thanks goes to the following who helped either wittingly or unwittingly
   in the compilation of this FAQ.

   Ian Gent         ([e-mail])
   Ross Beresford    ([e-mail])
   John Hutchinson   ([e-mail])
   Guy Jacobson         ([e-mail])
   Toby Howard         ([e-mail])
   Danial A. Asimov  ([e-mail])
   Marc Branchaud    ([e-mail])
   Chris Long         ([e-mail])
   Bob Cullen         ([e-mail])
   Gordon Lessells   ([e-mail])
   Tovah Hollander   ([e-mail])
   Kijin Jung        ([e-mail])
   Eric J. Anderson  ([e-mail])
   Judith Underwood  ([e-mail])
   Doug Butler       ([e-mail])
   Roy Treadle         ([e-mail])
   Roger Philips     ([e-mail])
   David M. Tuller   ([e-mail])
   Michael Phelps    ([e-mail])
   Scott Stansbury   ([e-mail])
   John P. Dalbec    ([e-mail])
   Jonathan Kamens   ([e-mail])
   hcsarruK reteP    ([e-mail])

--
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James A. Lundon, Digital Equipment Corporation, Ballybrit, Galway, Ireland.
Disclaimer: There are no numbers in my address -- really!

Internet: [e-mail]    Easynet: XSTACY::JLUNDON
Phone: 353 + 91  754715                  Fax: 353 + 91  754899

"Truth is the only thing that you cannot add to without subtracting from"
                       Esars Comic Dictionary.
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