Crossword editor's update
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Did you know that some of Britain's Brightest (Young) Brains tackle the Quick crossword?
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'Temporary' Genius arrangements explained and a lovely tale from Toronto, Canada
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Hugh Stephenson celebrates the things that one learns in solving (and editing) crosswords
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Hugh Stephenson: Last month again saw one of those instances where a word has a general meaning in common usage, as well as its technical one.
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Hugh Stephenson: It is wishful thinking to believe that there is only one 'correct' way to spell a word
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Hugh Stephenson: There seems to be support for the view that, in certain circumstances, a koala can happily be called a koala bear.
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Hugh Stephenson: Experts don't like technical words and phrases being used out of context
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Solvers seem to think that something has changed with the Quick crosswords. Hugh Stephenson wonders why
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When do old conventions in cryptic clues become too dated and how soon can new words be accepted, asks Hugh Stephenson
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Many words have specialised definitions but also have looser meanings used in common parlance (and in crosswords)
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Hugh Stephenson: For over 55 years John Graham's puzzles entertained (and educated and informed) generations of Guardian solvers
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C.P. Snow's Two Cultures continue to cause problems with word meanings in crosswords
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Dictionaries are increasingly giving their seal of approval to the secondary popular meaning of specialised words.
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New words are invented all the time and the meanings of old ones develop. How should crosswords keep up with these changes?
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Further reflections on the adjustments that we are all having to make as a result of American dominance of the new media
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When it comes to crosswords and spelling it is a mistake to think that there is no alternative
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Crossword editors can no longer defend their decisions by invoking Chambers as the ultimate authority on all crossword questions.
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Replies from last month's request for feedback seem to indicate that for most solvers our crosswords are hitting the spot most of the time - which is nice!
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Guardian crossword policy has not changed significantly in the last 20 years. Is it meeting the expectations of its solvers?
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This year marks the centenary of a publishing event in New York that has given all cruciverbalists cause for celebration.
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In English there is often more than one 'correct' way to spell a word, which is grist to the crossword setter's mill.
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Hugh Stephenson recalls the major contribution made to our crosswords by a relatively unknown American
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Hugh Stephenson: Webster and his Dictionary must take responsibility for creating American English, not the Pilgrim Fathers
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Hugh Stephenson: A new book traces how English developed to become the perfect language for the modern cryptic crossword
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Hugh Stephenson: Our crossword editor explores the pitfalls of globalised cuisine for cryptic clue writers
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Hugh Stephenson: Guardian solvers seem to like a mixture of harder and easier puzzles
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Hugh Stephenson: some solvers are finding that the Quicks seem easier than they were
'Dear Araucaria, ... '
John Graham speaks of his life and word as a crossword setter