Editing Cryptic crossword (section)

=== Hidden words ===
In ''hidden words'', ''embedded words'' or ''telescopic'' clues, the solution itself is written within the clue – either as part of a longer word or across more than one word.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=GAMES–World of Puzzles |date=December 2021 |issn=1074-4355 |volume=45 |number=9 |last=Parr |first=Andrew|title=Cryptic Classroom #3: Hidden Words |page=33}}</ref> For example:

:''Found ermine, deer hides damaged (10)''

gives {{sc2|UNDERMINED}}, which means (cryptically at least) "damaged" and appears across "Fo'''und ermine d'''eer" (as indicated by "hides").{{efn|A complication in this clue is that "damaged" often (but not here) indicates an [[#Anagrams|anagram]]. Similarly, "found" provides a misdirection in that it might itself indicate hidden words elsewhere.}}

Possible indicators of a hidden clue include ''in part'', ''partially'', ''in'', ''within'', ''hides'', ''conceals'', ''some'', and ''held by''.

Another example:

:''Introduction to do-gooder canine (3)''

gives {{sc2|DOG}}, which is the first part of, or "introduction to", the word "do-gooder", and means "canine".

The opposite of a hidden word clue, where letters ''missing'' from a sentence have to be found, is known as a [[Printer's Devilry]], and appears in some advanced cryptics.

There are several common variations on hidden word clues:

==== Initial or final letters ====
The first or last letters of part of the clue are put together to give the answer.

An example of an initialism:

:''Initially amiable person eats primate (3)''

The answer would be {{sc2|APE}}, which is a type of "primate". "Initially" signals that you must take the first letters of "amiable person eats".

Another example would be:

:''At first, actor needing new identity emulates orphan in musical theatre (5)''

The answer would be [[Annie (musical)|{{sc2|ANNIE}}]], the name of a famous "orphan in musical theatre". This is obtained from the first letters of "actor needing new identity emulates".

Words that indicate initialisms also include ''firstly'', ''primarily'' and ''to start''.

It is possible to have initialisms just for certain parts of the clue.  It is also possible to employ the same technique to the end of words. For example:

:''Old country lady went round Head Office initially before end of day (7)''

The answer would be {{sc2|DAHOMEY}}, which used to be a kingdom in Africa (an "old country"). Here, we take the first letters of only the words "Head Office" ({{sc2|HO}}) and we take the "end of" the word "day" ({{sc2|Y}}). The letters of the word {{sc2|DAME}}, meaning "lady", are then made to go around the letters {{sc2|HO}} to form {{sc2|DAHOMEY}}.

That the solver should use the last letters may also be indicated by such words as ''ends'', ''tails'', ''last'' etc. For instance:

:''Bird with tips of rich aqua, yellow, black (4)''

Would be {{sc2|HAWK}} (a "bird") based on the letters at the ends of ("tips of") "rich aqua, yellow, black".

==== Odd or even letters ====
Either the odd or even letters of words in the clue give the answer. An example is:

:''Odd stuff of Mr. Waugh is set for someone wanting women to vote (10)''

The answer would be {{sc2|SUFFRAGIST}}, which is "someone wanting women to vote". The word "odd" indicates that we must take only the odd-indexed letters of the rest of the clue ("stuff of Mr. Waugh is set"), i.e. every other letter beginning with the first.