Cryptic crosswords for dummies
Sidin Vadukut -
Monday, July 27, 2009 6:48 AM
A recent update from the blog of that new-fangled search-computation-engine Wolfram Alpha:
Does today’s crossword have you puzzled? You could continue to fret,
and fight the urge to check the full solution, or you could consult Wolfram|Alpha,
which has the tools you need to solve the sneakiest constructions.
Wolfram|Alpha can find words matching a pattern, words with specific
beginnings and endings, and provide word definitions.
The blog then goes on to illustrate its ability to help stuck cryptic, or any type of, crossword solvers:
The engine lists out anagrams, fills out blanks, generates word options and even creates those 'all words possible from the following letters' lists. And you already know that it can give definitions and such like. Try it. It can be quite good fun even if you don't have a half-filled grid in front of you.
But for hardcore grid afficianados this might still be inadequate. In which case you can always go back to that favourite down the ages: One Across. But I am sure that Wolfram Alpha is already working on a model that lets you type in the crossie clue and then spits out the solution.
What else do you use to de-stuck a grid? Tell us. Right Now.