iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dan Davison

ecclescrosswords.bsky.social @ecclescrosswords.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

While the campaign to save @the-independent.com #crossword continues, worth continuing to point out what a fantastic opportunity this is for @theipaper.com . No better daily cryptic - they know this already, as recycled ones form a key part of their strong puzzle section. @olyduff.bsky.social

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Reposted by Dan Davison

Lette @lettecrosswords.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I feel like Mike Hutchinson is Mikey’s dad in the Goonies, and we’ve got to go and find One Eyed Willy’s treasure to save the Goon Docks from being replaced by an ill-advised and unwanted new development. Sure we might have to fight off the Fratellis, but we’ll meet legends like Sloth along the way

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Reposted by Dan Davison

Liari @liari.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

See Eimi's comment at #152. fifteensquared.net/2026/09/21/i...

fifteensquared.net

Independent Cryptic Crossword – the future – Fifteensquared

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Reposted by Dan Davison

Longyfan @longyfan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

To elaborate on that last repost, eimi – cryptics editor at the Indy – is gauging interest in an independent follow-up to the Independent crossword Email trulyindependentcrosswords@gmail.com with the subject line “truly” Comment #152 on the fifteensquared blog fifteensquared.net/2026/09/21/i...

fifteensquared.net

Independent Cryptic Crossword – the future – Fifteensquared

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Reposted by Dan Davison

amoebacrosswords.bsky.social @amoebacrosswords.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

An update for those concerned about the Independent cryptic crossword's demise, from its current editor.

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my f***s

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Ah, sorry. When I saw the definition in your clue it popped into my mind as a possible cryptic definition… but, perhaps it is a failed one!

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

New American drama about fast driver? (7)

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

When they’re feeling bambeezled

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

And by submit, do you mean give up?

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Detective, say, turning on informant? (6)

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

could do: Leprosy can supply unwanted droppings off

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Thanks for the solve. Have watched it back. Sorry about the pre-watershed ones 😬 I did suggest that some of the clues might not pair well with breakfast but should perhaps have extended that to lunchtime! Enjoyed solving @henriwords.com lovely puzzle before rejoining for the second half. Thanks all

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Ah, thanks. I’m out with the family today, so can’t drop in but hope you enjoy! Look forward to watching it back

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

One of those charming moments in life…

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Reposted by Dan Davison

Twm @twm-barlwm.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

I set today’s Sunday Telegraph prize Toughie www.telegraph.co.uk/puzzles/ Playing between flat and house? (2,5) Mark's hair recedes at the front (9) Pep at fault and opposite number brilliant, drop off sharply (2,3,4,1,5)

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Or turn it into a compound adjective, the you can have: adjective / verb of choice + aeroplane-hating youngsters

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Reposting for the evening crowd. Here’s another sample clue: Picture seen widely of soldiers occupying country (8)

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Put together a new crossword for today. With thanks, as ever, to @mycrossword.co.uk Hope you enjoy! Shy mediator somehow performed something extraordinary? (4,7) Some clues may not pair well with breakfast. Cheers! www.mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/3535

mycrossword.co.uk

Cryptic crossword No 3,535 · MyCrossword

Solve Cryptic crossword No 3,535 on MyCrossword. 15x15 grid with 28 clues by Guava. Published Fri 5 Jun 2026. Features annotated solutions. Free to solve online.

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Good fun, thanks and funny work with the theme, particularly 26d and 1d… left a note elsewhere with favourites

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Reposted by Dan Davison

William Snow @willsnow8.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Dessert? Fine, but no starter (3) From my cryptic crossword in the Independent today puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

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Reposted by Dan Davison

Richard Smyth @rsmythfreelance.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Nothing. Endorphins are a lie invented by Adidas.

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Picked this up late. V nice. Fun, thanks! particularly loved the 👶 left a note elsewhere! Cheers!

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Reposted by Dan Davison

Coot @coot.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

I’m back in the Independent today with a puzzle that includes: What I’m doing next … taking a lot of medication (9) I envy teacher’s wild leaning towards infidelity (5-4,4) Where we see Mike in the grip of drunken revellers? (7) #cryptic #crossword puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

puzzles.independent.co.uk

The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent

Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

I think my view is that I wouldn’t use them personally while setting but I wouldn’t object if I saw one when solving where the intention to move letters is clear.

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

It’s a well chosen example, like prawn vs shrimp. Because chocolate and prawn are classifying, they are singular: chocolate assortment = assortment of chocolates; this neatly illustrates why the cryptic grammar doesn’t work universally, even if intuitively the meaning remains clear.

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

I’m not advocating for nounal anagrinds, but I can see where the confusion arises: grammatically prawn is acting like the modifier of cocktail, yet it is the prawn that has been modified irl! I guess the grammar emphasises the classification of the new thing (prawn not gin). To your question:

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Actually, I think they’re quite neat examples: shrimp, prawn and fruit nicely illustrate the grammatical relationship in that they describe the kind of cocktail, but equally illustrate that the semantics are at odds with the grammar: it is understood that a cocktail has been made of {fodder}

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

So the real world action is not described by the grammatical function, which creates a kind of weird paradox. The arrangement isn’t flowered, nor is the cocktail prawned! Don’t know if this helps…

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

… but if you allow me to carry on my probably flawed logic, wouldn‘t (fodder) anagram suggest that the fodder has already been anagramed?!

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

… so the flowers have already been arranged or the prawn already cocktailed… and in the process have become a new thing… though perfectly possible I‘ve lost the thread…

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

I’m not sure that is true: when someone speaks of, say, a flower arrangement, or a prawn cocktail, it is the flowers and prawns that have been arranged or cocktailed! Wouldn’t these become: arrangement of flowers; cocktail of prawn? The second word suggests a modification has occurred…

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

“it was Mr. Methven himself… he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away…” The Great Anagram, F Scott Fitzgerald

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

I’m really looking forward to seeing Charlie’s anagram clue once it gets the green light

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Reposted by Dan Davison

PostMarkCryptic.bsky.social @postmarkcryptic.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Also pleased to have today’s Economist slot. Including: Program organ before a new church show (10) Residence lost at one point in divorce proceedings (6,4) Mayor with yen to brand himself an MP for starters? (4,7) www.economist.com/interactive/...

economist.com

Weekend crossword for May 23rd 2026

A weekend crossword based on the week’s news

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Reposted by Dan Davison

PostMarkCryptic.bsky.social @postmarkcryptic.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Pleased to have today's Independent slot. Including: Indian sides in garnish finish off tandoori (6) Carol fast approaching in SEAT (6,5) Where Turks might be slain – but not normally (8) puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

puzzles.independent.co.uk

The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent

Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

New to me was someguyinthefridge… I believe a teenage setter(!) and I enjoyed their most recent puzzle… felt quiptic

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Oh, cool. Thanks! I won’t be able to join live. My gut sense is that it might be quite hard, but at a guess reckon the downs will be easier! You might need a bit of British GK for 22d: The Queen Vic is the pub in Eastenders. Good luck and hope you enjoy it!

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Haha. I’d always add an out/behind to make the intention clearer. I will of course forget your explanation by the time I next encounter it and will once again be totally confuse!

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Ah, OK. I see now. Thanks for clarification and @karolszym.bsky.social likewise.

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Reposted by Dan Davison

I’m Dave Williams. You’re probably not @skirwingle.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

DEFINITION OF THE DAY compost, n. Anything put on social media by a business, rather than an individual.

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

This is excellent… love the way it also carries the connotation of manure or horseshit 👏

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Have possibly misunderstood your example!

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

In the example, though, the order is “fussy spouse leaves US“ to get PESOS so it would be the coat/pen doing the leaving in your example, which is the objection, I think? X leaves Y is fine to delete X, but X leaves Y does not mean delete Y

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Dan Davison @danjdavison.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Maybe Dover Beach sees Arnold disheartened struggling with faith essentially (7) Cryptic clue with handy Venn diagram explainer… niche

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Reposted by Dan Davison

Guinevere 🎲🎲 @guineverecryptic.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Honoured to have set Featured Crossword 11 @mycrossword.co.uk - a good chance to say thanks to Raider for all he does for the community! You’re awesome! Hope you enjoy, please do leave a comment! Outstanding grid, or so we heard? (5) Spots deer - flipping wearing glasses! (8) #cryptic #crossword

mycrossword.co.uk

Featured crossword No 11 · MyCrossword

Solve Featured crossword No 11 on MyCrossword. 15x15 grid with 29 clues by Guinevere. Published Mon 18 May 2026. Free to solve online.

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