How about some uniformity in the answers section?

[crozziemodo]

When I'm completely stuck on a crossword I'll look here for an answer but find it infuriating that I have to type in several different variations of the question for the same crossword ..i.e. everyman 3304, observer everyman 3304, everyman january 29th. etc etc etc and each attempt brings up a different list of questions & answers... couldn't you find a way of lumping them all together purrrlease? At least with the Crossord Solver website it is only necessary to trawl through a list of questions in order to find a specific crossword answer.

[AB Editor]

This was our first attempt:

http://www.theanswerb...d-Puzzles/Crosswords/

The title builder was to help bring some uniformity. It hasn't worked though!

Have you got any suggestions about how this could be done? Or what criteria you'd like things to be lumped together by?

I will have a think.

[jackthehat]

I think a fine starting point would be uniformity in the questions asked....

[The Builder]

I guess the technical way would be for the software to parse the question, identifying significant words such as "Times", "3304", "29th" etc......... something that Google is very good at. Bit more work for the coders though.

[chelle7272]

fair point jth but some poeple seem to have trouble just posting the question....

[EcclesCake]

I share crozzie's frustration. I buy the Saturday Telegraph and do the crosswords on Sunday. It is a pain in the bum searching back through pages of posts.

Is there a reason why each newspaper/publication can't have it's own subsection within Q&P?

[chelle7272]

Agree eccles I struggle with it too, in fact it's easier to put my search into google and find a link to AB there.....

[ladyalex]

I find that the quickest way to get to a crossword question/answer is to type the clue into the search box rather than the names of the paper, name of the crossword etc.

[atsgran]

I do the same ladyalex

[EcclesCake]

But because some people put DTGK 24D and some put 'Description of Merchant of Venicecharacter Shylock' you don't get all of the postings come up......

Dammit, I've now revealed that the DTGK crossword is still at my side unfinished...... ;-)

[ladyalex]

usurer...is the answer....

[factor-fiction]

For me an effective easy way is just to type in one key word from the clue into the Ab searchbox. In the example from Ecclescake the word Shylock would besufficient

[HowardKennitby]

On the few occasions I need help I also find the quickest way is to type the main part of the clue into the search box.

[EcclesCake]

Forgive my ignorance. I had assumed the search engine only addressed the subject field, not the body of the message.

A stupid belief on reflection as I found this site whilst googling a clue.

[AB Editor]

We can already do that with the "swear filter" Builder, so it is an option. I hadn't considered this before. It also doesn't stop their being loads of questions on the same topic/quiz, all with the same name...

[MarkRae]

I would suggest the following:

1) add a sticky to the Quizzes & Puzzles topic informing people that there is a subsection specifically for crossword clues, and that they should post there.

2) add a sticky to the Crosswords subsection telling people to read the crossword guidelines before posting.

3) remove the freeform textbox from the Crosswords subsection, thereby forcing people to use the title builder.

[factor-fiction]

3 may work, MarkRae, but judging by many of the questions we get under Suggestions I don't think new users see the stickies.
However much posters ignore the guidance regarding etiquette a nd setting out questions, they usually get a very fast answer from someone so there is no real incentive to follow the guidance