dt codewords

[chrissie58]

Has anyone noticed that two codewords recently have not used all the letters of the alphabet but the next day the answers are given as though all letters have been used? Or am I going daft?

[grange]

no, you're not going daft, I've noticed it too. The other day there were 5 letters missing! The next day the answer appeared containing all the letters!

[chrissie58]

Where do they get the answers from? They must just make them up!

[jobjockey]

How come they are now explaining the linked answers of the quick crossword ( DT), is this anothere example of dumbing down, that is going on all over the place.

[chrissie58]

I noticed that too. Maybe some are so obscure that they NEED explaining!

[Prescott]

I agree - some of the Codewords have been rubbish recently. I think the trouble is with the numbers printed in the squares. Often they use the same ones for different letters.

[cha31]

It's nice to know it's not just me - I thought I was going daft as well. The trouble is that it works without the missing letters - no peculiar words - so it's not 'til you finished it, you realize how many letters are missing.

[Nigse]

To the best of my knowledge, in the time the DT has been featuring these puzzles, this has only happened once before - well over a year ago if I recollect correctly - now twice in 3 days! must be a new setter who can't be bothered to use all the letters. I don't like it, but, if they are going to do it, they should indicate that there are unused letters, and they certainly shouldn't be assigned to numbers in the solution which didn't exist on the original grid as with Thursday's puzzle; although, having said that, I must admit that I only usually bother to look at the published answer when these oddballs turn up.

[terrybigfoot]

I've been doing codewords in different papers for countless years (I know, get a life!!!) and have never come across this before. Couple this with a recent Monday Herculis puzzle clue asking for the second largest state in the USA and the answer being given as Los Angeles ????God forgive, but I'm loosing faith in The Telegraph puzzlemongers!! Time for a change perhaps. My son tells me The Times is quite good...........