Flats
A
Acrostical enigma
Add letters to the start of each couplet to form a word clued in that couplet; the added letters form the final answer.
Add letters to the start of each couplet to form a word clued in that couplet; the added letters form the final answer.
Acrotelestichal enigma
This is a combination of an acrostical enigma and a telestichal enigma. The solution is found by reading the added letters (beginning and end) stanza by stanza.
This is a combination of an acrostical enigma and a telestichal enigma. The solution is found by reading the added letters (beginning and end) stanza by stanza.
Alterposal
Alternate letters are taken from a word or phrase, and then each set of letters is transposed into another word.
Alternate letters are taken from a word or phrase, and then each set of letters is transposed into another word.
Ambiapt flats
Find a second half to the base provided to produce a subjective opinion of the thing being described.
Find a second half to the base provided to produce a subjective opinion of the thing being described.
Antobank
Two (or more) antonyms form the base of an overloaded letter bank clued by a single cueword.
Two (or more) antonyms form the base of an overloaded letter bank clued by a single cueword.
Antoposal
Two (or more) antonyms are clued (overloaded) by a single cueword. Then, these words are transposed as a group to form a longer word or phrase.
Two (or more) antonyms are clued (overloaded) by a single cueword. Then, these words are transposed as a group to form a longer word or phrase.
B
Backswitch
A word or phrase becomes another when its last letter is changed (or “switched”) and moved to the beginning, and the resulting letters are reversed (“turned back”).
A word or phrase becomes another when its last letter is changed (or “switched”) and moved to the beginning, and the resulting letters are reversed (“turned back”).
Baltimore transdeletion
A word or entry phrase is turned into a series of others by removing each letter in turn and rearranging the rest.
A word or entry phrase is turned into a series of others by removing each letter in turn and rearranging the rest.
Brevigram
A word that appears in an answer word or phrase is replaced by its abbreviation, creating the other answer word or phrase.
A word that appears in an answer word or phrase is replaced by its abbreviation, creating the other answer word or phrase.
C
Change ’n’ swap
An internal letter is changed to another letter, and the strings on either side switch places to form another word or phrase the same length as the original.
An internal letter is changed to another letter, and the strings on either side switch places to form another word or phrase the same length as the original.
Chop ’n’ swap
A letter is removed (chopped) from somewhere in the middle of a word or phrase; the two pieces remaining switch positions (swap).
A letter is removed (chopped) from somewhere in the middle of a word or phrase; the two pieces remaining switch positions (swap).
Combination padlock
The last one or more letters of a word or phrase (LEFT) are the same as the first one or more letters of another (RIGHT); joining the remaining letters forms another (LOCK) and overlapping LEFT and RIGHT produces a fourth word or phrase (WHOLE).
The last one or more letters of a word or phrase (LEFT) are the same as the first one or more letters of another (RIGHT); joining the remaining letters forms another (LOCK) and overlapping LEFT and RIGHT produces a fourth word or phrase (WHOLE).
Convergence
A word or phrase is divided into a series of shorter words or phrases by taking letters in order from the original word—one from the front, then one from the back, then one from the front, and so on.
A word or phrase is divided into a series of shorter words or phrases by taking letters in order from the original word—one from the front, then one from the back, then one from the front, and so on.
Cross my heart
Two words or phrases are each divided into three pieces; then their middle pieces are moved to the ends of each other to form two new words or phrases.
Two words or phrases are each divided into three pieces; then their middle pieces are moved to the ends of each other to form two new words or phrases.
Cryptogram key
Each pair of letters in the “key” indicates a (possibly repeated) letter change. These changes encrypt the first part-word into the second. Each pair in the key must be used; any additional letters in the part-words are left unchanged.
Each pair of letters in the “key” indicates a (possibly repeated) letter change. These changes encrypt the first part-word into the second. Each pair in the key must be used; any additional letters in the part-words are left unchanged.
Cyclegram
Each word or phrase in the base consists of two parts. The first part is identical to the second part of the preceding word; the second part is identical to the first part of the following word. The chain wraps around: the second part of the last word is identical to the first part of the first word.
Each word or phrase in the base consists of two parts. The first part is identical to the second part of the preceding word; the second part is identical to the first part of the following word. The chain wraps around: the second part of the last word is identical to the first part of the first word.
D
Diastichal enigma
Add letters at the line breaks within each couplet to form a word clued in that couplet; the added letters form the final answer.
Add letters at the line breaks within each couplet to form a word clued in that couplet; the added letters form the final answer.
Double acrostical enigma
Add letters to the start of each couplet to form a word clued in that couplet; the added letters form the final answer.
Add letters to the start of each couplet to form a word clued in that couplet; the added letters form the final answer.
E
Enigmatic rebus
The answer, with adjusted spacing and punctuation, can describe the “rubric”. The “enigmatic” is a red flag, warning you that the reading involves something other than simple manipulation of letters.
The answer, with adjusted spacing and punctuation, can describe the “rubric”. The “enigmatic” is a red flag, warning you that the reading involves something other than simple manipulation of letters.
Even exchange
Two words or phrases exchange all their letters in even positions to form two new words.
Two words or phrases exchange all their letters in even positions to form two new words.
F
Flats we never finished reading (WNFR)
Only the first line or two of the flat is given, generally without cuewords.
Only the first line or two of the flat is given, generally without cuewords.
Freewheeling flats
Rather than only involving dictionary entries, the flat has non-dictionary phrases
Rather than only involving dictionary entries, the flat has non-dictionary phrases
G
Group flats
Each of the answer words or phrases is related to a member of a well-known group in the manner of a specified flat type.
Each of the answer words or phrases is related to a member of a well-known group in the manner of a specified flat type.
H
Hack ’n’ back
A letter is removed from somewhere in the middle of a word or phrase. The second remaining piece is reversed and appended to the first piece.
A letter is removed from somewhere in the middle of a word or phrase. The second remaining piece is reversed and appended to the first piece.
Homoconcominym
Two words or phrases sound like two or more other words or phrases that form a familiar set.
Two words or phrases sound like two or more other words or phrases that form a familiar set.
I
Inapt flats
Find a second half to the base provided to produce the opposite of the thing being described.
Find a second half to the base provided to produce the opposite of the thing being described.
Isomorph
All words have the same cryptogram pattern, so that if they were encrypted it would be impossible to tell them apart.
All words have the same cryptogram pattern, so that if they were encrypted it would be impossible to tell them apart.
L
Literatim
The individual letters in a word or phrase are numbered consecutively, and other words or phrases are composed by pronouncing the letters individually or in combinations.
The individual letters in a word or phrase are numbered consecutively, and other words or phrases are composed by pronouncing the letters individually or in combinations.
M
Multiple repeated-letter deletion
Remove one letter from the middle of a word to produce another word.
Remove one letter from the middle of a word to produce another word.
Mutation
A mutation is a rearrangement of letters that is only vaguely appropriate or even entirely irrelevant to its solution. It is always accompanied by a verse that provides the clues; the rearrangement serves as the cueword.
A mutation is a rearrangement of letters that is only vaguely appropriate or even entirely irrelevant to its solution. It is always accompanied by a verse that provides the clues; the rearrangement serves as the cueword.
O
Omnistichal enigma
Add letters to the start, end, and between lines of each couplet to form three words clued in that couplet; the added letters form the final answer.
Add letters to the start, end, and between lines of each couplet to form three words clued in that couplet; the added letters form the final answer.
Order takeout
From a longer word, every sequence of two or more adjacent letters in consecutive alphabetical order is removed to form a shorter word.
From a longer word, every sequence of two or more adjacent letters in consecutive alphabetical order is removed to form a shorter word.
P
Palindrome deletion
A word or phrase becomes another when an interior palindromic sequence of three or more letters is deleted.
A word or phrase becomes another when an interior palindromic sequence of three or more letters is deleted.
Palindrome substitution
A word or phrase becomes another when an internal palindromic string of three or more letters is replaced by another palindrome of at least three letters.
A word or phrase becomes another when an internal palindromic string of three or more letters is replaced by another palindrome of at least three letters.
Palindrome-to-letter change
A group of three or more letters that form a palindrome are replaced by a single letter to form a second word or phrase.
A group of three or more letters that form a palindrome are replaced by a single letter to form a second word or phrase.
Partially overloaded flats
Two (or more) of the answer words can fit for one cueword in the verse, but at least one answer word fits another cueword.
Two (or more) of the answer words can fit for one cueword in the verse, but at least one answer word fits another cueword.
Partially reversed flats
The operation in the flat forms a word only if one or more, but not all, parts of the base are reversed after the operation is performed.
The operation in the flat forms a word only if one or more, but not all, parts of the base are reversed after the operation is performed.
Pasteover
A letter moves from its original position in a word and takes the place of another letter; the letter that has been “pasted over” is deleted.
A letter moves from its original position in a word and takes the place of another letter; the letter that has been “pasted over” is deleted.
Phonigmatic rebus
The phonetic pronunciation of the answer, with adjusted spacing and punctuation, can describe the “rubric”. “Phonigmatic” is a red flag, warning you that the reading involves something other than simple manipulation of letters.
The phonetic pronunciation of the answer, with adjusted spacing and punctuation, can describe the “rubric”. “Phonigmatic” is a red flag, warning you that the reading involves something other than simple manipulation of letters.
Picture flats
The solution words are clued by elements shown in an illustration rather than in verse.
The solution words are clued by elements shown in an illustration rather than in verse.
Progressive flats
The operation in the flat consists of more than one stage, each stage forming a word.
The operation in the flat consists of more than one stage, each stage forming a word.
Q
Quantum flats
Offers a single word (not a homographic or homophonous pair) that has at least two spellings or two pronunciations; the meaning of the word does not change. The same orthographic transformation is applied to each spelling or the same phonetic transformation is applied to each pronunciation to yield new words.
Offers a single word (not a homographic or homophonous pair) that has at least two spellings or two pronunciations; the meaning of the word does not change. The same orthographic transformation is applied to each spelling or the same phonetic transformation is applied to each pronunciation to yield new words.
R
Rebade
A word or phrase is represented by a rubric comprising letters, numbers, or symbols; the reading of the rubric is divided into two or more shorter words by taking alternating letters in order.
A word or phrase is represented by a rubric comprising letters, numbers, or symbols; the reading of the rubric is divided into two or more shorter words by taking alternating letters in order.
Redro takeout
From a longer word, every sequence of two or more adjacent letters in reverse alphabetical order is removed to form a shorter word.
From a longer word, every sequence of two or more adjacent letters in reverse alphabetical order is removed to form a shorter word.
Reversed flats
The operation in the flat forms a word only if reversed after the operation is performed.
The operation in the flat forms a word only if reversed after the operation is performed.
S
Secession
One word or phrase becomes another when one or more US postal abbreviations are removed, wherever they occur.
One word or phrase becomes another when one or more US postal abbreviations are removed, wherever they occur.
Singularity
Each set of two or more identical consecutive letters in the first answer is replaced by a single occurrence of that letter
Each set of two or more identical consecutive letters in the first answer is replaced by a single occurrence of that letter
Split shift
Two (or more) base words start and end with identical sequences of letters. Linking the dissimilar parts makes another word.
Two (or more) base words start and end with identical sequences of letters. Linking the dissimilar parts makes another word.
Subade
A word or phrase is represented by a rubric comprising letters, numbers, or symbols; the reading of the rubric is reversed and divided into two or more shorter words by taking alternating letters in order.
A word or phrase is represented by a rubric comprising letters, numbers, or symbols; the reading of the rubric is reversed and divided into two or more shorter words by taking alternating letters in order.
Superfluity
A word in the body of the flat, which indicates how to change one solution word into the other solution word, can be removed, with the flat still making sense.
A word in the body of the flat, which indicates how to change one solution word into the other solution word, can be removed, with the flat still making sense.
Switchback
A word or phrase becomes another when its first letter is changed (switched) and moved to the end, and the resulting letters are reversed (turned back).
A word or phrase becomes another when its first letter is changed (switched) and moved to the end, and the resulting letters are reversed (turned back).
Synoposal
Two (or more) synonyms are clued (overloaded) by a single cueword. Then, these words are transposed as a group to form a longer word or phrase.
Two (or more) synonyms are clued (overloaded) by a single cueword. Then, these words are transposed as a group to form a longer word or phrase.
T
Telestichal enigma
Add letters to the end of each couplet to form a word clued in that couplet; the added letters form the final answer.
Add letters to the end of each couplet to form a word clued in that couplet; the added letters form the final answer.
Terminal rotation
A pair of words becomes another pair of words when all four terminal letters shift position, in a manner analogous to rotating tires on a car: each front letter moves to the end, while the back letters move in front and switch words.
A pair of words becomes another pair of words when all four terminal letters shift position, in a manner analogous to rotating tires on a car: each front letter moves to the end, while the back letters move in front and switch words.
Transubstitution
Each word or phrase is formed from the previous one by changing a letter and then transposing. A transubstitution must have at least four parts.
Each word or phrase is formed from the previous one by changing a letter and then transposing. A transubstitution must have at least four parts.
V
W
Word shift
Move one letter in a word, which is not in the flat but implied, to produce another word or a phrase.
Move one letter in a word, which is not in the flat but implied, to produce another word or a phrase.