Puzzler or Puzzlor?

Hi,

With words ending in either ‘er’ or ‘or’, is there any rule which determines which is the correct usage?

Or is it merely happenchance like so much of our language?

Tips for left-handers

I love your puzzle books from cover to cover. The only bit I skim over is the endless tripe about left handers. You molly-dookers (I’d never heard that one before) must be used to living in a right-handed world by now. If you haven’t solved the problem yet, here are three suggestions which I have tried on Leftie puzzles:

1 Photocopy the clues and place the copy to the right of the grid. Now this isn’t very ecofriendly so I don’t expect many of you will stoop to this but it does preserve the magazine intact for posterity.
2 Tear out the clues and place the page to the right of the grid. Go on, you’re going to dismantle the magazine anyway to submit your competition entries. Christine, you could help here by perforating the pages next to the spine to save Lefties having to look for the left-handed scissors. If you work from the front of the book, you won’t even have to check overleaf to ensure you don’t spoil any puzzles like us poor old Righties have to do with your puzzles.
3 If you want to give your brain a proper work-out, turn the magazine through 180 degrees and do it upside down. Don’t forget that Down clues are now Up clues. I tried this with the Lefties crosswords in Colossus 126. It was difficult at first but became easier with practice. A handy ploy if you find you complete all the puzzles before the next issue is due out because it does slow you down.

There are many other ways of overcoming the sinister disability but mostly they involve lenses, mirrors and duct-tape which is probably going ott.

I’ve just finished Colossus 127 competitions and wondered if you could give me a tip on when is the best time to submit my entries to give maximum chance of winning some prize, however small? I’ve tried early, I’ve tried late and all manner of times in between but the result is the same. It’s especially galling when I read of multiple prizewinners. Is there a left -handed bias at Lovatts? If so I’ll happily fill in my entries left handed.

Very Best Wishes,

Stephen Elliott
Waiatarua, NZ

Wordygig’s Waboom

Thank you for the Wordygig tester “WABOOM” - ’twas hard to find the correct definition.

Well done.

But, I can’t stop laughing at your third option - “An underground explosion in an Australian iron ore mine.” Can you imagine it - “WA-BOOOMMM” - yes, I suppose you can.

Also, I’ve wanted to ask this for some time - what is the Font that you use in the Big Contest Solutions?

All the best to all.

Alan Hutchison
North Mackay Qld

Keep it challenging!

In reference to The Judge Sums Up BIG FEB. relating to Goliathon Dec.’09 , I considered ‘two-by two craft’ as one of the easier clues.
What is the purpose of a crossword , such as The Demon or Goliathon , without a challenge?
Christine , I also feel you have been too lenient in increasing the closing time for completing ‘BIG’ as I believe a dead-line is that -a dead-line. Occasionally family commitments have prevented me from entering THE ‘DIY’ - So be it !
I always enjoy The Judge Sums Up with the history of word origins and your interesting explanations. Life is a constant learning experience.
A BIG thank you to the entire Lovatts team.

Regards , Billie.

Stumped by Baffler but love the cover!

“The quality of CRYPTICS is not simple – it dropeth down with great exasperation” CONGRATULATIONS to the graphic artist who produced this great Shakespearean cover.

My 96 year old fellow puzzler, George Howe, and my lifelong friend, Madge Sinclair have both expressed their congratulations. We are all Shakespearean Devotees. We were all stumped by the question in the Baffler “The Divine …” and are eagerly awaiting the correct answer. I will celebrate my 85th birthday on 11th June and I am very grateful to you for keeping my brain as alert as possible.
Isabella Butler
Beaumont, NSW

Any clues on what books to use?

I enjoy your Cluewords, Starhunts and really do like the Maxis but have yet to complete the Baffler. Any clues on what books to use? It certainly keeps my mind active.

Dulcie Heffernan
Mansfield, Qld

Internet Opens Up Whole New World

For Christmas my daughter Kate gave me her ‘old’ laptop and signed me up to the internet for a year! After learning how to use it, for the first time ever I have been able to complete the Demon! Wow – the world has opened! Win or not this is by far the best present ever. However, if I do win anything I will give it to Kat as a thank you. Thanks to both of you!

Elizabeth Parker
Morley, WA