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On another site, I am sometimes told my clue has a 'root problem'. A couple of people have tried to explain that to me, but I still don't get it. Googling something like 'root problem crosswords' only offers me solutions to the clue 'root problem', so no joy there.

Can anyone explain, perhaps with simple examples, to help this poor soul? Hope so!

Hi Steve;
Can’t help you with this one - can say we’ve missed you on Clueless and Peer Review! How’s life?

Paul

I've not seen the term used before, but I have a couple of possibilities.

First, it could just be that they don't like the idea behind the clue. (ie it's a problem with the fundamental premise - ie the root - of the clue). If this is the case, it's a weird way of saying it.

Second, which I think more likely, is that in a double-def clue, you're using two definitions come from the same root and therefore it's not actually a double definition but a 'single definition twice'. This can also happen in clues where you get normal wordplay, of course, because you could define part of a clue with a different word from the same root. Of course, now I'm trying to think of examples of this and failing miserably, but hopefully you get the idea.

H/S

@hamishsoup....
Sorry for the delayed reaction, but I have only just realised who you are!
That is an interesting reply to Stevea6000's query.
Yes, it certainly makes sense..... it will be good if Steve sees it and offer up a comment.
Do you, and other crossword setters often look in on this Forum?
Are our comments/ discussion of any value to you all?
We are , on the whole - a few geniuses apart- but fumbling amateurs!But we do try our best!

Hamish: thanks for responding. It occurs with double defs. My most recent example was this clue I offered for RITZIER:

More glamorous hotelier? (7)

A straight def, followed by a punning def, methought. Back came 'root problem'. Can't see the problem, so any insight most definitely welcome!

Paul: had my head turned by the crossword group that malcolmxword told us about, a couple of months ago. There's a 'peer review' type of competition every day. I'd been having withdrawal symptoms here at weekends, so ... (That said, I miss the risqué clues you and I used to exchange!)

Yeah, it's as I suspected. 'Ritzy' is a formation meaning roughly 'In the style of the Ritz Hotel'. So essentially you're saying 'More like a hotel hotelier' - ie single definition twice.
A good rule of thumb is that the two definitions should be listed as different 'headwords' in Chambers - eg 'Light' with a superscript 1 meaning 'sunshine' and 'Light' with a superscript 2 meaning 'not heavy' - they're two different roots. In practice, quite a lot of DDs use things listed under the same headword, but they're far enough away that it's not obvious.
Have I explained it clearly enough? I'm not convinced, so let me know if you'd like me to have another go.

Hello -
I don't know about others, but I look in from time to time, particularly when I've got one in the Genius slot (like this month). I like to see what solvers are thinking, because it means I can write more of what they like and less of what they don't like. (I know what *I* like, but then I'm weird.) All about learning, innit? :)

Hi, Hamish!
It is good to know that you take an interest in our thoughts, and opinions!
But it must be difficult setting a puzzle that will (hopefully) "please" the majority of solvers?
People tend to differ so much in what constitutes a "good " clue for them.....
Obviously, what suits one solver , another might find difficult.
You must find it annoying, though, regarding the solver who thinks that "I cannot do it" is synonymous with "The setter must be wrong"!

Hamish, thanks again. For me, the nub of the issue is how far away 'far enough away' is. When solving clues, I don't even think about roots. When setting ... ditto! The site I referred to seems to have people who think like me, and people who can spot a 'root problem' a mile away.

In the time I regularly entered the Peer Review and Clueless competitions here, no-one ever raised that issue, yet it must have occurred (whether by me or others). Hence my surprise!

Thanks again.

I tend to think if a puzzle pleases me it'll please others. I have a low tolerance for scrappy clueing and try to only use words I know in grids. I don't usually get told I'm wrong - that puzzles are too hard, yes, but for a Genius that's kind of the point. The key is to treat clues like jokes: they need to have a good punchline as much as possible.