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Hi

Again, I am here to ask for help in understanding an answer to a clue from The Times cryptic crossword.

14 down: Sad if solemn, a British dependency (4,2,3)

I know the answer to be Isle of Man.

I got this as it seemed to me that [I]Sad if solemn[/I] was an anagram, and indeed I was able to get Isle of Man from those letters. But I had a D and an S left over. I am puzzled with the leftover letters.

Is it common that an anagram can have letters left over when made? Or do the remaining S and D have significance?

Also, though it appeared to be an anagram, which word was the indicator? Was it solemn? (I was not aware that the indicator of an anagram can also be part of the anagram.

Thank you.

It’s an anagram of “if solemn a”. Sad is the indicator

The anagram indicator is SAD

OMG!! I am so dumb!!

Thank you Quisling. :)

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