Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

A group of friends do the Genius together each month, sharing answers by email.
In the absence of other distractions, we decided to do more, starting with no. 1.
We have the crossword but no rubric appears with it, and as we’re struggling, we’re wondering if there’s something additional we need to know.
Can anyone help us out?
Thank you!

It seems clear that 13D is an anagram with an A missing from the wordplay, while 10A is a double def, also missing an A in the wordplay.

So perhaps that is the theme? Or maybe all wordplay is missing some letter (not always an A)? Good luck figuring it all out.

Thank you! We do start by having a Zoom meeting to share first reactions and we thought in our discussion that there were letters missing, particularly vowels, and in some answers the letters were rearranged.

I looked in the 15 Squared archive but it doesn't go back that far. Why not mail Guardian crossword editor?

I've just finished it - there isn't an instruction but there is a distinct pattern to the single letters missing from wordplay in all of the clues. I've seen at least one 'genius' that uses the same idea (and I only started doing them a few months ago, so it might be fairly typical). You'll quickly see a pairing one you've got the grid close to completion.

...by the way, I'm unsure about the spelling at 12 across but it has to be right.

...don't focus on vowels, and there's no need to make anagrams of the missing letters

Thanks (drxx)
We’ve seen that it’s not just vowels, having done a few of the clues, and are making steady shared progress!

We have finished the crossword, but cannot work backwards to what the rubric might be! Drxx, can you advise please? No joy in trying to email the Guardian, I’m afraid.

There is no rubric, henkeeper - I think this was a statement of intent (as it was the first ever genius puzzle) that 'anything goes'.
The puzzle simply commemorates a partnership and if you look where all of the missing letters are positioned and read from top left (look out for abbreviations) you'll see two names.