AJ

 An Alphabetical Jigsaw submitted to CrOZworld in July 2021.

A nice short preamble reads "Solutions begin with the given letter.  Place them in the grid jigsaw-wise, where they fit."

AJ by Eclogue

As well as the peripheral NINA, the longest entries are (A)cross and (D)own.

Slot 4: 

Entries:                 74

Correct:                58

Correct %            78

 

Adjudicator’s comments:

 

Slot 4. Another challenging puzzle from Eclogue, complete with three mini- Ninas, identified by a number of solvers. PEDALED needed the American usage to be derived from the former, although associated clue and resulted in four incorrect entries, PERONED, BETAMEN, PEDALER and PENALED. HYPOGRYPH, requiring a cunning interpretation to derive the “gryph”, resulted in a further four errors. Other errors included XMAS (2) and XION for XIAN.

Slot 5. Comments by solvers would suggest that three-letter words are not

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Solver comments:

 

November 4: Eclogue (Keith Williams and Eddie Looby)

·                     I like the NINAS - BEGINS and THE END! Ann Millard

·                     Begins the end. The end! Julie Leigh

·                     This was a tough AJ to finish! Fraser Simpson

·                     Reassuring to see “begins the end the end.” Something’s in the right place. Roy Taylor

·                     Definitely a challenge here, with several new or unfamiliar usages. I liked NEUTRALIST, and had to guess for A, F and J. Not sure about Y either, if Shaky is part anagrind and part indicator. Kathy Horadam

·                     I’ve never done an AJ without pen and paper before. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if I’ve messed it up. Jenny Wenham

·                     As expected with an AJ, a few unusual words. Sad there’s only one beginning but two ends. Ulla Axelsen

·                     I found this quite hard but satisfying to finish. Robyn McKenzie

·                     Interesting AJ. Loved WALPOLE and ODORLESS. Beverley Cockburn

·                     Very clever! “BEGINS” across the top and “THE END” across the bottom and down the right side. Michael Veress

·                     Clever how once you finish it, the crossword shows you where it begins and where the ends are. David Parsons

·                     Some words were new to me, so fingers crossed! Anne Simons

·                     Liked HIPPOGRYPH and WALPOLE. The Oxford college KEBLE (not KINGS) was a surprise. Max Roddick

·                     There is a NINA. Begins, The end, The End. (I think!!) Marian Procter

·                     Nina begins and (twice) reaches the end. Andrew Miles

·                     Handy to know where the puzzle begins and ends! Kath Harper

·                     GOSPODARS, assuming it’s correct, caused some consternation in the Skinner household. Richard Skinner

·                     Begins, the end. the end. But what is a Yzmjow? Jim Fowler