Anagram Helper

Anagrams are staples of cryptic crosswords clues. The current edition of the The Chambers Crossword Dictionary lists 1421 different anagram “indicators” (words within clues that signal an anagram is required).

Crossword Wrangler includes an Anagram Helper tool that can assist in finding possible anagrams for use in cryptic clues:

The Anagram Helper can also be accessed via the Clue Definition dialogue.

Running the Anagram Helper

Like the Word Search tool, the Anagram Helper contains a text field into which you can enter the word of phrase you are interested in, and a magnifying glass button to start the search.

In addition, it has three parameters that can be adjusted to refine the search:

• Words: Specifies the maximum number of words the anagram should comprise. Note that in this context, a “word” refers to a single entry in the current word list, which usually contain multi-word phrases. In the screenshot above, ‘cab stand’ is considered one “word”.
• Spares: Clues in which a suitable exact anagram cannot be found sometimes allow for extra letters to be included in the anagram, usually indicated by an abbreviation or other hint in the clue. This parameter specifies how many extra letters are allowed.
• Min length: Sets the minimum word length to be included in the anagram.

Interpreting the results

The Anagram Helper prioritises anagrams with the fewest spare letters first, and within that, those with the fewest words.

In some cases, anagrams may contain words that can themselves be anagrams of other words. These are indicated using slashes (/) between the words that can be rearranged. For example, in the screenshot above, ‘banned charts’, ‘banned scarth’ and ‘banned starch’ are contained in one entry rather than appearing explicitly as separate entries.

Spare letters that need to be included in the wordplay are indicated after a plus sign (+).