Cryptic Crossword Abbreviations Guide

Cryptic crosswords use hundreds of standard abbreviations. Here are the most common ones. ## Letters - L = leader, left - R = right, run - O = nothing, zero, love - C = about (circa), caught - D = five hundred (Roman) - M = thousand, male - N = knight (chess), new - T = time, bishop (chess) ## Common Words - ER = Queen (Elizabeth Regina) - RE = about, regarding - OP = work (opus) - ST = saint, street - EX = former, out of ## Indicator Words - "Initially", "firstly" = take first letters - "Leader", "heading" = first letter - "Endlessly", "cut short" = remove last letter - "Around", "about" = container indicator - "Crazy", "wild" = anagram indicator