hello-smlChristine Lovatt

Solving crosswords can be an emotional pastime. You can feel frustrated when stumped on a clue, elated when you’ve completed the grid or surprised when a prize arrives in the post.  To express these emotions you may use an ‘interjection’.

An interjection is an exclamation or remark that expresses sudden emotion.  The word interjection means ‘thrown in between’ and comes from the Latin word ‘inter’ meaning ‘between’ and ‘iacere’ meaning ‘throw’.   New interjections are being invented all the time with new generations.

When compiling crosswords I am known to utter many an interjection – “Aargh, my cryptic is due again. Hmmm could I come up with a better clue than this?  Phew, last word is in the grid.  Aww what a lovely puzzler’s letter”.   I won’t mention the expletives in between!

I often picture you solvers doing the same. “Aww cute cover.  Humph, this clue is impossible.  Aha got it.       Ha-ha, clever cryptic. Whoops, didn’t mean to finish that magazine so quickly.   Hurray, next one is arriving tomorrow!”

Interjections can add a bit of fun to speech and writing, which is why we like to include the odd interjection in our crosswords – ‘I get it’ for AHA, ‘Surprised cry’ for OOH, ‘Oh dear’ for ALAS, ‘Satisfied sigh’ for AAH and ‘Phooey!’ for BAH, just to name a few.

Interjections may also be used as hesitation devices, as a signal for uncertainty or to indicate to others that you have not finished talking.

I’d like to think your interjections will be positive rather than negative while you work your way through this book, however I suspect the odd oops, tsk and uh-oh may slip out too.

So er…Happy…um… puzzling!

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