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!
I was advised previously that I was doing the puzzle competition and the time was 1.15am and not to continue. This then gave rise to the thought that with the 3 hour time difference between Eastern and Western States was there any use in entering these competitions? what consideration has been given to this factor? and what hours are the competitions valid?
Your reply would be appreciated.
Hi Robin
Thanks for your feedback. It is common practice to base competition start and finish times according to the time zone that prevails in the place of origin. In NSW, the time zone applicable is Eastern Standard Time (EST) so we go with that. Unfortunately, the logistics of setting up competitions with variable start and finish times does not bear thinking about, so we stick with the industry standard solution. In any case you still have the same amount of hours to complete competitions; unfortunately however you’ll need to work out the time difference yourself. Finally, in answer to your question, the E-nigma concludes at midnight on the last day of the month. A new competition commences immediately thereafter. Thanks for getting in touch Robin and good luck in future prize draws. Regards, Steve