Initial-letter clues
Cryptic Crossword clue guide · Updated 13 July 2026
An initial-letter clue (also called an acrostic) spells the answer out of the first letters of a run of words. Some setters use the last letters instead, but the idea is the same: you read down the edges of a phrase.
How an initial-letter clue works
An indicator tells you to take the leading letter of each word in a nearby run, and those letters, read in order, spell the answer. The run of words is usually exactly as long as the answer. Some clues take the final letters instead, flagged by words like "endings", "tails" or "lastly", so read the indicator carefully.
Signals to look for
An initial-letter indicator is a word that points at the start of something: a beginning, a front, a head. When one sits beside a run of words, check the first letters of that run. A few that Decryptic uses:
Signals initially, firstly, leaders, primarily, at first, first of, to begin, opening, openers, heads, heads of, fronts, starts, starters, beginnings, tops
A worked example
Sally trips on Pete, primarily, to halt (4) → STOP
- to halt is the definition.
- primarily tells you to take the first letter of each word in the run.
- Sally Trips On Pete gives S, T, O, P, which spells STOP. The (4) confirms it. ✓
More examples
The first example takes first letters; the second shows the less common version that takes last letters.
Initially, Peter Is Nervous about the fastener (3) → PIN
The fastener is the definition. Initially tells you to take the first letter of Peter, Is and Nervous: P, I, N. ✓
Ends of sharp wine and frog make a hook (3) → PEG
A hook is the definition. Ends of tells you to take the last letter of sharp, wine and frog: P, E, G. ✓
Common pitfalls
- Check whether the indicator wants first or last letters. "Endings", "tails" and "lastly" mean take the final letter of each word.
- Count the words in the run. It usually matches the answer length exactly, which tells you where the run starts and stops.
- Little words count too. "On", "a" and "of" each contribute their initial letter.
Stuck on a clue in Decryptic? Tap ? Help and it will tell you when you are looking at an initial-letter clue and which run of words to read, so you can see the pattern for yourself.