Take the leaders
Initial letters
Acrostic clues ask for the first letters of successive words. Indicators include primarily, initially, leaders, and heads.
When the clue lists a neat row of words after “primarily” or “leaders of”, lift the initials before you invent a wilder parse.
The definition may be cheeky: “gas” as hot air, fuel, or something that is “good and safe” only on the surface.
Initials / acrostic indicators
Take the first letter of each fodder word in order.
| Indicator | Sense |
|---|---|
| primarily / initially / at first | Opening letters |
| leaders / heads / openers / tips | First of each word |
| starts / starting / starts to | Beginnings |
| first letters / first letters of / heads of | Explicit acrostic |
Things to watch
- Count the words after the indicator; that count should match the enumeration.
- “Extremely” sometimes means first and last letters, not a full acrostic.
- Initials clues love abstract definitions; trust the letter grab.
Worked example
Fuel primarily good alpine scenery (3)