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+ The UK Advanced Cryptics Dictionary\r
+\r
+ A word list for crossword solvers and setters\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+ by\r
+\r
+ Ross Beresford\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+ Version 1.7\r
+\r
+ 23 August 2000\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+ Copyright (c) J Ross Beresford 1993-2000\r
+\r
+ All Rights Reserved\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+ The UK Advanced Cryptics Dictionary\r
+ is a FREEWARE package: it can be\r
+ freely copied and distributed under\r
+ the terms of the licensing agreement\r
+ at the end of this document.\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+\r
+ The author can be reached in the following ways:\r
+\r
+ Internet address ross@bryson.demon.co.uk\r
+\r
+ Postal address 10 Wagtail Close\r
+ Twyford\r
+ Reading RG10 9ED\r
+ United Kingdom\r
+\f\r
+ INTRODUCTION\r
+ ------------\r
+\r
+ The UKACD is a word list compiled for the crossword community.\r
+\r
+ In particular, it's intended for setters and solvers of\r
+ advanced cryptic crosswords in the UK; for example, the\r
+ Listener Crossword and the barred puzzles in the Sunday\r
+ broadsheets.\r
+\r
+ Although there are many word lists in the public domain, none\r
+ is well suited for use with crossword construction and word\r
+ search software.\r
+\r
+ This freely distributable list should be more helpful, as it\r
+ is specifically intended for use with crossword software. The\r
+ list will be updated at periodic intervals to correct errors\r
+ and make additions.\r
+\r
+ The UKACD is in the ISO 8859-1 character set (compatible with\r
+ the Windows ANSI character set), with a single entry per line.\r
+\f\r
+ EDITORIAL POLICY\r
+ ----------------\r
+\r
+ The original basis for the UKACD was a word list of some\r
+ 500,000 entries, compiled from public domain sources.\r
+\r
+ This was reduced to a list of around 190,000 words by\r
+ eliminating entries that aren't generally allowable in\r
+ UK advanced cryptic puzzles.\r
+\r
+ The list continues to be improved as missing entries are\r
+ discovered and added. A new update is issued when several\r
+ thousand entries have been added since the previous one.\r
+\r
+ The vocabulary included in the following single volume UK\r
+ English dictionaries is used as a guide to acceptability:\r
+\r
+ The Chambers Dictionary\r
+ Collins English Dictionary\r
+ The Concise Oxford Dictionary\r
+\r
+ Words are given in all their inflected forms, where\r
+ appropriate. That is, nouns are given in their plural\r
+ form(s); verbs are given as the infinitive, third person\r
+ singular, present and past participle; and the comparative\r
+ and superlative forms of adjectives are included where\r
+ they are reasonably common.\r
+\r
+ Common proper names are included, as they are often found\r
+ in crosswords, even though only Collins of the above\r
+ dictionaries has a systematic coverage of them. Some very\r
+ common words not to be found in any of the dictionaries\r
+ are also included.\r
+\r
+ To make the list more useful for compiling jumbo grids,\r
+ longer non-dictionary entries are being added. These include:\r
+ well-known quotations and proverbs; fictional characters and\r
+ book titles; films, pieces of music and works of art.\r
+\r
+ Some attempt is made to standardise the punctuation and\r
+ capitalisation of entries; in particular, by ensuring all\r
+ proper names start with a capital letter. However, no great\r
+ effort is put into this, as it only marginally affects the\r
+ usefulness of the list to crossworders.\r
+\r
+ Dictionary entries only differing in punctuation, accenting or\r
+ capitalisation are folded onto the single most common form.\r
+ This is done to save space and, again makes little difference\r
+ to the value of the UKACD to setters and solvers.\r
+\f\r
+ FEEDBACK\r
+ --------\r
+\r
+ If you find any errors, or have suggestions for additions,\r
+ please e-mail or post them to me at the address on the first\r
+ page of this document. Provided they are within the scope of\r
+ the UKACD, as defined under EDITORIAL POLICY, they will be\r
+ included in the next release of the word list.\r
+\r
+\r
+ LICENSING INFORMATION\r
+ ---------------------\r
+\r
+ Copyright (c) J Ross Beresford 1993-2000. All Rights Reserved.\r
+\r
+ The following restriction is placed on the use of this\r
+ publication: if The UK Advanced Cryptics Dictionary is used\r
+ in a software package or redistributed in any form, the\r
+ copyright notice must be prominently displayed and the text\r
+ of this document must be included verbatim.\r
+\r
+ There are no other restrictions: I would like to see the\r
+ list distributed as widely as possible.\r