Inquisitor 1277

[boreas]

Hi,
Any help on 22d?
I have four of the letters, but can't make a word to fit the clue.
Thanks.

[mallyh]

can you give a clue please

[boreas]

The clue is: 'Check on unions boss'.
The preamble says there is a redundant letter either in the clue itself or arising from the wordplay.

[elliemay1]

Could you give us the letters you have and total number, please?

[mallyh]

what letters have you got

[boreas]

Five letter answer.
Letters I have are RIN-S

[Kobnut]

Hi Boreas

The redundant letter is E , it is a clue without definition.

[boreas]

Thanks Kobnut.

This is the only one I haven't filled in yet.
Am I right in thinking it's the one that "relates to the quotation itself"?

[Kobnut]

No . It relates to the author.

[boreas]

Thanks again.
I have it now.
So I take it GS is short for General Secretary?

[elliemay1]

What is the answer then??

[boreas]

Rings

[mallyh]

didn;t understand any of that lol

[elliemay1]

neither do I!

[boreas]

Check= REIN, minus redundant E gives RIN.
Union boss+ GS (abb for general secretary)

[mallyh]

thanks boreas but the redundant letter part goes right over my poor aching head lol

[boreas]

Sorry Mallyh,
Are you not actually doing this crossword?

[mallyh]

no never heard of it before

[elliemay1]

I get that but what has RINGS to do with the meaning of the clue?

[boreas]

It's one of the clues without a definition.

[elliemay1]

What a daft crossword!!!