Herculis 23/10

[kenbraham]

For sometime past I have wondered whether hyphens,, apostrophes etc. play an important part in the adjudication of linked solutions. Last week's Herculis clue for 30a was "Person who took part in the Californian Gold Rush" so I entered "FORTYNINER" but now see from to-day's paper the required answer was "FORTY-NINER". Should one mark the hyphen on the X-word entry ?
Has anyone checked this matter with th DT, please ?

[Argee2]

I think you will find that hyphens are usually ignored when entering solutions to crosswords. I have never seen a crossword with a hyphen entered, and I have been doing crosswords of all kinds for many years. They are given in the clues so that you know whether you are looking for a hyphenated word (5-5), two separate words (5,5) or ten letters (10).

[sarumite]

....... equally with apostrophes it would be impracticable to enter one on a square shared with a clue in the opposite direction.

[Aquagility]

But what about the linked words. should they be hyphonated or run together, or just left separate?

[Argee2]

If you mean when you send in your solutions, I do not think it matters very much. I always write them as they appear. For example, taste buds, this week. Recently there was Regent and Spark which I wrote as Regent's Park. I think if your envelope is opened (yippee) and you have the right words that is all that counts. I do not think you would be disqualified for missing out a hyphen. Good Luck anyway!!!

[kenbraham]

Many thanks Aquagility, Argee2 & Sarumite. Will keep on trying and hope inclusion of hyphens is not essential, even in the remote chance the envelope are ever opened.