Herculis 31a

[neuron]

I've read the earlier suggestions today regarding the answer for this one. (Clue: Transcriber)

Are we still expected to toss a coin over adaptor or adapter?

Thanks for your opinions.

[sarumite]

This has to be down to personal preference, but I leant towards Adaptor owing to this version being listed prior to Adapter (i.e. out of alphabetical order) in Collins Dictionary. Chambers lists the two words in normal order.

[Aquagility]

For what it's worth - not much - I've gone for adapter. I think of an adaptor as the thing you put three 13 amp plugs into to fuse all the lights.

[Town Crier]

Well, personally i do not think it matters which you use - I do not see the Daily Telegraph being so petty as to refuse to accept one spelling when both are correct.

[neuron]

Thanks sarumite and Aquagility. You're opinions are very much appreciated.

Town Crier, I follow what you say and indeed in the days of the great Mike Mepham, the crossword answers were always shown on the grid with both alternative letters in place with a forward slash between them. The problem is that for some time now, when such homophones arise, only one spelling of the word tends to be given in the following week's answers.

It's therefore pretty clear that they won't accept any other spelling of a word other than that chosen by the setter and you might well say they are being petty.

At the end of the day, I think everyone that posts such a question as I did on here is seeking a majority opinion. There's nothing else we can do.

[Town Crier]

Ah well neuron, we can agree to disagree without any trouble, can't we - I am still of the opinion that the Daily Telegraph WILL accept other spellings of the same word provided that they both fit and are correct.

I, for one would not be doing the crossword competitions if I thought that it was down to pure luck which spelling would be considered as correct. As far as I am concerned, whenever I send off a crossword, my entry IS correct and will be drawn out as a winner if I am fortunate.

[seekeerz]

I'd settled for 'adaptor' but after that most eloquent and [obviously] experienced arguement from Aquagility !!!
I shall change to adapter - the whole thing is quite irrelevant as I never enter - tooo far away