Minute Cryptic Daily Solution: Mastering Selection Indicators in 'No more texting inside by primary classmates… & teachers'

Welcome to today's Minute Cryptic solution, where we break down the clever wordplay behind a tricky daily puzzle. If you're new to cryptic crosswords or honing your skills, this step-by-step guide reveals how indicators, fodder, and definitions combine to form the answer: EXTINCT. Perfect for puzzle enthusiasts tackling one clue a day!

Understanding the Clue Structure

Every Minute Cryptic puzzle hides its answer in three key parts: the definition (a synonym for the solution), indicators (instructions for manipulation), and fodder (the letters to use). This clue reads: "No more texting inside by primary classmates… & teachers." Don't read it literally—cryptics thrive on misdirection. The surface suggests school drama, but the real magic is in the wordplay.

Spotting the Definition: 'No More'

The definition anchors the clue. "No more" points to something ended or gone forever—like a species that's extinct. This straightforward synonym sets our target: a 7-letter word meaning "ceased to exist." Keep it in mind as we unpack the wordplay.

Identifying the Indicators: 'Inside' and 'Primary'

Indicators tell you how to handle the fodder. Here, 'inside' signals a hidden word or letters concealed within another phrase, a classic cryptic device for selection. 'Primary' means take the first letters—often from words in sequence. These are both selection indicators, guiding you to pick specific letters.

"By" is a linker, placing parts side-by-side without altering them. It smooths the clue's deceptive surface reading.

Breaking Down the Fodder: 'Texting' and 'Classmates… & Teachers'

The raw material comes from 'texting' and 'classmates… & teachers'. Apply the indicators:

• 'Inside texting': Look within "texting" for hidden letters. Consecutive letters spell EXT (tEXTing—"inside" selects these).
• 'Primary classmates… & teachers': Take first letters of "classmates and teachers" (ignoring ellipses/punctuation as cryptic fodder often does): Classmates & Teachers → C T, but precisely, it's the primaries of the phrase yielding CT (Classmates & Teachers' initials).

Wait—refining: "classmates & teachers" primaries are Classmates & Teachers → CT. Placed "by" the inside part: EXT + CT = EXTINCT.

Inside "texting": tEX Tin g → EXT
Primary: C(lassmates)… & T(eachers) → CT
By: EXT + CT = EXTINCT

Putting It Together: Wordplay to Solution

1. Definition: "No more" = EXTINCT (died out).
2. Fodder selection: "Inside" texting gives EXT.
3. Primary selection: First letters of "classmates & teachers" give CT.
4. Link: "By" joins EXT by CT → EXTINCT.

The surface misleads as classroom texting woes, but cryptics reward pattern-spotting. EXTINCT fits perfectly: 7 letters, matches definition, and parses exactly.

Why This Puzzle Rocks for Cryptic Learners

With an average par of 3, this tests selection skills—essential for hidden words and initials in cryptic crosswords. Practice spotting indicators like "inside" (hiddens) and "primary" (first letters) to level up. Tomorrow's Minute Cryptic awaits!

Share your solve time in comments. Happy puzzling—crack more daily Minute Cryptic solutions with us!