Simply Cryptic #3

Question

No back story, no setting, no theme, simply a cryptic clue to solve:

Leading to effect, endless pause in large town with LA reversal

Since cryptic clues traditionally indicate the number of letters in the solution, I'll provide that as a hint:

(9)

_{After some feedback on my previous questions, hopefully this is a little better. However, criticism is still welcome.}

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James Webster · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-09 14:02:38Z

5

I think it's

CAUSALITY

because

endless pause -> AUS
with LA reversal -> AL
in large town -> CITY
C-AUS-AL-ITY
leading to effect -> (def)

James Webster

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answered Sep 9, 2016 at 13:42

kayzeroshort

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$\begingroup$ This is the answer I was thinking of.. But it points out a problem with the clue! The first part isn't just topless! $\endgroup$
– James Webster
Commented Sep 9, 2016 at 13:43
1

$\begingroup$ yep, I was gonna say that. perhaps 'endless' is a better choice, both for the wordplay and for the aesthetics of the sentence. $\endgroup$
– kayzeroshort
Commented Sep 9, 2016 at 13:44
$\begingroup$ Apart from clarity, "endless" has the advantage that is has a much better surface reading: A pause can be endless, but hardly topless. A problem with the construction is that both AUS and AL go into CITY, so they both should appear together before "in large town" unless you explicitly indicate that "LA reversal" is to be inserted. "with" is too weak for that; it suggests juxtaposition. $\endgroup$
– M Oehm
Commented Sep 9, 2016 at 19:58

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