It seems like American and British crosswords are more interested in addition and subtraction than in transformation.
In American-style puzzles, I’ve seen “add something” themes, like adding an A to IDES OF MARCH to get IDEAS OF MARCH. And I’ve seen “subtract something” themes, like subtracting an A from HAUNTED HOUSE to get HUNTED HOUSE. And I’ve seen “change” themes too, like changing (one) A into B to turn ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE to ALL IN FAVOR SAY BYE.
But in style guides for American crosswords, I often see addition themes mentioned, sometimes subtraction, but never change-a-letter or change-a-string. (The only exception is in the book I wrote about crosswords nearly—gulp—ten years ago now. If you’re interested, don’t pay the $75 they’re asking for a copy these days, just write me.)
Likewise, insertions and deletions are well-established types of cryptic clues. But I haven’t seen a name for swapping out a letter or a longer string and replacing it with something else. Might as well go with transformation.
If I had to guess why this clue type gets less attention, I’d say it’s harder to indicate it fairly without giving the game away. With insertions and deletions you’ve got three variables to handle: INSERTION = INERT ION + S. But with transformations, you’ve got four. And you have to indicate two sets of changes—the smaller part into the other smaller part, and the prior word or phrase into the final answer.
But what’s life without a little challenge?
It’s one to ten
that cosmetics CEO is superhero (1-3)—X-MAN (from IMAN, I to X)Advance into greater luxury—
it becomes her
(6)—POSHER (from POSIT, “it” becomes “her”)
Why not be heard
with greeting instead of crying (3-3)—YOO-HOO (instead of BOO-HOO, Y not B, “heard” as “why not be”)
Why not indeed.