Mixed tone gives message (4) cryptic crossword solution.

How the clue works

Mixed indicates an anagram of TONE, producing NOTE. The synonym match is NOTE = message, as in a short written communication.

Verification steps

1. TONE supplies the letters.
2. Mixed is the anagram indicator.
3. TONE rearranges to NOTE.
4. Synonym: NOTE means message, as in a short written communication.
5. The enumeration confirms four letters.

Why this answer is defensible

The answer NOTE is supported by three checks: the definition is message, the wordplay explains how the letters are produced, and the enumeration requires 4 letters. That combination is stronger than a dictionary match alone.

Clue type context

An anagram clue asks you to rearrange a set of letters, usually called the fodder, to make the answer. A fair anagram clue also includes an indicator that tells you the letters are being mixed or disturbed.

Look for words that suggest disorder, movement, repair, damage, or rearrangement. Then identify a nearby word or phrase with exactly the right letters for the answer length.

Common traps for this clue type

• Using too many or too few fodder letters.
• Treating any nearby word as fodder without an anagram indicator.
• Accepting a rearranged word that does not match the definition.

When to be cautious

Confidence should be reduced if another answer fits the same enumeration and known letters better, if the definition is weaker than expected, or if the indicator does not fairly support the proposed wordplay. This page marks the current parse as high confidence.