Jeopardy! recurring categories

On the television quiz show "Jeopardy!", there are some recurring categories that follow special rules. In such cases, contestants and viewers are usually told prior to game play the specific format required of a correct response.

List of recurring categories

; Quotation-mark categories: In these categories, a letter or group of letters will be placed inside quotation marks in the category name; correct responses will begin with, end with, or otherwise contain that letter or group of letters.: For example, if the category title is "AFTER" CLASS::* "Clue:" A small earthquake or tremor that occurs following a major one.:* "Correct response:" What is an aftershock? [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=2345 J! Archive - Show #5403] (Jeopardy! round), aired 2008-02-20.]

; CROSSWORD CLUES [Letter] [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=crossword+clues&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "crossword clues".] ] : A specialized "quotation mark" category in which the category name gives the first letter and the individual clues give the number of letters in the correct response. Previously known as STARTS WITH [Letter] or FILE UNDER [Letter] , these versions did not give the expected number of letters.: The category is CROSSWORD CLUES "L"::* "Clue:" Quiche kingdom (8). (host states, "eight letters"):* "Response:" What is Lorraine? [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=2517 J! Archive - Show #5489] (Double Jeopardy! round), aired 2008-06-19.]

; [Number] -LETTER WORDS [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=letter+words&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "letter words".] ] : Each correct response is a word containing the specified number of letters.: The category is 13-LETTER WORDS::* "Clue:" A doctor who specializes in the elderly.:* "Response:" What is a gerontologist? [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=1911 J! Archive - Show #5257] (Double Jeopardy! round), aired 2007-06-19.]

; BEFORE AND AFTER [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=before+and+after&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "before and after".] ] : Inspired by a "Wheel of Fortune" category, the first and second parts of the question share a word in common. A tougher variant is the three-part BEFORE, DURING & AFTER.:* "Clue:" Hemorrhoid remedy for an old "Baltimore Sun" essayist.:* "Response:" What is Preparation H. L. Mencken? (joining Preparation H and H. L. Mencken)

; JEOPORTMANTEAU! [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=jeoportmanteau&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "jeoportmanteau".] ] : The clue describes two words or phrases which the contestant must combine to form an artificial portmanteau.:* "Clue:" Cone-shaped dwelling plus hide-your-face game played by youngsters.:* "Response:" What is Teepeekaboo?

; ANAGRAMS [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=anagram&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "anagram".] ] : Each clue contains the correct response in anagrammed form. Often the category is related to a particular topic.: The category is ANAGRAMMED ANIMALS::* "Clue:" It likes to neck: fig fear.:* "Response:" What is giraffe? [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=2524 J! Archive - Show #5492] (Jeopardy! round), aired 2008-06-24.]

; STUPID ANSWERS [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=stupid+answers&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "stupid answers".] ] : The correct response appears, unaltered, in the clue itself — although that does not mean it is always obvious.:* "Clue:" In 1985 Neil Simon's "Biloxi Blues" premiered on Broadway at this theater.:* "Response:" What is the Neil Simon theater? [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=2510 J! Archive - Show #5483] (Double Jeopardy! round), aired 2008-06-11.]

; SPELLING [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=spelling&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "spelling".] ] : The correct response must be spelled out. Sometimes the answer will be spoken by the host, but not shown in the clue. Also known as THE DREADED SPELLING CATEGORY, [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=dreaded+spelling&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "dreaded spelling".] ] the words are sometimes taken directly from actual spelling bee contests [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=spelling+bee&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "spelling bee".] ] or are related to a particular topic or letter of the alphabet, as reflected in the category name.: The category is CELEBRITY SURNAME SPELLING::* "Clue:" The actress who'll always be TV's Buffy Summers to us.:* "Response:" Who is G-E-L-L-A-R? [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=1552 J! Archive - Show #4562] (Double Jeopardy! round), aired 2004-06-08.]

; COMMON BONDS [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=common+bonds&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "common bonds".] ] : The correct response is the connection between the three given items.:* "Clue:" Bad habits, footballs, buckets.:* "Response:" What are things you kick?

; NAME'S THE SAME [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=name+same&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "name same".] ] : Two given proper names share the first or last word.: The category is FIRST NAME'S THE SAME::* "Clue:" Jennings, Tomarken.:* "Response:" Who is Peter?

; GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=facts+straight&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "facts straight".] ] : Clues in this category present information about two similar-sounding names, one of which is stated in the clue and the other of which is the correct response.:* "Clue:" A gazelle is a graceful animal; this 1841 ballet has been called "the "Hamlet" of the dance".:* "Response:" What is "Giselle"?

; ALSO A...: The correct response is also an unrelated thing.: The category is ALSO A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT: :* "Clue:" Legendary Chicago Bears running back Brian.:* "Response:" Who is Piccolo? [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=2422 J! Archive - Show #5444] (Jeopardy! round), aired 2008-04-17.]

; SOUNDS LIKE [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=sounds+like&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "sounds like".] ] : The correct response sounds like an unrelated thing or person.: The category is SOUNDS LIKE A GAME SHOW HOST::* "Clue:" Newlyweds know that he wobbled as coach of The Jets in Super Bowl III but didn't fall down.:* "Response:" Who is Weeb Ewbank? [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=2518 J! Archive - Show #5490] (Jeopardy! round), aired 2008-06-20.] (Which sounds like Bob Eubanks, host of "The Newlywed Game".)

; HOMOPHONES [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=homophon&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "homophon".] ] : The correct response is a word that sounds like the two homonyms referred to in the clue, or sometimes a phrase containing both.: The category is HOMOPHONIC PAIRS::* "Clue:" A hidden collection of money.:* "Response:" What is a cash cache?

; RHYME TIME [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=rhyme+time&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "rhyme time".] ] : The correct response contains two consecutive rhyming words. Common variants include CELEBRITY RHYME TIME and BEASTLY RHYME TIME (relating to animals).:* "Clue:" Type of paint for your dromedary.:* "Response:" What is camel enamel? [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=506 J! Archive - Show #4828] (Jeopardy! round), aired 2005-09-14.]

; QUASI-RELATED PAIRS [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=quasi-related+pairs&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "quasi-related pairs".] ] : The clue describes two unrelated people or things whose names are shared by a well known pair.:* "Clue:" The kernel of a peach & Foucault's famous invention.:* "Response:" What is the pit and the pendulum? [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=16 J! Archive - Show #4611] (Jeopardy! round), aired 2004-09-27.]

; OPERA [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=opera&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "opera".] ] : When this category appears, it is often the subject of humor, since the assumption is that the category will be a difficult one. The category has on occasion been renamed in a manner acknowledging that assumption (for example, as THE DREADED OPERA CATEGORY [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=390 J! Archive: Show #4798] (Jeopardy! round), aired 2005-06-15.] or UH-OH, OPERA [ [http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=2325 J! Archive: Show #5396] (Double Jeopardy! round), aired 2008-02-11.] ).

; POTENT POTABLES [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=potent+potables&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "potent potables".] ] : An alcoholic drink must be identified from its ingredients. A variant for younger players is NONPOTENT POTABLES, about soft drinks or other non-alcoholic drinks. This category is also a recurring category in the Celebrity Jeopardy! sketches on "Saturday Night Live", although it has never been picked by a contestant in a sketch.fact|date=August 2008

; POTPOURRI [ [http://www.j-archive.com/search.php?search=potpourri&submit=Search J! Archive - Search for "potpourri".] ] : Also called HODGEPODGE or GOULASH, this is a variety of unrelated topics in the same category; it almost always appears in the last (rightmost) column on the board.fact|date=August 2008 A popular variant is LEFTOVERS, which consists of clues that were not used in previous games because time ran out.

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