A LITTLE WORD KNOW-HOW
Crossword Strategy: Let the Crossings Do Some Work
Use confident answers to narrow uncertain clues without locking in a guess too early.
Start with confidence
Read several clues before committing to a difficult one. A short familiar answer can provide a letter that makes a harder answer recognizable. You do not have to solve in clue-number order.
Treat uncertain answers lightly
A possible answer is not yet a confirmed answer. If its crossing words become implausible, revisit it. Keeping one stubborn guess can create several apparent problems elsewhere.
Check sense and form
A clue can point to a noun, verb or another sense of a familiar word. Check singular/plural form and the answer length. A synonym with the wrong number of letters is useful thinking, but not a fill.