| TAKINGSIDES | Showing partiality ... or a hint to how the clues for 17-, 30- and 45-Across were constructed |
| BIASED | Showing partiality or prejudice (6) |
| BIRTHDATE | Nov. 3, 1949 for 17-, 30- and 48-Across (and this puzzle's author!) |
| FAVOUR | Show partiality or treat indulgently (6) |
| BOOKDROPS | Places to return library materials, and a hint to how the authors in four Down clues help complete the answers to the starred clues |
| TRYINGTIMES | Taxing periods, and a hint to 17-, 30- and 45- Across |
| IMOUT | "Peace!," and a hint to how the answers to the starred clues were formed |
| CORPORATEMERGER | Business acquisition ... or a hint to how the answers to the starred clues in this puzzle were formed? |
| YOURADHERE | Words on an empty billboard, and a hint to how the answers to the starred clues were formed |
| HEAVEHO | Dismissal, and a hint to how the answers to starred clues were derived |
| OUT | Deceive... or a hint to how the spellings of the starred clues' answers were formed? |
| FAKE | Deceive... or a hint to how the spellings of the starred clues' answers were formed? |
| LEFTRIGHT | Repeated words in a drill sergeant's marching order, and a hint to how the first and second word, in |
| AAS | Smallish batteries, and a hint to how the answers to starred clues are formed |
| HELIUM | Light element, and a hint to how the answers to starred clues have been inflated |
| NOEL | Christmas season... or a phonetic hint to how the starred clues must be read in order to make sense of their answers |
| ETTU | Words of reproach, and a hint to how the four longest puzzle answers are formed |
| MNEMONICDEVICE | The clue for 20-A, 26-A or 42-A, or another title for this puzzle |
| KIDSAREALLRIGHT | With "The," 2010 Annette Bening/Julianne Moore film ... and a hint to the ends of 17-, 30- and 45-Across |
| UNCLES | Point to the clues for the male members of the family (6) |
