| 100% | IMSORRY | 7 | "Saying '___' is the first step ..." (start of some Daniel Tiger advice) |
| 49% | LEE | 3 | The first step of treating a cut is stopping the b___ding |
| 44% | PTA | 3 | Acce___nce is the first step |
| 44% | FIRESAFETY | 10 | Subject in which the first words of 17-, 29- and 46-Across are sage advice |
| 44% | NEVERINTERRUPT | 14 | Start of some advice |
| 43% | AWORDTOTHEYY | 12 | Start of some cautionary advice |
| 43% | COIN | 4 | Be the first to say |
| 43% | MEAL | 4 | Breakfast is the most important one of the day, some say |
| 42% | HAMMURABI | 9 | Babylonian King, said to be the first set of laws |
| 42% | PROGRESS | 8 | The first step in this is discontent |
| 42% | OPENS | 5 | Is the first act of a concert |
| 42% | HOBOKEN | 7 | City that hosted what some say was the first organized baseball match, in 1846 |
| 42% | WAR | 3 | What truth is said to be the first casualty of |
| 42% | ASIN | 4 | "... which is the first letter of ..." |
| 42% | ASIN | 4 | "...which is the first letter of..." |
| 41% | WIN | 3 | Be the first one to finish a race, say |
| 41% | SELF | 4 | ___-preservation is the first law of Nature |
| 41% | MAN | 3 | Adam was the first of this kind |
| 41% | JAN | 3 | Start of the first qtr. |
| 41% | LEAD | 4 | Be the head of, say |
| 41% | SEAN | 4 | Parker who was the first president of Facebook |
| 41% | ROLLO | 5 | Viking who was the first ruler of Normandy |
| 41% | EVA | 3 | Perón who was the First Lady of Argentina |
| 40% | TOM | 3 | Landry who was the first coach of the Cowboys |
| 40% | METHLABS | 8 | Workplaces where speed is the first order of business? |
| 40% | DAVID | 5 | Letterman who was the first host of 15-Across |
| 40% | RIDGE | 5 | Tom who was the first Secretary of Homeland Security |
| 40% | MOBILEALABAMA | 13 | City that was the first capital of French Louisiana |
| 40% | GANDHI | 6 | She was the first female prime minister of India |
| 40% | ROLLO | 5 | Norse Viking who was the first ruler of Normandy |