| 100% | EXPO | 4 | A fair or convention, for short: Abbr |
| 58% | EXPOS | 5 | World's fairs or trade conventions, for short |
| 51% | MAG | 3 | Vanity Fair or Elle, for short |
| 51% | MAG | 3 | Vanity Fair or Vogue, for short |
| 49% | SCI | 3 | School subject with a fair, for short |
| 49% | LEGIT | 5 | Like a fair and official contract, for short |
| 48% | TEC | 3 | A sleuth or private eye, for short |
| 47% | PBR | 3 | Beer named after a fair prize, for short |
| 47% | RPM | 3 | 45 or 78, for a record: Abbr. |
| 46% | BIOL | 4 | Short word for a science, not chem or phys |
| 46% | TEMPORARY | 9 | Lasting for a short or limited time |
| 46% | DIF | 3 | "Not the same," for short (also, a starting to "-fuse" or "-ference") |
| 46% | STA | 3 | Starting or ending point for a commuter: Abbr. |
| 46% | NCO | 3 | Corporal or a Sergeant, for e.g.: Abbr. |
| 45% | RPM | 3 | Speed measure for a record player or tachometer: Abbr. |
| 45% | VET | 3 | Doctor for a collie or calico, for short |
| 45% | PAREN | 5 | Figure above a 9 or 0, for short |
| 45% | MOD | 3 | Enhancement to a car or bike, for short |
| 45% | SIB | 3 | Short for a brother or a sister |
| 45% | HRH | 3 | Title for a prince or princess: Abbr. |
| 45% | TEL | 3 | Number for a landline or cell: Abbr. |
| 45% | TEL | 3 | Number for a cell or landline: Abbr. |
| 45% | GER | 3 | Language for a Frankfurter or Hamburger: Abbr. |
| 45% | ALT | 3 | Abbr. for a choice or change |
| 45% | POBOX | 5 | Certain mailing address, for short ... or a hint to 14 squares in this puzzle |
| 44% | BRO | 3 | Call a homie or a sibling, for short |
| 44% | PSAT | 4 | Exam for a 10th- or 11th-grader: Abbr. |
| 44% | PTA | 3 | Group that may run a book fair for a school: Abbr. |
| 43% | ETA | 3 | When a plane or train is due, for short |
| 43% | PANDG | 5 | Consumer products giant, for short ... or a hint to the answers to the eight starred clues |