| 100% | REINVENT | 8 | Be original, but not first |
| 65% | NEXTUP | 6 | Not being served, but first in line: 2 wds. |
| 63% | UNIT | 4 | Second, but not first |
| 56% | SONTAG | 6 | Susan who wrote, "The writer's first job is not to have opinions but to tell the truth" |
| 55% | ACTIVE | 6 | Seeing but not being seen? |
| 54% | RIDDLE | 6 | Perforate pan, but not at first |
| 53% | ADDER | 5 | Snake took steps, but not at first |
| 53% | EASES | 5 | Lessens and stops, but not at first |
| 53% | STARTREK | 8 | "___: The Original Series," acclaimed sci-fi TV series that was nominated for 11 Emmys but did not win any: 2 wds. |
| 52% | NOON | 4 | 12:00 PM, but not 12:00 AM? |
| 52% | SOFTG | 5 | The fifth letter of "garage," but not the first |
| 52% | SOFTC | 5 | The fourth letter of "cancel," but not the first |
| 52% | DELTA | 5 | Greek character drunk and elated, but not at first |
| 52% | SOFTG | 5 | The sixth letter of "garbage," but not the first |
| 52% | HARDC | 5 | The fourth letter of "circle," but not the first |
| 52% | SILENTB | 7 | The fourth letter of "bomb," but not the first |
| 52% | DOGTOYS | 7 | They're chewable but not meant to be eaten |
| 51% | WONONPOINTS | 11 | Was victorious, but not by a knockout |
| 49% | POEM | 4 | "A ___ should not mean / But be": MacLeish |
| 49% | AIR | 3 | It can be thin but not fat |
| 49% | AIR | 3 | It can be fresh but not insulting |
| 49% | LAWS | 4 | They can be passed but not failed |
| 49% | TIRE | 4 | It might be flat but not sharp |
| 49% | BYSTANDER | 9 | Someone who is present but not participating |
| 49% | JOURNEYMAN | 10 | Person who is reliable but not exceptional |
| 48% | ROLEPLAY | 8 | Not be oneself, but rather be one's elf? |
| 48% | APOEM | 5 | MacLiesh said it "should not mean / But be" |
| 48% | POEM | 4 | "A ___ should not mean / But be": Archibald MacLeish |
| 48% | LOWERFORTYEIGHT | 15 | Alabama is in it, but Alaska is not |
| 48% | AMPHIBIAN | 9 | A frog is not a reptile, but an __ |