| 100% | JOHNNYMERCER | 12 | Lyricist born 11/18/1909 who wrote the words to the 10 songs with asterisked clues |
| 38% | LEWISCARROLL | 12 | Writer who was the source of all the words with asterisked clues in this puzzle |
| 35% | IMPROPERLYSPELLED | 17 | Like the answers to the 10 asterisked clues, more often than any other English words, according to a 1999 study |
| 34% | KAHN | 4 | Gus who wrote the words to "Makin' Whoopee" |
| 33% | LYRICIST | 8 | One who writes the words for songs |
| 32% | VOICE | 5 | With 64-Across, performer who is like the words sounded out at the starts of the answers to the four starred clues |
| 31% | THEMONTHOFMARCH | 15 | Period described by the clues and answers to 1- and 72-Across (which are the start and end of a word ladder formed by the answers to the 10 asterisked clues) |
| 31% | FOUR | 4 | With 69-Across, childish taunt ... and a homophonic hint to the answers to the asterisked clues |
| 31% | PAYNE | 5 | John Howard —, American actor-playwright who wrote the lyrics to song Home Sweet Home |
| 31% | FAMOUSNAMES | 11 | With 59-Across, what the answers to the 11 capitalized clues begin |
| 30% | PESSIMIST | 9 | One who identifies with the answers to the starred Down clues |
| 30% | OPTIMIST | 8 | One who identifies with the answers to the starred Across clues |
| 30% | LYRICISTS | 9 | People who write words to hit songs |
| 30% | AIMEE | 5 | Mann who wrote the theme song to the podcast "I Said No Gifts!" |
| 30% | BAEZ | 4 | Folk singer Joan who wrote the memoir "And A Voice to Sing With" |
| 29% | ALLCENTURYTEAM | 14 | With 42-Across, what the 10 answers to the capitalized clues comprise |
| 29% | VIOLA | 5 | With 28-Across, "How to Get Away with Murder" actress who wrote the 2022 memoir "Finding Me" |
| 29% | LIONEL | 6 | Richie who wrote "We Are the World" with 10-/25-Down |
| 29% | MEASURETWICE | 12 | With 66-Across, carpentry adage that also describes the first words of the answers to the starred clues |
| 28% | GETOUTOFHERE | 12 | "Shoo!," and an instruction that goes with the last words of the answers to the starred clues |
| 28% | OLDMACDONALD | 12 | Subject of a children's song associated with the vowels in the answer to each starred clue |
| 28% | SMOKE | 5 | Word that can combine with the starts of the answers to the six starred clues |
| 28% | FIRE | 4 | Word that can combine with the ends of the answers to the six starred clues |
| 28% | MET | 3 | Shook hands with (a hint to the first words of the starred clues) |
| 28% | OUTOF | 5 | Lacking, and what can go with each word in the answers to starred clues |
| 28% | TWOCANPLAY | 10 | With 28-Down, words to a cheater ... or an honest hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 27% | ARENT | 5 | "___ you the guy who tried to / Hurt me with the word goodbye?" (Dua Lipa lyric) |
| 27% | KATEMULGREW | 11 | Actress who wrote the 2015 memoir "Born With Teeth": 2 wds. |
| 27% | LAWRENCE | 8 | Jack who wrote the lyrics to "Tenderly" |
| 27% | OTANNENBAUM | 11 | Seasonal song with a hint to the last words in 17-, 25-, 37- and 45-Across |