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I've done all the grid except 8d. Only one letter missing (5th), sure the rest are good, totally out of ideas, any chance of a nudge?

Original clue answer is a hidden word; definition Scottish word for strides. Entry is thematic. 5th letter p. Do you have the others correct. You should see a thematic item.

I spelt Chechov incorrectly ! Obvious now, many thanks, wasted ages looking for it, always the way. Just need to work out the 3 thematic word, got the title.

I believe it's Chekhov, but the 4th letter is uncrossed anyway, so unless you are submitting it, it won't matter.

Am just summoning up the effort to get to the end-game and have hit a problem. The letters removed from eleven (replaced by thematic items) are 20 in total (9x2 and 2x1). I'm assuming another 1 or 2 must go from the title giving 21 or 22 letters,

I therefore can't get to 8,8,7 thematic words. Can anyone help please?

Apologies if this has been answered elsewehere. I've enjoyed this puzzle so far and would like to carry on a little further.

Thanks

There’s only one one-letter generating substitution [8D].

You may well have an unparsed one-letter that’s really a two-letter [11A].

An unfortunate effect of having the synonyms ‘XXX’ and ‘N-XXX’, which you wouldn’t believe until you look it up.

HTH.

HW7

Thanks HW7

Your diagnosis is 100% correct and 150% helpful. I will battle on tomorrow (after Arsenal and Norwich victories (some hope for the former!))

Haven't read the thread as still trying to solve largely unaided. Gridfill was ok, think I have a correct grid, and have adjusted the title. Now have 23 letters and I am struggling to see how to find the three words. Would appreciate it if some kind soul could confirm:

When it says three more thematic words I am looking for words with a thematic item in them, like the 11 grid entries?

Do the words formed keep the pairs from the clues or are they completely random (presuming random at this point)?

The replaced letters are

AL, IB, AM, EL, NI, RO, CO, NA, TR, T, PO and EN?

Thanks

You are just looking for 3 thematic items (akin to the replacement items)...

Got them now, thanks. Poor preamble wording in my view. Why not say three more thematic items? The thematic words are (in my view) the longer words with the thematic items inside them. Items removes any confusion.