NO WINNER THIS WEEK!!

ACROSS

6. PRIDE not price. The “businessman” would probably have a number of different possessions (e.g., “assets”) that would have varying prices, not one price only. PRIDE makes a more logical answer.

7. HALF not halo. On a clear “night,” a HALF “moon” can be captivating in how “bright” it appears to be. A halo, however, is comparatively dim, being a refraction of light through vapor.

8. REVISE not devise. The “team” wouldn’t have truly devised a “comprehensive” and “effective” “plan” if something about it failed. REVISE is more to the point.

9. MAN not fan. The phrase “watches football broadcasts weekly without fail” is proof that the MAN is a fan, making fan unnecessary in the clue.

10. FIT not hit. Often, clothes can FIT well, but not quite perfectly, so that “some luck may be necessary” to make one’s outfit look just right. But many people need “luck” for any kind of a hit at all, not just a “perfect” one.

12. BEE not bed. A futon is a type of bed that has no “legs for support.” A BEE, however, has six “legs” that “support” it.

14. CONCERTO not concerts. The clue word “listen” links up directly with CONCERTO. Many types of concerts are very visual (e.g., dance movements, lighting effects) in terms of production.

15. LAST not lost. The “friend” might well refuse “another weekend camping trip” “invitation” based on some negative experience she had the LAST “time” she went “camping.” Strictly speaking, she can’t take into “consideration” the lost “time,” not having accepted the “invitation” in the first place.

17. DEFORM not reform. In many instances “centuries ago,” people were imprisoned illegally, meaning there was no need for their reform at all. The “cruel lack of concern” is better suited to DEFORM.

DOWN

1. PRIMATE not private. A private in the army might have been drafted into service and could possibly have some resentment about his “duties”; whereas, a PRIMATE (e.g., archbishop), “in all probability, respects the duties that befit his rank.”

2. DECENT not recent. DECENT makes a better answer. Simply because the “hairdo” is recent doesn’t ensure that it’s DECENT, especially if the “aunt” has a new hairstylist whose work doesn’t appeal to her.

3. CHAIN not chair. Simply by sitting on the chair you would be both “testing it” and using it. However, you could definitely test the old CHAIN “first” by putting some strain on it before beginning to “use it.”

4. FLUE not clue. The clue words “upon investigation” are superfluous for clue. FLUE makes a clear-cut answer in which a chimney “fire” could develop, and then become “serious.”

5. CREST not chest. “The family” CREST was, at one time in the “past,” particularly popular among the wealthy. A chest is too vague since it can be a box, case, crate or trunk, most of which are in active use “these days.”

11. SEEKING not seeming. SEEKING makes a straightforward answer. There’s the possibility that although he seems to be exploiting them, the “producer” has evidence to prove that such is not the case.

12. BALL not bull. A bull is, in essence, a participant in a bullfight; therefore, it would be inaccurate to refer to the bull as being used. A BALL’s “use,” on the other hand, is crucial to many sports.

16. SAME not some. SAME is best. The clue phrase “father wonders why,” which denotes uncertainty, makes some superfluous.