How to Solve Crosswords (An Unplanned Part 3)

This would be short.  Basically just an encore for parts 1 and 2. Here goes:
A few more tips: 

1.    Most crosswords have a theme.  If you think you are stumped, you can look at the theme. It can point you to the right direction and narrow down your universe of answer possibilities.

For instance, USA Today’s November 10 puzzle has a theme FRO AND TO which in the real world is TO AND FRO.  One of the clues that I encountered for 14 boxes is  WHY SINGLE LADIES LIKE CERTAIN CANDY BARS?  The intuitive answer is MEN ARE FROM MARS (note:  this answers the question, ladies point to women and candy bar points to MARS) but it just doesn’t fit the letters I already have in some boxes.  The theme being FRO and TO pointed me to MARS ARE FROM MEN, which was the correct answer.

 2.    Consider that the answer is not just a single word but a  phrase or group of words like an idiom or an expression.    There is rarely any hint that the answer is a group of words.  Consider the following clues:

        a.   LEND __  ____   (“pay close attention”)

        b.  Surrender

The blanks on the first clue points to 2 words – AN EAR.  For the second clue, the answer is CRY UNCLE.

3.    Consider the possibilities.   For instance, the clue PRESENT – _ _ _ _ may pertain to the noun:  GIFT or the verb:  show.   

So far, these are the types of  clues that I have encountered in my crossword journey.  Should I encounter anything new in the future,  you will surely find them in an unplanned part 4.

If you have tips on crosswords, feel free to share it here.