Times 26479 - The ramifications of orthography

Solving time: 40 minutes

Music: Coltrane, Giant Steps






After struggling a little with the Saturday and Sunday puzzles, I was expecting something easy. However, this puzzle proved to be a bit of a challenge, with some rather ambiguous clues and a bit of obscure usage. Of course, it's only obscure if you've never heard of it!

There were several complaints in the discussion forum, but if you are aware of the possible trap and think about the clue carefully, the correct answer is considerably more likely and natural.

I waited until the PGA Championship was complete before starting. Congratulations to Jimmy Walker, and condolences to those who just couldn't get anything going. Brooks Koepka stole my shot; I always hit the tree square in the middle of the trunk, even if it is 150 yards away, and the only one between me and the hole.

Across
1	TECHNOCRAT, anagram of TRENCH COAT, very clever.
6	ISLE, [a]ISLE.
9	KETCHUP, KETCH + UP, a definite chestnut.
10	PLUMAGE, PLUM + AG + [blu]E.
12	SPELL, double definition, one on the obscure side. However, if you type 'spell Indian sign' into Google, it comes up at once.
13	CROTCHETY, CROTCHET + [casualt]Y.
14	OPPOSITE NUMBERS, OPPOSITE (facing) + NUMBERS (book of the Bible).
17	KNOW A THING OR TWO, anagram of AT WORK NOTING WHO.
20	INEBRIANT, anagram of TEN IN BAR, I.
21	TEE + T[oug]H.
23	BESIDES, B + E + SIDES.
24	AUBERGE, AUBERG[in]E.
25	EARN, EAR + [attentio]N, a clever clue, but easy.
26	TYPESETTER, TYPE + SETTER, where 'comp' is presumably an informal term for a compositor.
Down
1	TAKE STOCK, a double definition, and a chestnutty one.
2	CUTIE, CU + TIE, another clue that has been seen before.
3	NO HOLDS BARRED, anagram of HER BROOD LANDS.
4	COPYCAT, COPY + CAT in varying senses.
5	ALPHORN, A + LP + [s]HORN.
7	STATEMENT, STATE + MEN + [defea]T.
8	ELEGY, [grav]E(LEG)Y[ards], where 'on' is the traditional cricket leg. Baseball, anyone?.
11	UNCOMFORTABLE, UN(COMFORT)ABLE, with 'comfort' in the sense of 'taking some comfort in'.
15	PROCESSOR, PRO[-f,+C]ESSOR, a simple letter change clue where the key is reading the clue carefully to see what is the input and what is the output.
16	SLOTH BEAR, S + LOTH + BEAR. 'Loth' is a variant of 'loath'; the Wictionary remarks: "the loath spelling is about four times more common in the UK and about fifty times more common in the US".
18	HEARSAY, HEAR + SAY, another rather simple cryptic.
19	NUTCASE, NUT + CASE, with a rather dubious literal.
20	IMBUE, I[talian] M[ountains] B[ehind], U[s], E[xtremely].
22	EGRET, E.G. + RE + [boa]T. .