Split the Difference (Solution)
by R.M. Baur and Eli Bogart
Thirteen cryptic clues are given in which the definition and wordplay parts correspond to two different words, differing from each other by two letters. For each pair of words, a unique intermediate word may be found that differs from each by only one letter. Reading off the changing letters in the intermediate words (in clue order, then first to last letter within each word) gives the clue phrase ONE SMALL STEP OR JACKSON DANCE, as detailed below, leading to the answer MOONWALK.
| ON | COINS: CHINS / COIFS | Cleft features: not a fiasco, silly (5) |
| ES | PLANES: PLANTS / PLANET | Two modes of transportation for shrubbery (6) |
| MA | MATH: PATH / MYTH | Way to cut off root and chop thyme (4) |
| LL | CALLING: CABLING / CALMING | California rapper's jewelry is soothing (7) |
| ST | SLATE: PLATE / SLAVE | One in bondage quietly departed (5) |
| EP | CREPT: CRYPT / CREST | Chilly pause in burial site (5) |
| OR | SHORT: SHIRT / SHOOT | Ludicrously hirsute outside the EU? Fire away (5) |
| JA | JABS: TABS / JOBS | Occupations for crazy bats (4) |
| CK | LOCKS: LOOKS / LOCUS | Helpless, kid's drink tipped over saucer's initial location (5) |
| SO | SOARING: ROARING / STARING | Hollering songbird (not large) (7) |
| ND | RENDER: READER / RENTER | Frightful red ear on tenant (6) |
| AN | MANOR: MINOR / MAJOR | Inconsequential army officer (5) |
| CE | CHILE: WHILE / CHILD | A kid is, we hear, a cunning device (5) |