The surprising answer to a tricky crossword clue: No. 2 beats No. 1!

As soon as I came across the clue ‘A No. 2 one is more widely popular than a No. 1‘, I knew that I was looking for a type of writing implement. The mention of No. 1 and No. 2 made me think of pencils, since these are typically referred to as No. 2 (or HB) and No. 1 pencils. I considered other types of writing instruments, such as pens or markers, but the mention of No. 1 and No. 2 specifically led me back to pencils.

The key insight in solving this clue was the word ‘popular’. I knew that pencils were widely used and appreciated, but I also had to consider why a No. 2 was more popular than a No. 1. After a bit of thought, I realized that No. 2 pencils are the standard for standardized tests. This made sense, as most people have experience taking standardized tests (such as the SAT or ACT), and thus have a familiarity with the use of No. 2 pencils for these tests. Additionally, No. 2 pencils are easier to read and write with, making them more popular in general use as well.

Overall, the process of solving this crossword clue involved a combination of deductive reasoning (based on the No. 1/No. 2 distinction) and context clues (in the word ‘popular’). Once I realized that I was likely looking for a type of writing implement, the key was piecing together the various clues to land on the correct answer: PENCIL.