54 Across

NYT Daily • September 5, 2025

Logical inconsistency in a story

Answer:

PLOT HOLE

Hint:

Think of a gap in a narrative where events or details don’t quite add up, leaving audiences scratching their heads over missing logic.

Explanation:

A "plot hole" is a gap or flaw in a story where something doesn’t make sense—like a missing detail, contradiction, or impossible event that breaks the logic. The clue plays it straight with no wordplay, directly naming the term for this kind of storytelling mistake. If a character’s backstory changes without explanation or a key event defies the story’s own rules, that’s a classic example. Think of it as a hole in the plot that leaves audiences scratching their heads.

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