Crossword Genius

Having it stops wife and husband (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

with

'having' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'it stops wife and husband' is the wordplay.
'stops' indicates putting letters inside (stopping can mean blocking a gap).
'wife' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'husband' becomes 'h' (abbreviation).
'w'+'h'='wh'
'it' going inside 'wh' is 'WITH'.

(Other definitions for with that I've seen before include "See 5" , "By means of" , "Possessing" , "In spite of" , "Alongside" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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