Humming works in hit nearly written without Al (7)
I believe the answer is:
tannery
'humming works' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'hit nearly written without al' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'hit' could be 'tan' (tan can mean to beat or hit) and 'tan' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tannery that I've seen before include "skin treatment centre" , "Building involved in making leather" , "place for skin treatment" , "Leather works" , "where hides are treated" .)