Crossword Genius

Practice in America: 'grey' oddly seen (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

usage

'practice' is the definition.
(usage is a kind of practice)

'america grey oddly seen' is the wordplay.
'america' becomes 'usa' (synonyms).
'oddly seen' indicates alternate letters.
The alternate letters of 'grey' are 'ge'.
'usa'+'ge'='USAGE'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for usage that I've seen before include "Accepted or habitual practice" , "Silly little thing" , "Customary way in which language is spoken or written" , "Convention" , "Treatment, practice" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app