Crossword Genius

Put a tick against Russian author, so to speak

Ross

I believe the answer is:

checkoff

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'put' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for checkoff that I've seen is " To tick on a list".)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Mail.
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