Crossword Genius

Short month's end appears earlier than usual in part of March? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

step

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'usual in part of march?' is the definition.
'step' can be an answer for 'march?' (thesaurus). I'm not sure about the 'usual in part of' bit.

'short month's end appears earlier than' is the wordplay.
'end' indicates one should take the final letters.
'appears' indicates an anagram.
'earlier than' becomes 'ep' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
The final letters of 'short months' are 'ts'.
'ts' anagrammed gives 'st'.
'st'+'ep'='STEP'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for step that I've seen before include "Stage - pace" , "Bit of mashed potato maybe" , "Ladder rung; pace" , "Section of flight" , "Tread - stage" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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