Independent 7478 by Anax

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism

The online version had the compiler as Anaz this morning, but the printed version says Anax. I found the puzzle a bit of a struggle. There were a lot of words that were either a bit strange or were used with unusual meanings. In a lot of cases, even after getting the answer, I didn’t feel very confident about it and resorted the check button to make sure. My favourite clue was 11 across, although I did hesitate over whether the word existed or not.
 

Across
1	Standing room: Stand-in groom. I assume the meaning of groom here is the verb – “to groom/coach someone”.
8	Follow suit: (To us if)* around l(ake) low.
9	Buzz: DD referring to the astronaut, Buzz Aldrin.
10	Eddo: (Odd E(arth))<.
11	Tillerless: Till (=to) + re<(=on) + le[ave] + SS.
12	Actressy: I assume this is an &lit of ([O]scars yet)* with the “without one” telling you to drop the first letter.
13	Gabby: No idea at all on this one – “What I do about X being talkative”.
16	Adder: [L]adder.
18	Massacre: Mass (= popular as in “mass appeal”) + Acre.
21	Scaffolder: S + caff + older.
23	Yoof: Again completely at a loss on this one – “Introduction to rap from today’s kids”.
24	Keen: DD (keen as in a “keen wind” and “nuts about something”).
25	Moroseness: Mess around (sandwiching) sooner*.
26	Oscilloscope: O scope(=compass) on OS cill.
Down
1	Sell out: DD.
2	Atwitter: A tit around w + ter(race).
3	Double standards: Don’t entirely follow this, although there looks to be an anagram of “bad rules” somewhere.
4	Nutter: Must be a DD, although I don’t know in what context nutter = perfect.
5	Rubella: Rub + Ella.
6	Oozes: [B]oozes.
7	Woodland: Download*. Did think for a while it might be Scot (free) + land.
14	Bee House: Be + eh< + Ouse.
15	Espresso: Even letters of lets + “Press O”.
17	Effendi: Eff + end + i.
19	Cayenne: Aye in CNN + e.
20	Pommel: Mme in pol[o]. The unusual spelling here gave a misgivings.
22	Chess: Hidden in matches Spassky and also an &lit.