ASI

Set to 57 different clues across 97 published puzzles, most often "Just ___ thought!" — The New York Times, Sunday, 6 September 2009.

3 letters

Every clue on record, most used first

"Just ___ thought!"6 times
The New York Times — Sunday, 6 September 2009
"_____ was saying..."5 times
The New York Times — Sunday, 15 October 1995
"___ Lay Dying"4 times
The New York Times — Wednesday, 6 July 2011
"___ recall ..."4 times
The New York Times — Tuesday, 19 January 2010
"_____ live and breathe!"4 times
The New York Times — Saturday, 16 December 1995
Do-do connector3 times
The New York Times — Sunday, 30 January 2011
"___ said ..."3 times
The New York Times — Sunday, 19 December 2010
"___ see it ..."3 times
The New York Times — Wednesday, 31 December 2008
"___ was saying ..."3 times
The New York Times — Monday, 28 July 2008
Faulkner's "___ Lay Dying"3 times
The New York Times — Thursday, 22 April 2004
"___ always say ..."2 times
The New York Times — Wednesday, 4 May 2011
"___ live and breathe!"2 times
The New York Times — Monday, 14 April 2008