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Thanks to Deuce for an enjoyable and topical EV (the intersection of 23 and 43 is also - grimly - topical). The conclusion of the preamble, “there is one abbreviation in each of the initial and final grids”, might suggest that the abbreviation in the initial grid is missing from or altered in the final grid. But I don’t think that is so because one of my modifications to the initial grid (which included an abbreviation) require the initial abbreviation to remain in place.

Jack, I also enjoyed the puzzle but my modification got rid of the initial abbreviation (turning into a real word) and left a different one.

My abbreviations are different between the initial and the final grid. In my initial grid the abbreviation is a down entry and in my final grid an across entry. It will be interesting to see what others say on this. I agree though that it was a very enjoyable puzzle.

Like AP, my second abbreviation is across and the first was down. But the modification involving the second leaves the first intact. Interesting indeed!

The correct modification leading to the 2nd abbreviation removes the 1st letter of the original abbreviation, leaving s real word.

Jack, I've had another good look at it but I can't see any reason for changing what I have. My original 4 letter abbreviation becomes a 3 letter word and my new abbreviation is 2 letters.

Thanks, AP. I can see what you (and everyone else who has commented) chose to do, involving erasure - and I suspect you’re all right and I’m wrong. There is another option which also identifies the final member of the thematic set and which involves making an abbreviation using a printed feature of the grid and leaving existing entries, or at least those with crossing letters, in place and changing an unch. On reflection, I think that identifying that possibility and plumping for it was - as my mother used to say - “too clever by half”.

I have the full set, but I'm unsettled that my 'exemplifying' (symbolically) one missing member removes the first letter of another, existing member of the set (as well as the first letter of an abbreviation). Further, how to 'exemplify' the second missing member beats me. A hint or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Speravi, The first letter of one of the set is removed when another is exemplified. For the other one look at what the first of the ten in the set is. That should lead you to the answer in the originally filled grid which needs changing.

Belated thanks, alwayspuzzled, that helped enormously - apologies for this tardy acknlowledgement.