Strands FAQ

1. What is the Strands game?
   Strands is a daily word puzzle game from The New York Times. You’re given a grid of letters and a clue—your job is to find related words hidden in the grid.
2. How do I know what words to look for?
   Each puzzle has a theme clue at the top. All the hidden words are somehow connected to that theme.
3. What’s a “spangram”?
   A “spangram” is a special word in the puzzle that stretches from one side of the grid to the other. It ties the theme together and usually gives a big hint.
4. Do I need to find the spangram first?
   Nope. You can find it at any time, but spotting it early might help you crack the rest of the puzzle faster.
5. Are the words always English dictionary words?
   Yes—common English words only. No names, abbreviations, or slang.
6. Can letters be used more than once?
   No. Once a letter is used in a word, it can’t be reused in that same word. But it can be reused in other words.
7. Do words have to be in straight lines?
   No, they can snake around. As long as the letters are touching horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and used in order, it counts.
8. Can I guess randomly?
   Sure, and sometimes it helps. If you guess a real word that isn’t part of the theme, it gets marked as a “valid word,” and enough of those will earn you a hint.
9. How many theme words are in each puzzle?
   Usually 7–10, plus the spangram.
10. Is there a time limit?
    Nope. Take as long as you want—Strands is more about thinking than racing.
11. Is spelling important?
    Yes, the game only accepts words that are correctly spelled. Typos don’t count.
12. What do I do if I get stuck?
    You can earn hints by finding non-theme words. You can also try rereading the clue, looking for prefixes/suffixes, or searching for the “spangram”.
13. Can I play past puzzles?
    The official site only displays today’s puzzle, but fan-made archives and apps may allow you to replay old ones.
14. Is this similar to Wordle or Connections?
    Kind of. Like those games, it’s about pattern recognition and word knowledge, but Strands leans more into word search and puzzle solving.
15. Why should I play Strands?
    It sharpens your vocabulary, boosts your pattern recognition, and—most importantly—it’s fun and satisfying.