How Strands hints work, and when to use them
Bank hints with short words and spend them on the answers that matter.
- Three valid non-theme words of four letters or more earn one hint.
- A hint highlights the letters of one theme word; a second hint on the same word shows the order.
- Bank hints with easy short words early, then spend them on the last word you cannot find.
- Using hints does not break your streak.
Strands is the only NYT puzzle with a built-in hint system, and most players use it badly. They spend hints as soon as they earn them, on words they would have found anyway. This guide explains how the meter works and how to turn it into a reliable way to finish every puzzle.
How the hint meter fills
Any valid English word of four letters or more that is not part of the theme adds to the meter. Three such words earn one hint. The words do not have to be clever: short, common words like HEAT, LINE or MOST all count, and you can find them in seconds in most grids.
What a hint reveals
Pressing Hint highlights every letter of one theme word, but not the order. If you press Hint again on the same word, the letters are numbered so you can trace it. The game chooses the word, so you cannot target a specific one, which is why timing matters.
Bank first, spend last
Start every puzzle by finding six to nine short non-theme words, which banks two or three hints. Then solve the theme as far as you can without help. When you are down to the last word or two, spend the hints. Because the game picks from the remaining theme words, a hint used at the end is guaranteed to land on a word you actually need.
Finding the spangram without a hint
The spangram touches two opposite edges of the board and is usually the longest answer. Look at the letters on the top and bottom rows and the left and right columns. A long word that starts on one edge almost always ends on the opposite one. Finding it first explains the theme and removes a quarter of the board.
Corners and edges
Corner letters have only three neighbours, so the words that use them are constrained. If you are stuck, work out which theme word must pass through each corner; it is frequently the one you need a hint for.
See today's board and spangram on the Strands hub.
FAQ
How do hints work in Strands?+
Every three valid non-theme words of four or more letters fill the hint meter. Pressing Hint highlights the letters of one theme word.
Do hints affect my streak?+
No. Your streak depends only on completing the puzzle.
Can I save hints?+
Yes. Hints accumulate, so you can bank several and use them together.
Which word should I spend a hint on?+
The one you are stuck on last. The hint picks a word for you, so bank hints until only one or two remain.
