Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #313) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… They're inseparable
NYT Strands today (game #313) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- STORY
- CLEAR
- BEAR
- HEAL
- RULE
- BLUR
NYT Strands today (game #313) - hint #3 - spangram
What is a hint for today's spangram?
• Words with friends
NYT Strands today (game #313) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: left, 5th row
Last side: right, 5th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #313) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #313, are…
- ARTS
- CRAFTS
- MILK
- CEREAL
- SOAP
- WATER
- RHYTHM
- BLUES
- SPANGRAM: TOGETHER
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
My first thoughts after seeing today’s theme was famous married couples or double acts, but Strands is rarely that straightforward.
Instead, we were given some words that enjoy hanging out together – MILK and CEREAL, SOAP and WATER, ARTS and CRAFTS, and big mates RHYTHM and BLUES. Rhythm is a word I always struggle to spell correctly, so it took me a while to connect the letters even though I knew what I was looking for. It just looks weird, the R, the H, the Y, the M at the end.
There were lots of “TOGETHER” words missing, of course, including a few that are never heard unless alongside their companions – Kith and Kin for example, great '80s synth band (not really) Flotsam and Jetsam, To and Fro, or my favourite Kit and Caboodle. I think we should set “caboodle” free from ”kit” and get it some limelight of its own. It’s a great word that deserves to be more than a dog food brand. My pals might think I’m mad but I’m going to get it into a conversation – I’m going to be selling a caboodle of clothes on eBay and I’m going to be having caboodles of fun at the roller disco on Saturday. 2025 word of the year, caboodle, I can see it now.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, 9 January, game #312)
- BIGEYE
- BLUEFIN
- SKIPJACK
- ALBACORE
- YELLOWFIN
- SPANGRAM: TUNA FAMILY
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
