Strands

How to play

1. 01

   Find theme words

   Drag or tap letters to make words. If tapping, double tap the last letter to submit. Theme words stay highlighted in blue when found.

2. 02

   Find the spangram

   The spangram describes the puzzle's theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. It may be one or more words, and it highlights in yellow when found.

3. 03

   Fill the board

   Theme words fill the board entirely, and no theme words overlap. The puzzle is done when every letter is used.

4. 04

   Earn hints

   For every three non-theme words you find, you earn a hint. A hint shows the letters of a theme word; if one is already on the board, the next shows that word's letter order.

Good to know

• Your share shows the order. Each word you found is a blue dot, the spangram is yellow, and every hint you used is a light bulb.
• Themes vary. A theme may involve synonyms, objects in a category, familiar pairs or light wordplay, and the spangram sometimes takes on a thematic shape or colours.
• Today is free. Past puzzles in the Strands archive are for subscribers.