How to Play Strands
A themed word search where words bend, every letter counts, and one special word spans the board.
The rules
- Read the theme clue. It’s usually a pun or an oblique hint, not a definition.
- Drag or tap through touching letters to spell a word. Paths can turn in any direction, including diagonally.
- Theme words turn blue. The spangram, which names the theme, turns yellow and touches two opposite edges.
- Every letter on the board belongs to exactly one answer. When the board is full, you’ve won.
Earning hints
Any valid word of four letters or more that isn’t a theme word counts toward a hint. Three of those fill the meter; spending it outlines the letters of one theme word. Spend a second hint while one is active and the game shows the letters in order.
Trace a practice board
Three animals are hidden here. Tap letters in order, then check.
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Tactics
Decode the clue out loud
Clues like “Hold everything” or “In the thick of it” usually play on a second meaning. Brainstorm three readings before touching the board.
Find the spangram first
Because it spans the board, the spangram is long and structural. Finding it confirms the theme and splits the grid into two smaller regions to search.
Work the corners
Corner letters have only three neighbours, so few words can pass through them. If a corner holds a Q, X or a pair of consonants, the theme word using it is heavily constrained.
When you’re stuck on the real thing, our Strands hints for today give the spangram’s direction and length before anything else.
Questions
How big is the Strands board?
Six letters wide and eight tall, 48 letters in all. Every letter is used by exactly one theme word or the spangram.
Can words bend in Strands?
Yes. Letters connect in any of eight directions, including diagonals, and a word can change direction as many times as it likes. It just can’t reuse a letter.
How do I earn in-game hints?
Find valid words of four or more letters that aren’t theme words. Every three fills the hint meter once.
Is the spangram always one word?
No. It is often a phrase run together, such as two or three words with the spaces removed.