Strands Tips & Tricks
Propel your word-finding skills to the next level.
Mastering the Spangram
The Spangram is the key to the board. It always relates directly to the theme and spans the entire grid.
Look for Compound Words
Many spangrams are compound words or two words joined together. If you see part of a word like "RAIN", check if it continues into "BOW" or "DROPS".
The "Touch" Rule
Remember that a spangram must touch two opposite sides. If you've found a word that spans from top to bottom, it's highly likely to be the spangram.
Building Your Hint Meter
Hints are your safety net. Here's how to get them efficiently:
Find "Easy" Non-Theme Words
Common 3-4 letter words (THE, AND, WITH, BOOK) that don't fit the theme are perfect for charging your hint meter. Don't ignore them!
Visual Patterns
- Clear the Corners: Corners often contain the start or end of a word. If a letter in a corner only has one or two neighbors, it's a great place to start your search.
- Identify Clusters: If you see a cluster of vowels (A, E, I, O, U), they are almost certainly the center of a theme word. Try connecting the surrounding consonants.
- Work Backwards: If you can't find the start of a word, try looking for common endings like -S, -Y, or -ER and work backwards from there.