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 Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

Your Strands expert

Marc McLaren
Your Strands expert

Marc McLaren

NYT Strands today (game #247) – hint #1 – today’s theme

What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?

Today’s NYT Strands theme is… More than just sports

NYT Strands today (game #247) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • BEAT
  • DART
  • CHAT
  • MARE
  • DARE
  • STORE

NYT Strands today (game #247) – hint #3 – spangram

What is a hint for today’s spangram?

In the club

NYT Strands today (game #247) – hint #4 – spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?

First: left, 4th row

Last: right, 3rd row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #247) – the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 247 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Strands, game #247, are…

  • BAND
  • CHOIR
  • DRAMA
  • DEBATE
  • YEARBOOK
  • ORCHESTRA
  • SPANGRAM: AFTERSCHOOL

  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: 6 hints

Well, this was a disaster. I needed six hints to solve today’s Strands, which means I needed hints for every single answer bar the spangram, which I got at the end when there were no other words that could possibly fit. And really I had no idea what the theme was until very late on.

Part of the problem was that in the UK, where I am, several of these AFTERSCHOOL activities are not common – or at least have different names. I’ve never seen the likes of BAND, YEARBOOK or ORCHESTRA listed among my kids’ after-school activities, anyway. DEBATE, CHOIR and DRAMA are there – plus dozens of sports and many other activities – but I didn’t put them together to make the theme.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.


Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Monday, 4 November, game #246)

  • TICK
  • MINUTE
  • JIFFY
  • FLASH
  • MOMENT
  • SECOND
  • MOMENT
  • INSTANT
  • SPANGRAM: SMALLTIME

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.

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