The Friday Strands is out. We have solved puzzle #985, found the spangram and lined up the hints so you can take as much or as little help as you need.
Our read of the puzzle: 6 theme words plus a 10-letter spangram; the spangram runs side to side; one theme word is a long one (10 letters), which usually anchors a corner. The theme clue is a riddle more than a description, so if it is not landing, find three non-theme words to earn a hint and let the game show you a word.
Today's theme and board
Today's theme“Not a good sign”
The board, exactly as it appears in the game. Words can bend in any direction, and every letter is used exactly once.
IRTOKNHEHLRETETILBRNPSEDOTTENLFLMORUOOTIRCRSALRK
Hints for today's Strands
Three levels of help, from shape to spelling. Stop as soon as the theme clicks.
Level 1 · The shape of itThe spangram has 10 letters and runs side to side. There are 6 theme words, with lengths of 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 10 letters.
Level 2 · First lettersThe spangram starts with R. The theme words start with: B, F, M, S, S, T.
Level 3 · Two theme wordsTheme word 1 (10 letters)
THIRTEENTH
Theme word 2 (7 letters)
SPILLED
Today's Strands answers
The spangram and every theme word for Strands #985 are behind the button. Nothing is shown until you click.
▶ Reveal the answers to Strands #985
SpangramROTTENLUCK
Theme wordsBROKENFLOORMIRRORSALTSPILLEDTHIRTEENTH
The spangram on the boardIRTOKNHEHLRETETILBRNPSEDOTTENLFLMORUOOTIRCRSALRK
Yellow: the spangram, ROTTENLUCK · every other letter belongs to a theme word
Yesterday's Strands
Strands #984 on Thursday, November 12 had the theme “Facing the music”. The spangram was AUDIENCE and the theme words were CONCERTGOER, LISTENER, PATRON, SPECTATOR, VIEWER. Our full write-up is still up.
How Strands works
Strands is a themed word search on a six-by-eight grid. Every letter belongs to exactly one answer: the theme words, which fit the day's clue, and the spangram, a word or phrase that describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. Words can turn in any direction but never cross. Find three words that are not part of the theme and the game lets you reveal one theme word as a hint. Today's puzzle was constructed by Hope Fourie and edited by Tracy Bennett at The New York Times.
A habit that pays: hunt for the spangram first. It is the longest answer, it has to span the board, and once it is in, the rest of the grid is cut into smaller regions that each hold a word or two.
That is Friday's grid. See you tomorrow for Strands #986; today's Wordle and Connections are in the Puzzles section too.