Last Tuesday, I watched my cousin Sarah spend 47 minutes stuck on a single Strands puzzle. She had found four theme words but could not locate the spangram to save her life. The frustration was real.Many beginners make common errors when playing Strands Unlimited, which can slow down progress.
Three cups of coffee later, she finally cracked it—but only after making every single mistake I had made when I first started playing this addictive word puzzle game three months ago.
Here is the thing about Strands Unlimited that nobody tells you upfront: the game looks deceptively simple. You see a 6×8 grid with 48 letters, a theme hint at the top, and you think “How hard could this be?” Then reality hits. You are connecting random letters, burning through hints like they are going out of style, and wondering why other players seem to breeze through puzzles that leave you stumped.
After playing over 200 puzzles and helping dozens of friends level up their game, I have identified seven critical mistakes that separate struggling beginners from confident players. The good news? Every single one of these mistakes is completely fixable once you know what to look for.
What Makes Strands Unlimited Different from Other Word Games
Before we dive into the mistakes, let me give you some context. Strands is not like Wordle where you guess random five-letter words. It is not like Crossword where you have specific clues. The NYT Strands game requires you to think thematically while navigating a grid where letters connect in every possible direction—horizontally, vertically, and diagonally.
The game gives you one theme hint. All the words you find must relate to that theme. Plus, there is always one special word called the spangram (sometimes spelled spanagram) that touches two opposite sides of the grid and typically describes the overall theme. Find all theme words plus the spangram, and you win.
Sounds straightforward, right? Well, that is exactly where mistake number one begins.
Mistake 1: Ignoring the Theme and Just Making Random Words
This is the rookie error I see most often. Players treat Strands like a traditional word search game where any valid English word counts. They start connecting letters to form words like “CATS” or “TREE” or “HOUSE” without checking if those words actually relate to the puzzle theme.
I did this for my first three puzzles. The theme was “Kitchen Essentials” and I wasted five minutes finding words like “SPAN” and “POTS” thinking I was making progress. Sure, POTS relates to kitchens, but the actual theme words were specific items: WHISK, SPATULA, GRATER, COLANDER. My random approach got me nowhere fast.
Here is what changed everything for me: I started spending the first 30 seconds just reading the theme and brainstorming. If the theme is “Ocean Creatures,” I mentally list out what that could include before touching a single letter. Sharks, dolphins, octopus, whale, seahorse, jellyfish. Then I scan the grid specifically looking for those letter combinations.
The Fix: Before you connect your first word, take a breath. Read the theme twice. Ask yourself: “What specific words would fit this category?” Write down five or six possibilities on paper if you need to. This simple 30-second planning phase will save you 10 minutes of frustration.
Pro tip: Pay attention to the specific wording of the theme. “Types of Trees” is different from “Things in a Forest.” “Musical Instruments” is different from “Parts of an Orchestra.” The more precise your understanding, the faster you will find theme words.
Mistake 2: Not Understanding How the Spangram Actually Works
The spangram confused me for weeks. I knew it was supposed to touch two opposite sides of the board, but I did not really understand what that meant in practice. I kept looking for long horizontal words that went from left edge to right edge. Turns out, I was only seeing half the picture.
A spangram can run vertically (top to bottom), horizontally (left to right), or even zigzag across the board as long as it starts on one edge and ends on the opposite edge. The key word here is “opposite.” Top and bottom are opposite. Left and right are opposite. But top and left? Not opposite.
Last month, I was working on a puzzle with the theme “Winter Activities.” I found SKIING, SKATING, SLEDDING, HOCKEY, SNOWMAN. I was missing one theme word and the spangram. I kept scanning for a long horizontal word starting with letters on the left edge. Twenty minutes wasted.
Finally, I shifted my thinking. What if the spangram runs vertically? I started looking at the top and bottom edges specifically. There it was: WINTERFUN running from a letter in the top row, zigzagging through the middle, and ending at a letter in the bottom row. The spangram is almost always a compound word or phrase that summarizes the entire theme.
The Fix: Always check both directions. Scan the top row for potential starting points, then see if you can connect down to the bottom. Do the same for left-edge letters connecting to right-edge letters. The spangram is usually 8 to 14 letters long and describes the overarching theme concept.
Another crucial insight: find the spangram early if possible. It often reveals the theme more clearly than the hint itself. Once I started prioritizing spangram hunting in my first few minutes, my solve times dropped by 40 percent.
Mistake 3: Wasting Hints on Words You Could Have Found
The hint system in Strands Unlimited is actually pretty generous compared to other puzzle games. You earn hints by finding non-theme words (any valid four-letter word or longer that exists in the dictionary but does not match the theme). Find three non-theme words, and you get one hint that highlights the letters of a theme word.
But here is the problem: most beginners panic and start hunting for non-theme words immediately when they get stuck, sometimes within the first two minutes of starting a puzzle. I did this constantly. I would find one theme word, feel stuck, and immediately start making random words like “LATE,” “TEAR,” “ROPE” just to activate the hint button.
This approach has two huge downsides. First, it takes time away from actually thinking about the theme and scanning for patterns. Second, once you use a hint, you have to solve that highlighted word before you can earn another hint. If the highlighted word is in a tricky position, you are stuck.
I learned this lesson the hard way on a puzzle themed “Breakfast Foods.” I found BACON and TOAST quickly, then immediately started hint-hunting. I got my hint, which highlighted WAFFLE. Great, except WAFFLE was buried in a weird diagonal pattern I could not see clearly. I spent another eight minutes just trying to connect those highlighted letters correctly while the other theme words (OMELET, CEREAL, PANCAKE) were sitting right there in obvious patterns I was ignoring.
The Fix: Give yourself at least five minutes of genuine theme-focused searching before you even think about using hints. Scan the entire grid systematically. Look for common letter combinations that match your theme brainstorming. Check obvious starting points like corner letters or letters that appear less frequently.
Only use hints when you have genuinely exhausted your theme-based searching and you are down to one or two words you cannot locate. Trust me, finding words through actual observation feels way more satisfying than relying on hints for everything.
When you do need hints, be strategic. Look for non-theme words in areas of the grid you have already cleared. This way, you are not cluttering up sections where theme words might be hiding.
Mistake 4: Not Using All the Grid Space Properly
This mistake is subtle but incredibly common. Beginners find their first theme word and it usually sits in one corner or section of the grid. Then they find a second word nearby. Then a third. Before they know it, they have found four or five theme words all clustered in one area, and the rest of the grid looks untouched.
The problem? Strands is designed so that every single letter on the 6×8 grid gets used exactly once. If you have found five words all in the bottom half of the grid, something is wrong. Either those words are incorrect, or you are missing words in the top half that you need to find.
I fell into this trap repeatedly during my first month playing. I remember one puzzle where I had found six words (I thought I was done!) but they were all crammed into the left two-thirds of the grid. The right third had barely been touched. That should have been my immediate red flag, but I kept trying to submit the puzzle thinking I had finished.
Turns out, two of my six words were wrong. They were valid dictionary words, they seemed theme-related, but they were not the intended theme words. Once I cleared those mistakes and looked at the untouched grid area, the actual words became obvious.
The Fix: As you find words, pay attention to grid coverage. After each word you confirm, take a quick glance at which areas of the grid still have lots of unused letters. If you have found five words and one entire section looks completely untouched, that is where your remaining words are hiding.
Also, remember the spangram typically crosses through multiple sections of the grid since it connects opposite sides. Use that as a landmark. Once you find the spangram, it helps divide the grid into clearer sections where remaining theme words might be located.
Think of the grid like a puzzle where pieces need to fit together without overlap. Each theme word and the spangram are puzzle pieces that must use up all 48 letters with no letters left over and no letters used twice.
Mistake 5: Giving Up on Tricky Letter Combinations Too Quickly
Letter connections in Strands can twist and turn in ways that feel almost cruel at first. You can connect letters horizontally, then suddenly shift diagonally, then go vertical, then back horizontal—all within the same word. There are no straight-line requirements.
When I first started playing, I would see a word I wanted to make (say, MOUNTAIN) and I would spot the letters M-O-U-N-T-A-I-N scattered across the grid. But if I could not connect them in a simple straight line or clean L-shape, I assumed that word was not possible and I moved on.
Huge mistake. Some of the most satisfying puzzle solutions involve words that snake through the grid in completely unexpected patterns. I remember one puzzle where the theme word BUTTERFLY connected in this wild zigzag pattern: starting in the upper left, dropping down diagonally, shooting right horizontally, dropping down again, then finishing with another diagonal. It looked ridiculous, but it was completely valid.
The game allows any connection pattern as long as each letter touches the next letter either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. That gives you eight possible directions from any given letter. Most words will use three or four different directional changes.
The Fix: When you spot letters for a word you think should be in the puzzle, do not give up if the first connection pattern you try does not work. Try different starting points. Try approaching the word backwards (sometimes BUTTER connects more easily than BUTTERFLY when you start from the Y).
Practice visualizing multiple paths. I started training myself by taking one word I found and seeing how many different letter-path combinations would spell it. This mental flexibility dramatically improved my ability to spot words hidden in complex patterns.
Also, pay attention to letters that appear multiple times in the grid. Many grids have two or three instances of common letters like E, A, R, T. If your word needs an A and you are stuck, check if there is a second A in a different grid location that creates a viable path.
Mistake 6: Not Learning from Your Completed Puzzles
Most beginners finish a Strands puzzle, feel good about completing it, and immediately jump to the next puzzle. They never take two minutes to review what they just solved and extract lessons for next time.
I did this for probably my first 50 puzzles. Then one day I decided to keep a simple notes file on my phone. After each puzzle, I would write down three things: What was the theme? What was the spangram? Which word took me longest to find and why?
This simple practice transformed my gameplay within two weeks. Patterns started emerging. I noticed that compound words and phrases are incredibly common for spangramS. I noticed that themes often include one or two less-obvious words that require deeper category knowledge. I noticed that my biggest struggles always came when I was too literal with theme interpretation.
For example, I played a puzzle with theme “Things That Fly.” I found AIRPLANE, HELICOPTER, ROCKET, BALLOON easily. I was stuck on the last two words. Turns out they were LEGEND and RUMOR. Things that fly. Get it? Like “rumors fly”? That is the kind of wordplay I would never catch without reviewing completed puzzles and training myself to think more creatively.
The Fix: After completing each puzzle, spend 60 seconds reviewing your solution. Look at the theme words you found. Were any surprising? Why did they fit the theme? Look at the spangram. Does it follow a pattern you have seen before?
Keep a simple spreadsheet or notes file with columns for: Date, Theme, Spangram, Hardest Word, Time to Complete. After 20 or 30 puzzles, review your notes. You will start seeing your personal weak spots (maybe you struggle with abstract themes, or you consistently miss compound words, or you always overlook the spangram until the end).
I also started screenshotting puzzles where I learned something valuable. Now I have a collection of 30 or 40 reference puzzles I can review before playing. This archive helps me recognize similar patterns in new puzzles.
Mistake 7: Playing When You Are Mentally Exhausted
This might sound obvious, but it is worth stating directly: Strands requires legitimate mental energy. It is not a mindless phone game you can play while watching TV or right before bed when your brain is already shutting down.
I used to play Strands at 11 PM after a long work day, thinking it would be a relaxing way to wind down. Wrong. I would take 25 minutes to solve puzzles that should take 10 minutes. I would make stupid mistakes like connecting letters that were not actually touching. I would miss obvious words sitting right in front of me.
Then I started playing during my morning coffee instead. Same puzzles, completely different experience. My solve times dropped by 30 to 40 percent. Words popped out at me that I would have missed in my tired evening state. The game went from frustrating to genuinely fun.
Your brain needs to be in pattern-recognition mode for Strands. You are constantly scanning, connecting, eliminating possibilities, and holding multiple potential words in working memory. If you are tired, stressed, or distracted, every single one of those cognitive functions performs worse.
The Fix: Treat Strands like a mental workout, not a passive entertainment. Play when you are alert and can give the puzzle your full attention for at least 10 to 15 minutes. For most people, that means morning or early afternoon, not late evening.
If you are in the middle of a puzzle and you notice your focus drifting (checking your phone, getting distracted by sounds, feeling impatient), stop. Save your progress if possible, or just close the game. Come back later when you can concentrate. You will enjoy the game more and improve faster.
I also found that playing right after some light physical activity (a short walk, stretching, a quick workout) puts my brain in the perfect state for puzzle solving. The increased blood flow and oxygenation make a noticeable difference in how quickly I spot patterns.
How These Fixes Compound Over Time
Here is what I wish someone had told me on day one: these seven fixes are not just individual tips. They work together as a system. When you fix one mistake, it makes the other fixes easier to implement.
When you start planning before connecting random letters (Fix 1), you naturally become better at grid coverage (Fix 4). When you understand spangram mechanics (Fix 2), you waste fewer hints (Fix 3) because the spangram helps clarify the theme. When you review completed puzzles (Fix 6), you get better at spotting tricky letter combinations (Fix 5).
I tracked my solve times over three months. Month one, before I knew about these mistakes: average 18 minutes per puzzle, with several puzzles taking 30-plus minutes. Month two, after implementing these fixes: average 11 minutes per puzzle. Month three: average 8 minutes per puzzle, with my fastest solve at 4 minutes 12 seconds.
The improvement is not linear. You will have breakthroughs where suddenly everything clicks. You will have frustrating sessions where you feel like you are getting worse. That is normal. The key is consistent practice with these fixes in mind.
Three Advanced Strategies for After You Fix the Basics
Once you have eliminated these seven common mistakes, you will be ready for more advanced Strands strategies. Let me preview three techniques that took my game to the next level:
Corner-to-Corner Scanning: Instead of reading the grid left to right like text, train yourself to scan in multiple patterns. I do corner-to-corner sweeps, looking at diagonal lines across the grid. Theme words often hide along these diagonal sight lines that beginners never check.
Theme Expansion Exercise: Before playing, spend two minutes writing down every word you can think of related to the theme. Not just obvious ones. If the theme is “Beach,” do not stop at SAND and WAVES. Push yourself: DRIFTWOOD, LIFEGUARD, SANDCASTLE, SEASHELL, SUNSCREEN. This pre-game brainstorming creates a mental reference list that dramatically speeds up your playing.
Pattern Library Building: Start keeping a personal library of letter patterns for common words. TION endings, ING endings, common prefixes like UN or RE. When you see these patterns in the grid, you can quickly check if they complete theme-related words. This turns your brain into a pattern-matching machine.
What to Do When You Still Get Stuck
Even after fixing all seven mistakes, you will occasionally hit puzzles that stump you. That is actually good—it means the game is still challenging you appropriately.
When I get genuinely stuck now, I have a three-step process. First, I take a complete break. Close the game for 15 minutes. Do something else. Let my subconscious work on the problem. Second, when I return, I start completely fresh. I re-read the theme as if I am seeing it for the first time. I look for the spangram first, not last. Third, if I am still stuck after another five minutes, I use one hint strategically and then push myself to solve from there.
I also joined an online Strands community where players discuss tricky puzzles without spoiling solutions. Reading how other people think about themes and word connections has expanded my own thinking in ways I never expected.
Your Next Steps to Strands Mastery
Start with one fix. Do not try to implement all seven changes at once. Pick whichever mistake resonated most (probably mistake 1 or 2 for most beginners) and focus on just that fix for your next five puzzles.
Once that fix becomes automatic, add another. Then another. Within two or three weeks, you will have internalized all seven fixes without consciously thinking about them.
Keep a simple practice log. Just write: Date, Puzzle Number, Time Taken, Main Challenge, What I Learned. After 20 puzzles, read through your log. The patterns you see in your own gameplay will be more valuable than any general advice.
And remember: everyone who is now fast at Strands was once a frustrated beginner making these same seven mistakes. The difference between them and struggling players is not talent or natural ability. It is simply that they identified their mistakes, fixed them systematically, and practiced consistently.
You can absolutely do the same. The game rewards pattern recognition, and pattern recognition improves with deliberate practice. Start today. Fix one mistake. Then watch how much more enjoyable Strands becomes when you are solving puzzles instead of fighting against them.
What mistake are you most guilty of? Have you noticed any patterns in the puzzles that stump you? Drop a comment and let me know—I read every response and often reply with specific tips based on what you share.