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Use the smallest hint that answers the question you actually have, then return to the puzzle before revealing more. A definition or broad nudge may be enough; a category or answer reveal gives away more. If you can see the answer before choosing to reveal it, the hint has gone too far.
Start by identifying what is blocking you
Before opening a hint, name the uncertainty: do you not understand one word, need a new direction to consider, or want help choosing between two plausible groups? A precise question makes it easier to find a clue that helps without exposing the rest of the puzzle.
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For a word-grouping game such as NYT Connections, this matters because the board has 16 words to sort into four groups of four. The New York Times Help Center says each puzzle has exactly one solution, but deliberately includes words that could fit multiple categories. A tempting connection is not necessarily a complete group.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesMake a focused pass over the board first. Note more than one possible relationship, and check whether a proposed group could coexist with three other complete groups. That is a way to reason about Connections’ overlapping categories, not a timed rule: there is no established number of minutes you need to spend before asking for help.
Choose the least revealing clue that could help
Hints vary in how much they disclose. A useful progression is to move from a general nudge toward a specific category or answer only when the earlier clue does not help. Not every game or hint page offers every level.
| Hint level | What it can reveal | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Broad nudge | A direction, theme, or kind of relationship to consider, without naming the answer. | You want a fresh angle while keeping the main discovery for yourself. |
| Targeted clue | Information about one word, one unresolved feature, or one candidate group. | You have a specific question and do not need help with the whole puzzle. |
| Category reveal | The relationship that defines a group. | You want to know what to look for, but still want to identify the words yourself. |
| Answer or full-puzzle reveal | Some or all of the solution, depending on the game or page. | You have decided that seeing the answer matters more than solving unaided. |
Some independent hint pages separate hints from answers with collapsed panels or reveal one group at a time. That is a design choice on those sites, not an official NYT feature or proof that one sequence works best for everyone. For example, nyt.today describes staged reveals and identifies itself as unaffiliated with The New York Times.
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Use a reveal in steps, not all at once
- Read the clue you chose. Avoid opening a full answer page if you only need a definition or a nudge.
- Close the hint panel or move away from the answer. This limits the chance of seeing additional material by accident.
- Try the puzzle again. Apply the clue and see whether you can finish the remaining reasoning yourself.
- Move to a stronger clue only if you still want it. There is no source-established ideal pause length; the point is to choose whether you want more information before exposing yourself to it.
In NYT Connections, the category colors also indicate a difficulty order: yellow is easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. That ordering can help you decide what kind of nudge you need, but it does not tell you the words in a category.
Keep hints, checks, and reveals distinct
These controls do different jobs, and their effects depend on the game. The New York Times Crossword Help Center documents checking or revealing a square, an answer, or an entire puzzle; it also says Check or Reveal affects streak qualification. Those controls and consequences should not be assumed to apply to every word puzzle or to Connections.
Before using a control, read its label and any warning the game provides. A hint may offer guidance; a check may tell you whether an entry is right; a reveal may show the answer. If preserving a streak matters to you, check the game’s own rules before using a check or reveal.
Avoid answer leaks while looking for help
- Prefer a page that separates hints from answers and keeps the answer collapsed until you choose to open it.
- Do not scroll past a hint into comments or discussion unless you are willing to risk seeing a solution.
- Use a narrow search for the kind of clue you want rather than opening an unfiltered answer page or relying on a search snippet.
The NYT Connections Help Center specifically warns that Companion forum comments may contain spoilers and advises players to finish first or scroll at their own risk. Connections is available on the NYT Games site and app, and its daily game releases at midnight in the player’s timezone. The same Help Center says the archive reaches back to June 12, 2023 and is available to Games and All Access subscribers; availability and access terms can change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the evidence can—and cannot—say about hints
A 2024 NYT-Connections benchmark paper reported accuracy of 56% without hints and 60.67% with full hints among human participants tested on a selected 100-puzzle set. The paper also describes a dataset of 358 puzzles collected from June 12, 2023 through June 3, 2024. These are study-specific figures and dataset details, not estimates for all players. The results do not establish an ideal hint schedule or show which level of help gives an individual the most satisfying experience.
For most spoiler-conscious solving, the practical choice is therefore personal: decide what you still want to work out, request only help with that part, and stop before a clue exposes more than you intended.
Quick Recap
Sources
- The New York Times Help Center: Connections
- The New York Times Crossword Help Center
- 2024 NYT-Connections benchmark paper
- nyt.today hint-page design and affiliation statement
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