If you’re hooked on the daily NYT Strands puzzle, you’re not alone. It’s a fresh word game from the New York Times that combines elements of a word search with clever, theme-based twists.
3rd February 2026 NYT Strands Theme: “On key”
Today’s theme leaned into the language of keyboards and typing, focusing on symbols you see—and use—every day. The twist was realizing these weren’t random punctuation marks, but specific keys you’d recognize instantly once the pattern clicked. Short, common words made the grid feel approachable, but the theme connection was the real “aha” moment.
3rd February 2026 NYT Strands Hints
- Think about characters you type without using letters or numbers.
- Look for symbols commonly found on a standard keyboard layout.
- Some answers are punctuation marks you use in writing or coding.
- The grid favors familiar, everyday symbols rather than obscure ones.
- Spangram: it directly describes what all the answers are, conceptually.
3rd February 2026 NYT Strands Answers
- Caret
- Tilde
- Asterisk
- Bracket
- Hashtag
- Underscore
Spangram
Symbol
The spangram pulls the whole puzzle together by naming exactly what every theme word represents—typed characters that live on your keyboard and show up across writing, math, and programming.
How Strands works
Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:
- You’re given a theme.
- The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
- Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
- Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!
Each puzzle usually has around 6–8 theme words.
How to get and use hints
Hints are built right into Strands, and they’re super useful if you’re stuck:
- To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters in the grid.
- Each valid extra word gives you one hint.
- When you use a hint, one of the theme words will be revealed automatically, helping you move forward.
Pro tip: Don’t just burn hints — use them strategically when the grid feels impossible. Sometimes a single revealed word unlocks the entire board.
Tips to become a NYT Strands pro
- Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
- Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
- Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
- Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
- Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.
Final thoughts
