Issue #678 Sun 27 Jul
Strands hints — July 27, 2025
A methodical day for those who prefer to check their work twice. The grid rewards patience and a steady eye for detail.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You take the same route home and a single door is open that's never open.
Scientific and logical evaluation
METHODICAL BREAKDOWN OF PARTS
Spangram 4 nudges · 8 letters
The connector word
Single word noun
8 letters.
Starts with A, ends with S.
ANALYSIS
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 E (7 letters)
- 2 I (7 letters)
- 3 S (10 letters)
- 4 S (5 letters)
- 5 S (6 letters)
- 6 W (5 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 EX (7 letters)
- 2 IN (7 letters)
- 3 SC (10 letters)
- 4 ST (5 letters)
- 5 SU (6 letters)
- 6 WE (5 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 nudges · 7 letters
A theme word
Look at a rooster. Look closely.
7 letters.
Starts with E.
Starts with EX.
EXAMINE
Theme word 2 of 6 5 nudges · 7 letters
A theme word
Something you'd do to a pair of shoes before a job interview.
7 letters.
Starts with I.
Starts with IN.
INSPECT
Theme word 3 of 6 5 nudges · 10 letters
A theme word
Where the lawnmower lives, where the mail piles up, where the kids hide.
10 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SC.
SCRUTINIZE
Theme word 4 of 6 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
Whatever you set the night before is what gets you up — for better or worse.
5 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with ST.
STUDY
Theme word 5 of 6 5 nudges · 6 letters
A theme word
The way you move your eyes across a room when searching for lost keys.
6 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with SU.
SURVEY
Theme word 6 of 6 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
The act of comparing one heavy stone against another on a balanced scale.
5 letters.
Starts with W.
Starts with WE.
WEIGH