NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Wednesday, December 11 (game #283)

NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
(Image credit: New York Times)

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #283) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… Board certified

NYT Strands today (game #283) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • SHINE
  • RISE
  • STARE
  • SNOW
  • NOEL
  • GREED

NYT Strands today (game #283) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

The Carpenters

NYT Strands today (game #283) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: top, 3rd column

Last: bottom, 1st column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #283) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 283 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #283, are…

  • VISE
  • DRILL
  • LATHE
  • PLANE
  • CHISEL
  • JIGSAW
  • SANDER
  • SPANGRAM: WOODWORKING

  • My rating: Hard
  • My score: 2 hints

The theme “board certified” confused me today: PLANE, LATHE, DRILL – were these acronyms for organizations with boards? What are you doing to me, Strands?

It all became clear once the Spangram snake appeared. My mind wandered back to my dim and distant schooldays, the smell of sawdust in the air as I used a JIGSAW and a CHISEL to fashion a magnificent butt joint as I toiled away creating a spectacularly ugly spice rack that was given pride of place in my family kitchen – until it fell apart two days later under the weight of a single jar of turmeric powder. I was about as good back then at WOODWORKING as I am at Strands now.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.


Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, 10 December, game #282)

  • FILM
  • FLICK
  • MOVIE
  • PICTURE
  • SHORT
  • TALKIE
  • FEATURE
  • SPANGRAM: CINEMATIC

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

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Contributor

Johnny is a freelance pop culture journalist who has been writing about the internet, music, football and famous people since the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs' eye. Previously known by the pseudonym the Pop Detective, his journalistic career began making up stories about Madonna's addiction to sausage rolls (this is not true by the way). A man of few talents, his career is rich and various and includes the highs of interviewing Elton John and Blur; and the lows of interviewing Right Said Fred, appearing on a Channel 5 documentary about Peter Kay, and fact-checking the instruction manual for a German cooker. Somehow still affording to live in North London he is at his happiest riding his bicycle and shouting at pigeons.

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