Play Strands #879
The same letter grid NYT shows. Drag across touching letters, or tap them one by one and tap the last letter again to check. Theme words turn blue and the spangram turns yellow. Hint outlines one word you haven't found. Nothing is saved, so your real game stays untouched.
Strands #879 hints
Today's official theme is "Trade names". If that alone doesn't help, work down the hints below.
Hints used: 0
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What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Look for old-fashioned job titles that many people today carry as last names, each one naming someone who made things by hand.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 7 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of the skilled people who practice a hands-on craft, and what you would call them as a group.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: C, J, M, P, S, T, W.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 8 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #879 in numbers
- Theme words
- 7
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 8 letters
- Longest theme word
- 6 letters
Strands #879 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for July 30, 2026.
Reveal one word at a time
Only want a foothold? Open one word, find it on the board, then go back and try for the rest. Shorter words come first because they give away the least.
Theme word 1 (5 letters)
MASON. It starts in row 5, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
SMITH. It starts in row 5, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
COOPER. It starts in row 2, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (6 letters)
JOINER. It starts in row 5, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (6 letters)
POTTER. It starts in row 3, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (6 letters)
TANNER. It starts in row 8, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 7 (6 letters)
WEAVER. It starts in row 2, column 1, counting from the top left.
The spangram (8 letters)
ARTISANS. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: ARTISANS
Theme words: COOPER, JOINER, MASON, POTTER, SMITH, TANNER, WEAVER
The clue 'Trade names' is a pun: these are names of trades that also became common surnames, like COOPER, JOINER, MASON, POTTER, SMITH, TANNER and WEAVER. The spangram ARTISANS ties them together as the skilled craftspeople who held these trades.
What does COOPER mean?
A craftsperson who makes and repairs wooden barrels, casks, and tubs, fitting curved staves together and binding them with hoops. It fits the theme as an old trade that became a common surname.
What does TANNER mean?
A person who turns raw animal hides into leather by soaking them in tannin-rich solutions or other chemicals. It fits the theme as a traditional trade that became a surname.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 29 | #878 | A made man |
| Jul 28 | #877 | Leave nothing out |
| Jul 27 | #876 | Let the journey begin |
| Jul 26 | #875 | All-knowing |
| Jul 25 | #874 | Frocks and smocks |
| Jul 24 | #873 | There's more where that came from |
| Jul 23 | #872 | Hail to the chief petty officer |
About Strands
Strands is a daily New York Times word search with a theme. Every letter on the six-by-eight board belongs to an answer, and one answer, the spangram, names the theme and stretches between opposite sides of the board. Past puzzles are a good way to learn how the themed clues are usually worded.
Other puzzles on Jul 30
Strands #879 questions
What was the Strands spangram on July 30, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #879 was ARTISANS, for the theme "Trade names".
What were the Strands theme words on July 30, 2026?
COOPER, JOINER, MASON, POTTER, SMITH, TANNER, WEAVER, plus the spangram ARTISANS.
What did the Strands #879 clue mean?
The clue 'Trade names' is a pun: these are names of trades that also became common surnames, like COOPER, JOINER, MASON, POTTER, SMITH, TANNER and WEAVER. The spangram ARTISANS ties them together as the skilled craftspeople who held these trades.