Play Strands #896
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 #896 hints
Today's official theme is "Learn by doing". 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 words that describe a person who is new to a field and is being guided by someone more experienced.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 5 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of what a new hire gets when a company teaches them the ropes on site, and remember the answer runs across the whole board as a two-part phrase.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: A, D, I, M, P.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 11 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #896 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 11 letters
- Longest theme word
- 10 letters
Strands #896 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for August 16, 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 (6 letters)
INTERN. It starts in row 1, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
MENTEE. It starts in row 7, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (7 letters)
PROTEGE. It starts in row 3, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (8 letters)
DISCIPLE. It starts in row 7, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (10 letters)
APPRENTICE. It starts in row 2, column 6, counting from the top left.
The spangram (11 letters)
JOBTRAINING. It starts in row 8, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: JOBTRAINING
Theme words: APPRENTICE, DISCIPLE, INTERN, MENTEE, PROTEGE
The clue 'Learn by doing' points to JOBTRAINING, the practice of picking up skills while actually working. The theme words APPRENTICE, DISCIPLE, INTERN, MENTEE, and PROTEGE are all people who learn this way under the guidance of a more experienced person.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 15 | #895 | Sacred space |
| Aug 14 | #894 | Discovered by accident |
| Aug 13 | #893 | Coming in hot |
| Aug 12 | #892 | Making a difference |
| Aug 11 | #891 | Fresh from the market |
| Aug 10 | #890 | Back it up |
| Aug 9 | #889 | Isn't that a bit much? |
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 Aug 16
Strands #896 questions
What was the Strands spangram on August 16, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #896 was JOBTRAINING, for the theme "Learn by doing".
What were the Strands theme words on August 16, 2026?
APPRENTICE, DISCIPLE, INTERN, MENTEE, PROTEGE, plus the spangram JOBTRAINING.
What did the Strands #896 clue mean?
The clue 'Learn by doing' points to JOBTRAINING, the practice of picking up skills while actually working. The theme words APPRENTICE, DISCIPLE, INTERN, MENTEE, and PROTEGE are all people who learn this way under the guidance of a more experienced person.