**Connections: The New York Times Word Game That Has Everyone Buzzing**
*Connections* is among the most favored word games by the *New York Times*, engaging players with its distinctive task of uncovering “common threads among words.” Much like *Wordle*, *Connections* resets each day at midnight, presenting a fresh puzzle that becomes increasingly challenging. If you’re facing difficulties, we offer hints and strategies to assist you—or you can jump ahead to see today’s solution at the conclusion of this article.
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### What is *Connections*?
The latest daily word game from the *New York Times* has turned into a viral phenomenon on social networks. Developed with input from associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, *Connections* has secured its place in the *Times*’ Games section. The game is available on web browsers as well as mobile devices, and the task is straightforward yet demanding: categorize four words that share a common theme.
Each puzzle features 16 words categorized into four groups. These categories can encompass everything from book titles to software names, countries, and beyond. Though some words may appear to fit into several categories, there is only one correct solution for each grouping.
When players successfully identify a group of four words, those are eliminated from the board. Conversely, incorrect guesses count as errors, and participants are permitted up to four errors before the game concludes. To assist, players have the option to shuffle the board for a clearer view of possible connections.
Each group is distinguished by color according to difficulty: yellow being the simplest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Similar to *Wordle*, players can share their outcomes on social media to compare results with friends.
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### Hints for Today’s *Connections* Categories
If you need a little guidance without giving away the answers, here are some hints for today’s categories:
– **Yellow:** Sing along
– **Green:** Handful
– **Blue:** Page turners
– **Purple:** Repeated expression
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### Today’s *Connections* Categories
If you need additional assistance, here are the specific categories for today’s puzzle:
– **Yellow:** Singing art
– **Green:** A couple of
– **Blue:** Subtitle descriptions
– **Purple:** __ is (is __)
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### Today’s *Connections* Solution
Still in a bind? Here’s the solution to today’s *Connections* puzzle (#576):
– **Singing art:** A CAPELLA, BARBERSHOP, DOO-WOP, MADRIGAL
– **A couple of:** A FEW, CERTAIN, SOME, VARIOUS
– **Subtitle descriptions:** A LIFE, A NOVEL, ESSAYS, PART ONE
– **__ is (is __):** A DEAL, A ROSE, ENOUGH, LOVE
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### Tips for Playing *Connections*
1. **Begin with the obvious:** Identify words that clearly belong together, like colors, animals, or genres.
2. **Reduce distractions:** Shuffle the board to view the words in a different arrangement, which may help you notice connections you previously overlooked.
3. **Consider unconventional groupings:** Some combinations may not be readily apparent, requiring you to think about idioms, wordplay, or cultural references.
4. **Avoid overthinking:** If you find yourself stuck, take a break and return with a fresh perspective.
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### Explore More Games
If you’re having fun with *Connections*, why not try other puzzles? Check out the *New York Times*’ *The Mini* crossword or visit Mashable’s games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and much more.
**Looking for yesterday’s puzzle?** [Here’s the solution to yesterday’s *Connections*.](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-sports-edition-hint-answer-today-january-7)
**Interested in trying something new?** [See hints and answers for today’s *Strands* puzzle.](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-january-7)
Don’t worry if you didn’t solve today’s puzzle—there’s always a fresh *Connections* challenge awaiting you tomorrow. Happy puzzling!