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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallConnections puzzle #936 is the January 2, 2026, grid. Its four groups are WRITE, SHTICK, BENCHMARK, and VEGETABLES MINUS STARTING LETTER. The final group is a letter-removal trick: take the first letter off kale, leek, chive, and squash.
Connections #936 answers for January 2, 2026
Sort the 16 words into these four groups:
| Category | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| WRITE | JOT, LOG, NOTE, RECORD | Ways to put information in writing or written records. |
| SHTICK | BIT, GAG, NUMBER, ROUTINE | Performance pieces or comic material. |
| BENCHMARK | BAR, EXAMPLE, METRIC, STANDARD | Terms for a measure or point of comparison. |
| VEGETABLES MINUS STARTING LETTER | ALE, EEK, HIVE, QUASH | Each word is what remains after removing the first letter of a vegetable. |
These groups and category titles are listed by Try Hard Guides and independently by WordHint.
Why the last group works
The purple category is a wordplay pattern rather than a straightforward shared meaning. Restore the missing first letter to reveal each vegetable:
- ALE → KALE
- EEK → LEEK
- HIVE → CHIVE
- QUASH → SQUASH
How the grid is organized
Connections asks players to make four sets of four from 16 words. For this grid, WRITE and BENCHMARK rely on direct meaning, SHTICK groups performance vocabulary, and the final set depends on removing a letter. The January 2 answer guide reports that players can make up to four mistakes.
#1 Best Overall
When a word seems to fit more than one apparent category, hold off on committing until you can account for all four words in a set. That is especially useful here because several terms can have broad everyday meanings, while the purple group is easiest to spot once the vegetable names are considered.
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