Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteNYT Strands puzzle #276, from Wednesday, December 4, 2024, uses the clue “I now pronounce you …” Its answers are names of diacritical marks—the signs added to letters in writing. If you want to solve it yourself, start with the hints below and stop before the spoiler section.
Hints for Strands #276
Think about marks placed above, below, or near letters that can change how they are pronounced. The theme words are names for those marks.
- First-letter and length hints: A (5), C (7), C (10), G (5), T (5), U (6).
- Clue words reported to earn in-game hints: RAIL, TRADE, DATE, GRAIL, RAVE, FLEX.
- Spangram hint: It names the category and runs from the top edge to the bottom edge.
How the puzzle fits together
The wording “pronounce” points toward marks that affect how written letters are read. The six theme answers name familiar marks, while the spangram gives their broader category: diacritics. The reported rules summary describes Strands as a 6×8 grid where connected letters form theme words that fill the board; the spangram summarizes the theme and connects opposite sides.
Spoiler warning: full answers
Stop here if you still want to solve the puzzle without seeing the answers.
#1 Best Overall
Spangram
DIACRITICS
Theme words
- ACUTE
- CEDILLA
- CIRCUMFLEX
- GRAVE
- TILDE
- UMLAUT
Why these are the answers
Acute, cedilla, circumflex, grave, tilde, and umlaut are all names for diacritical marks. Together, they resolve the clue’s reference to pronunciation; DIACRITICS is the category word that ties them together.
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