Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #247) – hint #1 – today’s theme

NYT Strands today (game #247) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• BEAT
• DART
• CHAT
• MARE
• DARE
• STORE

NYT Strands today (game #247) – hint #3 – spangram

NYT Strands today (game #247) – hint #4 – spangram position

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #247) – the answers

The answers to today’s Strands, game #247, are…

• BAND
• CHOIR
• DRAMA
• DEBATE
• YEARBOOK
• ORCHESTRA
• SPANGRAM: AFTERSCHOOL

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 6 hints

Well, this was a disaster. I needed six hints to solve today’s Strands, which means I needed hints for every single answer bar the spangram, which I got at the end when there were no other words that could possibly fit. And really I had no idea what the theme was until very late on.

Part of the problem was that in the UK, where I am, several of these AFTERSCHOOL activities are not common – or at least have different names. I’ve never seen the likes of BAND, YEARBOOK or ORCHESTRA listed among my kids’ after-school activities, anyway. DEBATE, CHOIR and DRAMA are there – plus dozens of sports and many other activities – but I didn’t put them together to make the theme.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Monday, 4 November, game #246)

• TICK
• MINUTE
• JIFFY
• FLASH
• MOMENT
• SECOND
• MOMENT
• INSTANT
• SPANGRAM: SMALLTIME