Today's NYT Strands is live for Tuesday, July 21, 2026 (Puzzle #870). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "Write there"
What It Really Means
You are hunting physical desk supplies used for writing, correspondence, and organizing documents.
Think About...
- Things that carry a personal message.
- Supplies used in formal business correspondence.
- Desk essentials for capturing and sorting written information.
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Left to right across the board
Letter Count: 10 letters
Starting Zone: Row 4, letter 1
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think of the umbrella category covering writing materials and paper goods kept at a desk.
Hint 2 (Warmer): The category's name is commonly confused with a sound-alike word meaning not moving.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is S, last letter is Y
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STATIONERY
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A small, firm piece that can carry a brief message or identification.
Closer: Birthdays, thank-you messages, and personal greetings often arrive on this stiff folded item.
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 4 letters total
Answer
CARD
Word 2
Vague: A protective paper wrapper used when sending correspondence.
Closer: You seal this paper wrapper after placing correspondence inside and writing the recipient's address outside.
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 8 letters total
Answer
ENVELOPE
Word 3
Vague: An organized collection kept for reference or recordkeeping.
Closer: This folder holds related documents together for storage and retrieval.
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 4 letters total
Answer
FILE
Word 4
Vague: A branded feature placed at the top of formal correspondence.
Closer: A company name, logo, and contact details are printed across the top of this formal business paper.
Letter Clue: Starts with L, 10 letters total
Answer
LETTERHEAD
Word 5
Vague: A compact supply for quickly recording thoughts and reminders.
Closer: This small bound stack of tear-off pages sits nearby for quick reminders and phone messages.
Letter Clue: Starts with N, 7 letters total
Answer
NOTEPAD
Word 6
Vague: A single flat piece used as a writing surface.
Closer: One loose piece from a ream, ready for writing or printing.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 5 letters total
Answer
SHEET
Full Answers
Spangram: STATIONERY
Theme Words:
- CARD
- ENVELOPE
- FILE
- LETTERHEAD
- NOTEPAD
- SHEET
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Medium, with familiar objects linked by a category that takes a moment to sharpen.
Trickiest Word: FILE is the likeliest stall because its digital and administrative meanings can pull attention away from the physical desk item.
Our Take: STATIONERY provides a clean umbrella for CARD, ENVELOPE, FILE, LETTERHEAD, NOTEPAD, and SHEET. The mix moves neatly from personal correspondence to workplace organization, while FILE supplies the strongest semantic misdirection.
