Today's NYT Strands is live for Sunday, August 16, 2026 (Puzzle #896). 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: "Learn by doing"
What It Really Means
You are hunting for people who gain practical skills under the guidance of someone more experienced.
Think About...
- A newcomer learning a trade alongside an expert.
- A junior workplace role built around gaining experience.
- A learner developing through close guidance from a teacher or adviser.
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Left to right across the board
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: Row 8, letter 1
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The connecting phrase describes practical instruction tied to real work.
Hint 2 (Warmer): Think of employer-led instruction in which skills are developed while performing actual duties.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is J, last letter is G
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JOBTRAINING
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: This learner develops a skilled craft under an experienced worker.
Closer: Think of the junior member of a trade who combines supervised work with formal instruction.
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 10 letters total
Answer
APPRENTICE
Word 2
Vague: This devoted follower learns from a teacher or leader.
Closer: This is a follower of a spiritual teacher or a particular school of thought.
Letter Clue: Starts with D, 8 letters total
Answer
DISCIPLE
Word 3
Vague: This temporary newcomer gains experience inside an organization.
Closer: A student or recent graduate often holds this short-term workplace position.
Letter Clue: Starts with I, 6 letters total
Answer
INTERN
Word 4
Vague: This person receives guidance from a more experienced adviser.
Closer: This is the less experienced person in a formal one-to-one guidance relationship.
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 6 letters total
Answer
MENTEE
Word 5
Vague: This promising person develops with help from an influential supporter.
Closer: This rising talent has a career cultivated by an established and influential sponsor.
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 7 letters total
Answer
PROTEGE
Full Answers
Spangram: JOBTRAINING
Theme Words:
- APPRENTICE
- DISCIPLE
- INTERN
- MENTEE
- PROTEGE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Medium, with a tightly connected word list but several overlapping kinds of learners.
Trickiest Word: DISCIPLE is the trickiest word because its strong religious association can obscure its broader meaning as a student or follower of a teacher.
Our Take: JOBTRAINING neatly explains why APPRENTICE, INTERN, and MENTEE belong together, while DISCIPLE and PROTEGE stretch the idea beyond a conventional workplace. That range gives the list texture without breaking the central link of learning through close guidance and experience.
