NYT Connections is a simple game, but it is one of the easiest puzzles where players continuously make mistakes. Connections only allows four guesses, so making mistakes can be very punishing. If you keep failing to answer the puzzle, you can always check our Connections hints for today. But it’s always better to avoid common mistakes and learn how to become better at the game. So, what are the common mistakes to avoid in Connections? Check out a list of things you should not do in the game.
Don’t Get Tunnel Vision-ed
The most common mistake I see most players make while playing Connections is getting tunnel visioned. If you are new to the game and know how to play Connections, you would not be making this mistake.
You select a word or two that feel like they are connected in some way, and then try to look for the other words. Fast forward, and now you are out of guesses, and the revealed answer has put both the words in different categories. If you have done this before, don’t be too hard on yourself, as we have all been through that at some point. You can check out Connections hints on Beebom Puzzle instead to avoid breaking your streak.
To avoid getting tunnel visioned, look at the broader picture. Do not just limit your vision to one or two words. Check out all sixteen words and see if there are more connections first. Seeing a pattern with four words? Pick those first instead of the one you were focused on first. The fewer words you have, the more chances you have to answer them correctly.
‘One Away’ Can Be a Double-Edged Sword
The ‘One away’ message appears at the top when three words are correctly chosen, but the fourth word is incorrect. This is a great indicator that you are close to figuring out one of the four colored categories, but oftentimes it can also act as a double-edged sword.
If you get this message for the first category you are trying to answer, don’t try to guess randomly, since it will only lead to a loss. Doing this is the fastest way to throw away all your guesses. This is one of the common mistakes in Sports Connections as well.
Instead of hard focusing on the word you are missing, see it as omitting three words from the rest of the puzzle. Put those three words at the back of your mind and focus on finding the other categories first. Maybe try looking for words that don’t seem connected but have some commonality to find the purple category. The purple category in Connections is the hardest to locate, but it can be easy if you are looking for uncommon pairings.
As we mentioned in our Letroso vs Connections guide, the process of elimination is an excellent method to find the answer in Letroso; the same analogy works for Connections as well.
Put Your Pride Aside and Google the Word
Yes, googling a word you don’t know the meaning of is not cheating in NYT Connections. At its core, this puzzle is about spotting patterns and not about testing your vocabulary or knowledge. Playing Connections every day can improve all three aspects, but that doesn’t mean you cannot look up the meaning of a word that you are unfamiliar with.
As long as you only look for the meaning and not try to find the connection itself online, I consider this a strategy rather than a hack.
It’s just a game at the end, and the point is to train yourself. By learning the meaning of a new word, you are basically increasing your vocabulary, and once you find a connection through that, you will never forget that word again.
So, these are three common mistakes to avoid in Connections. Players tend to make these mistakes often, costing them their streak. Hope these tips help you get better at the game and improve your chances of guessing the four categories.
The most common Connections mistakes are getting tunnel vision, falling for the early ‘One Away’ trap, and having too much pride to look up meanings.
Training your vocabulary and general knowledge is a great way to get better at the NY Times Connections. Also, the longer you play this game, the better you will get at it.
