Stuck on today’s NYT Connections puzzle? You aren’t alone. The July 11 board (Game #396) is a classic example of editor Wyna Liu’s signature misdirection. With words like “Principal,” “Staple,” and “Tape” floating around, it’s easy to get locked into a “School” theme that might not be as simple as it looks.
If you are looking to save your streak without burning your four precious lives, you’ve come to the right place. We provide graduated hints starting with subtle nudges and moving to full group reveals so you can solve the NYT Connections hints July 11 puzzle on your own terms.
Table of Contents
Today’s Connections Hints: July 11 (Spoiler-Free)
Before we reveal the specific groups, let’s look at the board broadly. Today’s puzzle features heavy overlap between office/school terminology and words that imply importance.
Here are four general clues to help you shuffle the board effectively:
- Yellow Group Hint: You likely buy these items in August or find them in a messy desk drawer.
- Green Group Hint: These words describe something that is absolutely necessary or foundational.
- Blue Group Hint: Verbs involved in moving an object from Person A to Person B.
- Purple Group Hint: Look for words that are often seen glowing in neon or LEDs above a door or stage.
Struggling with other NYT Games?
- Check out our Daily Wordle Hints
- See today’s NYT Strands Solutions
Connections Groups for July 11:
Still stumped? Let’s narrow it down by revealing the themes for each color. This is often enough to help you spot the Connections answers today without seeing the exact words.
Yellow Group (The Easiest)
- Theme: School Supplies
- Observation: Don’t let the word “Principal” trick you here. While it sounds like a school word, it belongs to a different semantic group today. Focus on physical objects.
Green Group
- Theme: Fundamental / Essential
- Observation: These are adjectives and nouns used to describe the core part of something.
Blue Group
- Theme: Transfer
- Observation: Think about simple actions involving possession.
Purple Group (The Tricky One)
- Theme: Light-Up Signs
- Observation: This is a classic “fill-in-the-blank” category. Imagine these words glowing in a theater or studio.
NYT Connections Answers July 11 (Full Solution)
Warning: Spoilers ahead. If you want to solve Game #396 yourself, scroll back up! Below is the complete answer key for the NYT Connections July 11 puzzle.
Yellow: School Supplies
- PEN
- RULER
- SCISSORS
- TAPE
Green: Fundamental
- ESSENTIAL
- KEY
- PRINCIPAL
- STAPLE
Blue: Transfer
- GIVE
- HAND
- PASS
- SEND
Purple: Light-Up Signs
- APPLAUSE
- EXIT
- RECORDING
- WALK
Analysis: Why Game #396 Was Tricky
The July 11 puzzle relied heavily on semantic overlap a tactic where one word fits multiple potential categories.
- The “School” Red Herring: The board presented “Principal,” “Staple,” “Tape,” “Ruler,” and “Pen.” A distinct “School” category seemed obvious. However, “Principal” and “Staple” were actually traps. “Staple” was used in its metaphorical sense (meaning essential), not the physical metal object.
- The “Principal” Pivot: Many players likely tried to group “Principal” with “School Supplies” or an “Education” theme. Placing it in the Green (Fundamental) group alongside “Key” and “Essential” was the breakthrough needed to clear the board.
- Purple Abstraction: The Purple group (Light-Up Signs) required lateral thinking. Words like “Walk” and “Applause” seem unrelated until you visualize them in a specific context (signage).
How to Play NYT Connections?
If you are new to the NYT Connections game, the rules are simple but the strategy is deep.
- The Goal: Sort 16 words into four groups of four.
- The Colors: The groups are color-coded by difficulty after you solve them:
- Yellow: Straightforward (Synonyms)
- Green: Moderate (Trivia or clear categories)
- Blue: Tricky (Abstract links)
- Purple: Hardest (Wordplay, fill-in-the-blank, homophones)
- Mistakes: You have four lives. If you guess incorrectly four times, the game ends.
Pro Tip: Always use the “Shuffle” button. The game editor intentionally places related-sounding words next to each other to trick your brain. Shuffling breaks these false visual patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What time does NYT Connections reset?
New puzzles are released daily at midnight your local time. If you want to play early, you can change your device’s time zone to New Zealand time.
Is there a way to play previous Connections puzzles?
Unlike the Crossword, the New York Times does not currently offer an official “Connections Archive” in the app. However, several third-party fan sites archive past boards if you want to practice.
What is the hardest Connections group color?
Purple is consistently the most difficult category. It often relies on “fill-in-the-blank” phrases (e.g., words that follow “Green ___”) or complex wordplay like anagrams and homophones.
