A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #399
hints & answers for July 14, 2024

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows July 14, 2024. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with P, P, T and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

POINT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SLENDER PROJECTIONS

Reveal all four words
  • POINT
  • PRONG
  • TINE
  • TIP

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with F, F, G and M. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

FAIR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CONDITIONS FOR COLLECTIBLES

Reveal all four words
  • FAIR
  • FINE
  • GOOD
  • MINT

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, F, L and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BUSINESS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PROFESSION

Reveal all four words
  • BUSINESS
  • FIELD
  • LINE
  • TRADE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, B, D and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BRAZIL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WORDS BEFORE “NUT”

Reveal all four words
  • BRAZIL
  • BUTTER
  • DOUGH
  • PINE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: SLENDER PROJECTIONS
  • Green: CONDITIONS FOR COLLECTIBLES
  • Blue: PROFESSION
  • Purple: WORDS BEFORE “NUT”

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

SLENDER PROJECTIONS

POINT · PRONG · TINE · TIP

Green

CONDITIONS FOR COLLECTIBLES

FAIR · FINE · GOOD · MINT

Blue

PROFESSION

BUSINESS · FIELD · LINE · TRADE

Purple

WORDS BEFORE “NUT”

BRAZIL · BUTTER · DOUGH · PINE

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.