A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #413
hints & answers for July 28, 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 28, 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
Gentle hint

Look at how a printed volume is put together.

Show one word

COVER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PARTS OF A BOOK

Reveal all four words
  • COVER
  • JACKET
  • PAGE
  • SPINE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CALICO belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CAT COAT PATTERNS

Reveal all four words
  • CALICO
  • TABBY
  • TORTOISESHELL
  • TUXEDO

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, J, N and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BUTTERFLY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

NERVOUSNESS, IN THE SINGULAR

Reveal all four words
  • BUTTERFLY
  • JITTER
  • NERVE
  • WILLY

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BEETHOVEN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STARTING WITH VEGETABLES

Reveal all four words
  • BEETHOVEN
  • CORNUCOPIA
  • KALEIDOSCOPE
  • PEACOCK
Show categories only
  • Yellow: PARTS OF A BOOK
  • Green: CAT COAT PATTERNS
  • Blue: NERVOUSNESS, IN THE SINGULAR
  • Purple: STARTING WITH VEGETABLES

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

PARTS OF A BOOK

COVER · JACKET · PAGE · SPINE

Green

CAT COAT PATTERNS

CALICO · TABBY · TORTOISESHELL · TUXEDO

Blue

NERVOUSNESS, IN THE SINGULAR

BUTTERFLY · JITTER · NERVE · WILLY

Purple

STARTING WITH VEGETABLES

BEETHOVEN · CORNUCOPIA · KALEIDOSCOPE · PEACOCK

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.