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The New York Times’ daily word puzzle game Strands has quickly become a fan favorite, offering a clever twist on traditional word searches. Each day presents a unique puzzle based on a theme, and April 7’s puzzle marks the 400th edition with the theme “Half-and-half.” In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to play, offer hints for solving today’s puzzle, and provide all the answers—including the all-important spangram.

How to Play NYT Strands

 - Find theme words hidden in a scrambled grid of letters.

 - Theme words are highlighted in blue once found.

 - You can tap or drag to select letters; double-tap the final letter if you're tapping.

 - Words must follow a theme and will fill the board without overlapping.

 - One special word, called the "spangram," reveals the puzzle’s theme. It runs from one side of the board to the other and is highlighted in yellow when found.

Today’s Theme Clue: “Half-and-half”

Today’s puzzle theme—“Half-and-half”—is a nod to beings that are part one thing, part another. Think mythological creatures or fictional hybrids that are literal mash-ups of two entities. If you're stuck, this clue will steer you in the right direction: Creative critters.

Spangram Hint: Vertical or Horizontal?

Today’s spangram is vertical, which might help narrow down your search path across the board.

Spangram Answer for April 7

The spangram that ties today’s puzzle together is: HybridCreature

Unlocking Hints: Sample Filler Words

To reveal in-game hints, you need to enter non-theme words that are four letters or more. Here are some example words that can help unlock hints:

REMIND, MIND, COLA, RATS, FAIR, TEAR, RATE, RIND, TINE, MINE, FIRE, RIFF, PEACE, BRIT, BRIM, FIRER, RICE, PEND

Any valid word of four or more letters will help reveal theme words if you get stuck.

NYT Strands Answers for April 7 (#400)

Here’s the full list of theme words and the spangram for today’s puzzle:

 - Merman

 - Satyr

 - Centaur

 - Griffin

 - Jackalope

 - HybridCreature (Spangram)


Each of these entries represents a creature that is half one thing, half another—perfectly aligned with the “Half-and-half” theme.