And in the headlong nimble universe of online puzzle games, slight slip-ups in spelling can send users off track. One of those typos—conmections—has become a popular search error for the ever-popular variant on the New York Times (NYT) word game, Connections. Though “conmections” isn’t technically a word, it reflects a trend of interest around the brain-teasing daily puzzle that has captivated word game enthusiasts around the world.
This article solves for what NYT Connections is, why people are typing “conmections” instead, and how to get the most out of this especially entertaining puzzle.
What is NYT Connections Game?
Connections is a daily word game from the New York Times Games team, released in 2023. It challenges players to categorize 16 seemingly arbitrary words into four sets of four, with words in each set sharing an overall theme. The subjects can be as simple (colors, animals) or as abstract (words related to money, homophones, etc.).
Unlike a standard crossword puzzle or Wordle, Connections primes players to pattern recognition and lateral thinking, and often requires a leap of faith outside the obvious. It’s become a viral phenomenon, particularly among those who love logic games and trivia.
The Rise of the “Conmections” Misspelling
This word, the “conmections” is made up by people who punch in the wrong keys or type too fast. The proximity of “m” and “n” on a keyboard accounts for the mixup. Indeed, many people who are Googling “conmections NYT” are actually searching for:
- “Connections NYT”
- “NYT word grouping game”
- “New York Times connections puzzle”
According to search engine data, this apparent typo is not that uncommon. Thankfully, most browsers and search engines do autocorrect this mistake now, or still take the user to the right place.
How to Play NYT Connections
To play the game, users can visit the NYT Games site. From there, click on the Connections tab to get to the puzzle. Here’s a short rundown on how to play:
- You see 16 words.
- Your task is to divide them into four groups of four.
- Each category has a common denominator — such as words, types of fruit, U.S. presidents, etc.
- You have 4 mistakes allowed. After that, the puzzle ends.
After discovering all 4 correct groups, the puzzle will be solved, allowing the players to post their scores or proceed to the next day puzzle.
Why Is NYT Connections So Addictive?
- Mental workout: It helps excite the mind and that improves memory and stimulates aspects of creative endeavor that will have you thinking in modes that you forgot you even had.
- Brief Time Suck: If you roll up Connections, it takes just a couple of minutes, making it an ideal morning daily diversion in our brave new world.
- Shareability: As with Wordle, it has a share function with colored squares that do not give away answers but does inform folks on how you’ve done.
- Every Day Fresh: Every day a new puzzle is delivered to you; keep finding words to solve the second hidden phrase easier!
Common Elements in the Connections Puzzles
For those new to the game (or looking under “conmections nyt”), here are the types of categories that often appear:
- Pop culture: TV shows, stars, video games.
- Wordplay: Homophones, rhyming words, prefixes/suffixes.
- Geography: Cities, countries, rivers.
- Science & Nature: Elements, types of animals, parts of the body.
- Food: Spicy, fruity, beverage, dish.
Much of the fun comes from discovering surprising, everyday-word connections.
Tips For Efficiently Solving Connections
If you’ve been perpetually vexed by the game — or have become so frustrated that you found yourself Googling “conmections nyt” — try the following techniques:
- Begin with the obvious: Look to group two or three words that obviously form a pair and work from there.
- Search for outliers: A word or two that doesn’t seem to fit often points to a hidden category.
- Consider spelling roots: Certain words may be related through Latin or Greek roots.
- Think figuratively: Many times the connections are figurative rather than literal.
NYT Connections vs. Other NYT Games
The New York Times is building a digital puzzle empire, including games like Wordle, Spelling Bee, Crosswords and Mini Crossword. Although all three have their cult following, Connections is unique for:
- Unique grouping mechanic.
- High focus on pattern and inferential thought.
- Mix of rationality and imagination.
While Wordle is a game of words, and Spelling Bee is a game of how Krazy the word list can be, Connections is a game of relationships — an important cognitive skill that needs to be exercised!
Community & Social Media Buzz
The game has become popular on social media platforms such as Reddit, Twitter and TikTok. Players upload screenshots, trade hints or commiserate on thorny themes. Even the typo “conmections” sometimes crops up in these communities as part of the humor around misspellings and hard puzzles.
These online discussions contribute to creating a community, of sorts, where novices can learn from wiser veterans and patterns from previous puzzles are frequently dissected for hints about what’s to come.
Mobile Access and NYT Games App
The simplest way to play daily is on the NYT Games app, which is available on both Android and iOS. Streaks: Logging in every day earns you streaks and allows you to save progress. And many users search for the game by typing “conmections nyt app” on a mobile phone in an attempt to find the game there — again, a minor typo that most search engines sort out.
A NYT Games subscription offers access to all games, including Connections, Wordle, Crosswords and more. For players who play a lot, it’s worth spending the money.
Conclusions: From “Conmections” to Connections
While “conmections” is nothing more than a little keypad-mishap, it underscores just how many people are playing NYT’s unorthodox word association game. If you’ve come to Google or Bing with this error typed in, don’t think you’re a failure, loser, or dimwit; in fact, one click on the link below brings you to one of the most intellectually challenging daily activities on the internet.
Whether you’re a puzzle fanatic or a novice, NYT Connections is the ideal way to start your day or wind down. Challenge your mind and knowledge base, and take away a little something to impress your friends or share with the whole family. And if you spell it wrong, remember: You’ll likely still end up back here with the puzzle that millions have stuck on their fridges.