Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #377) – hint #1 – today’s theme

NYT Strands today (game #377) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• ROYAL
• SNAG
• WEDGE
• BLOT
• BARD
• ROAD

NYT Strands today (game #377) – hint #3 – spangram letters

NYT Strands today (game #377) – hint #4 – spangram position

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #377) – the answers

The answers to today’s Strands, game #377, are…

• NOTEBOOK
• LANYARD
• TOTE
• DECAL
• SHIRT
• BOTTLE
• PENCIL
• SPANGRAM: SWAG BAG

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

In the UK there’s a famous businessman called Sir Alan Sugar (like Donald Trump he’s made his name on our version of The Apprentice) who has a word he likes to use for the objects listed in today’s search. He calls it “toot”, in other words cheap items that have little value other than that you can add with marketing nous.

Anyone who’s been to a conference or launch event will be familiar with the SWAG BAG described and despite the fact that you know will never use the TOTE or BOTTLE (mainly on account of it being toot) you can’t help but be thrilled at receiving all this stuff for free. It’s a very strange transaction.

The best swag bags I ever got were at the end of the marathons I used to do; then you’d get really vital stuff like a banana, an energy bar and some water. In this kind of circumstance they’d never put in a PENCIL in, on the off-chance that some exhausted runner accidentally would eat it.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Friday, 14 March, game #376)

• APPLE
• PEACH
• PECAN
• CHERRY
• PUMPKIN
• BLUEBERRY
• SPANGRAM: CLASSIC PIES

Johnny is a freelance pop culture journalist who has been writing about the internet, music, football and famous people since the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye. Previously known by the pseudonym the Pop Detective, his journalistic career began making up stories about Madonna’s addiction to sausage rolls (this is not true by the way). A man of few talents, his career is rich and various and includes the highs of interviewing Elton John and Blur; and the lows of interviewing Right Said Fred, appearing on a Channel 5 documentary about Peter Kay, and fact-checking the instruction manual for a German cooker. Somehow still affording to live in North London he is at his happiest riding his bicycle and shouting at pigeons.