NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Friday, December 13 (game #285)

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My clues will help you solve the NYT's Strands today and keep that streak going

NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
(Image credit: New York Times)
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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 #285) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… One for the Swifties

NYT Strands today (game #285) - hint #2 - clue words

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

  • SIDE
  • FLOSS
  • BLEED
  • MORE
  • MITRE
  • MILE

NYT Strands today (game #285) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Taylor’s versions

NYT Strands today (game #285) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: left, 4th row

Last: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #285) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 285 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #285, are…

  • LOVER
  • EVERMORE
  • FEARLESS
  • FOLKLORE
  • MIDNIGHTS
  • SPANGRAM: ALBUMTITLE
  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

Strands decided to Shake It Off today and pay tribute to the smartest and greatest pop artist of her generation (other than Charlie XCX). Although I did fleetingly wonder if this was one for us twitchers and fans of the swift in particular – another day, perhaps

This was indeed “one for the [Taylor] Swifties”, who no doubt took about 10 seconds to crack today’s words – although it wouldn’t have been even easier if they’d included The Tortured Poets Department.

Anyway, did you know the swift eats, bathes, sleeps, and mates while flying? Talk about multi-talented.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, 12 December, game #284)

  • BUNNY
  • BELL
  • STAR
  • DIAMOND
  • HEART
  • ANGEL
  • SPANGRAM: COOKIECUTTER

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

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Johnny Dee
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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.

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