NYT Strands Hints and Answers for January 12, 2026 (#680)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of January 12, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of January 12, 2026? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for January 12, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Appeal to a hire power
Today’s theme is “Appeal to a hire power”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
Sorted alphabetically, the first letters are A, C, E, E, N, S. Two of them start with the same letter (E).
Hint 3Word lengths
The theme words are 4, 6, 6, 7, 9 and 10 letters long. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 10.
SpangramThe spangram
RESUME
It is a single word of 6 letters and it touches two opposite sides of the board.
Starts with R, ends with E.
AnswersAll theme words
- NAME4 letters
- AWARDS6 letters
- SKILLS6 letters
- CONTACT7 letters
- EDUCATION9 letters
- EXPERIENCE10 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.