Mastering Spelling Bee: Answers, Strategies & Scoring Guide
GameTipster Editorial Team
Word Game Specialists & Puzzle Critics
Covering daily word games with precision, updated answers, and proven strategies since 2015.
What is Spelling Bee?
Spelling Bee is The New York Times’ wildly popular daily word puzzle where players form as many words as possible from a set of seven letters, one of which is mandatory. Released online in 2018 after decades as a print feature, it quickly became a morning ritual for language lovers and competitive wordsmiths worldwide.
The challenge? Every valid word must be at least four letters long, and each must include the “center” letter. The crown jewel is the pangram—a word that uses all seven letters at least once—which awards a big point bonus.
How to Play
Upon opening the puzzle, you’ll see seven hexagonal tiles arranged like a honeycomb. The center tile is highlighted—this is your required letter for every guess. The goal is to type or click letters to form valid words, then submit them for points.
- Valid words: At least 4 letters long, contain center letter, appear in NYT’s curated word list.
- Invalid words: Proper nouns, hyphenated words, and obscure archaic terms.
Scoring System Explained
Points are based on word length, with pangrams offering the largest bonuses:
- 4 letters: 1 point
- 5 letters: 5 points
- 6 letters: 6 points
- 7+ letters: 7 points, plus 7-point bonus for pangrams
Your rank (Beginner, Good Start, Nice, Amazing, Genius) depends on your score relative to the puzzle’s total possible points.
Pangram Strategy
Finding the pangram is both a thrill and a score multiplier. Look for letter combinations that balance vowels and consonants, and try to spot prefixes/suffixes that could extend smaller words into pangrams.
Where to Find Daily Spelling Bee Answers
If you’re stuck, our Spelling Bee Answers Archive updates daily with spoiler-controlled solutions. We also provide hints before revealing full answers, so you can nudge yourself toward Genius without giving up entirely.
Pro Tips & Tricks
- Start with common 4-letter words to quickly build a base score.
- Focus on the center letter and explore every possible position.
- Use plural forms and verb conjugations—if “run” is valid, “running” might be too.
- Identify word stems and add prefixes/suffixes to expand your list.
- Take breaks—fresh eyes spot words you missed earlier.
Official Links & Resources
Quick FAQ
Is the NYT Spelling Bee free?
No—full daily puzzles require an NYT Games subscription, but a free “Today’s Puzzle” is sometimes offered.
Can I play on mobile?
Yes—the game is mobile-optimized and works in any modern browser.
Daily Word Game
