If you’re reading this, you’re looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: One for the ages

These words hels celebrate your big day.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are birthday-related words.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is HappyBirthday.

NYT Strands word list for August 21

• Celebrate

• Gifts

• HappyBirthday

• Cards

• Party

• Candles

• Cake

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you’re already playing – on Mashable’s Games page.

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