The theme “On the Syllabus” focuses on school-related words like EXAM and PAPER.
Today’s Spangram, COLLEGECOURSE, links all theme words across the puzzle grid.
Hints and strategic letter exploration make solving NYT Strands easier and more enjoyable.
The first day of fall is here, bringing cooler weather, pumpkin decorations, and Halloween excitement. But before jumping into seasonal fun, there’s a brain-boosting challenge waiting: the NYT Strands puzzle for September 23.
Today’s puzzle will take solvers back to school and test their word-finding skills with a theme that is familiar to anyone who has ever opened a syllabus.
The theme for September 23 NYT Strands is “On the syllabus.” All the words relate to tasks, events, and assignments that students encounter during a course. Some things everyone knows: the typical exam and assignment; others are classroom-related activities, such as lectures and readings.
Recognizing a theme narrows down possibilities and makes it easier to find words. The spangram adds more fun by linking all these school-related words.
Hints are here to help solvers through the puzzle:
Hint 1 – First two letters: EX; a formal test to measure learning.
Hint 2 – First two letters: RE; assigned materials to check and study.
Hint 3 – First two letters: LE, to impart instructor or professorial class content.
Hint 4 – First two letters: QU; a little test, usually short and quick.
Hint 5 – First two letters: PA; a written assignment, report, or essay.
Hint 6 – First two letters: HO; what students are asked to do outside class.
These clues not only reveal starting letters but also help solvers consider the context of the words. Often, the theme gives away the meaning, making spotting the correct letters on the grid much simpler.
Here is the full list of today’s non-spangram words:
EXAM
READING
LECTURE
QUIZ
PAPER
HOMEWORK
These words are among those with which students are very much acquainted on a course syllabus. The words drive home the point of a typical school calendar.
Our spangram for September 23 is COLLEGECOURSE. The word goes across the grid, linking all other words together. Each answer is connected to the idea of a college course, unifying the puzzle. Sometimes, identifying the spangram can be one way of locating the harder words on the board, especially with the longer ones, such as HOMEWORK and PAPER.
Start with easy words first: Solving one or two helps reveal letters for harder words.
Focus on the theme: Knowing the puzzle is “On the syllabus” allows solvers to anticipate school-related words.
Use patterns: Look for familiar combinations of letters in the grid to spot longer words.
Write or type letters: Moving letters around visually can help reveal tricky words.
Check for common prefixes or suffixes: Many academic words, like READING or HOMEWORK, follow predictable forms.
September 23 NYT Strands is a nostalgic puzzle for anyone who has somehow lived life on a syllabus. Words such as EXAM, HOMEWORK, and the pangram COLLEGECOURSE remind solvers of the challenges and the everyday commute of academe.
Meanwhile, daily NYT Strands play enhances vocabulary building, pattern recognition, and logical thinking. It also provides a soul-satisfying way to pump some iron into brain cells while connecting words in a theme that means something. To the puzzle fiends, this is a jolly-good-well-educational challenge to kick off the season.