Advice and Responses from the New York Times Connections Today for January 16 (#585)

Connections is a New York Times game that challenges you to find the association between words. It may seem easy, but it's not—Categories of Connections can be almost anything and are generally quite specific. If you need help finding the answers, we're here to assist you.

What are Connections?

Connections is a New York Times game. The objective is simple: sort 16 words into groups of 4. Each group of words will be linked by an idea or common theme. This common element can be anything. We've seen it all, from games that depend on the number of letters in the words to categories that require you to find an extra letter at the end of the word. Sometimes it's a reference to economics, sometimes it refers to fairy tales. You never know what type of association will be between the words.

Once you are sure of the connection, select 4 words, then press "Submit". You have a total of four attempts, so be cautious.

Tips for Today's Connection Groups

Here are some clues for the 585th Connections game to help you get started:

• Yellow: Related to economics.
• Green: Secondly, pins, paintings, and posters.
• Blue: Think of James Bond.
• The missing word is a type of pet.

If you still need help, the real names of the groups are:

• Yellow:Auction and Sale
• Green : Installed on a wall
• Blue : Spy, Active, Rat, Plan
• Violet: Gym, Store, Packaging, Rug

New York Times Connections Daily Answers

Auction and Sale (Yellow):

Business, Commerce, Market, Exchange

Installed on a wall (Green) :

Baseboard, Switch, Murals Lighting, Switch

Spy (Blue) :

Agent, Active, Pioneer, Base

Rat (Violet):

Gym, Store, Packaging, Rugby

How do you guess the Connection groups?

There is no quick and reliable method to approach Connections like with Wordle, as Connections are not an algorithm. However, there are a few things to remember that can help.

1. Try saying the words. Sometimes, saying the words helps. A puzzle we saw included the words 'go', 'speed', 'faster', 'clip', 'rhythm', 'speed', 'move', 'commute' and 'hurry'—all obviously related to the idea of movement. However, when you say them, it becomes a bit clearer that only four (go, move, hurry, faster) are things you would actually say to encourage someone to move.
2. Take the dustpan. Connections often have words that could plausibly be grouped incorrectly. For example, take the words Bud, Corona and Light. You can instinctively see these three words together and assume they fall into a category related to beer - which was not the case.
3. Look for distinct words. If a word on your board has multiple meanings or can only really be used in one context, try using that word as the base for a category.
4. Mix up the board. Sometimes, moving words can help you look at them from a different angle.

If you didn't solve this question, don't feel too bad—there will always be tomorrow! And these words could correspond to a subject that interests you, giving you an advantage over the competition.