The New York Times Spelling Bee

If you've found this page, chances are you already know a bit about The New York Times Spelling Bee. Maybe you've played it a few times, or perhaps you're just curious about what the buzz is all about (pun intended!). Either way, let’s break it down in a fun and friendly way.

What is Spelling Bee?

Spelling Bee is a super-addictive word puzzle game brought to you by The New York Times. The goal is simple but oh-so-satisfying: create as many words as you can from a set of seven pre-selected letters. But, of course, there are a few rules to keep things interesting:

• Words must be at least four letters long.

• Every word must include the center letter of the puzzle.

• No proper nouns, abbreviations, or offensive words allowed!

And here’s the best part: each puzzle is guaranteed to have at least one pangram, a word that uses all seven letters. Finding a pangram is like hitting the jackpot—it’s worth a hefty point bonus and always feels super rewarding.

What if I’m Not Subscribed?

Good news—you can still play Spelling Bee even if you’re not subscribed to The New York Times! However, there are a few limitations:

• Daily Puzzle Access: You can enjoy the daily puzzle but only up to a certain point. Once you’ve found a handful of words, you’ll hit a limit and be prompted to subscribe.

• Locked Features: Cool extras, like saving your progress or viewing the full list of possible words, are only available to subscribers.

• No Access to Archives: Free users can only play the puzzle of the day, while subscribers can dive into past puzzles whenever they like.

Why is Spelling Bee So Popular?

It’s more than just a word game—it’s a daily brain workout. Whether you’re a seasoned word nerd or just looking for a fun way to pass the time, Spelling Bee is the perfect mix of relaxing and challenging. It’s great solo, but even more fun when you play with friends or family to see who can find the most words (or snag the pangram first!).

And if Spelling Bee has you hooked, you might also want to check out another New York Times favorite: Wordle. This viral word-guessing game challenges you to figure out a five-letter word in just six tries. Like Spelling Bee, it’s simple, fun, and highly addictive—perfect for starting (or ending) your day with a bit of wordplay.

Take Your Spelling Bee Skills to the Next Level

For those looking to up their game, there’s The Completely Unauthorized NY Times Spelling Bee Toolbox. This hub is created by Spelling Bee enthusiasts for Spelling Bee enthusiasts, featuring original tools designed to enhance your puzzle-solving experience. It also includes links to innovative tools crafted by fellow fans of the game.

The highlight of this toolbox is the Beesheet, a simple yet highly effective worksheet. The Beesheet takes the puzzle’s provided data and transforms it into a printable checksheet format. As you guess words, you can check off the corresponding length and jot down the word. Through process of elimination, the Beesheet reveals which word lengths and starting letters you still need to uncover. It’s an excellent way to organize your guesses, strategize your gameplay, and ultimately conquer the hive!

Whether you’re a casual player or an aspiring Queen Bee, The Completely Unauthorized NY Times Spelling Bee Toolbox is a must-visit for creative and practical tools to help you make the most of every puzzle.

So, whether you’re puzzling over pangrams in Spelling Bee, trying to crack the code in Wordle, or organizing your guesses with the Beesheet, there’s no shortage of brain-boosting fun. If you haven’t already, give them a try! Happy puzzling! 🐝✨