I’m afraid to try it once and get immediately addicted. I’m already hooked on Two Not Touch, a daily logic puzzle that is my morning pleasure. I rationalize that one by telling myself it’s good for my brain. And maybe it us. imagine it is turning on the engine, warming it up, which these games may be.
Yes, good for the brain. That’s why I began in the first place. It is addictive, at least for me. There are times when I have to move away from it and then go back later, but for the most part I can get it done before my coffee gets cold!
Hello from another addict, lol! First thing in the morning for me too, and then the "mini", "connections" (still the hardest!), and the newbie "Strands".... when you love words, that's the ticket to get your brain going!
I do Connections but I'm not especially good at it every time. Which of course grinds me. I've done Strands but it takes too long for me and it doesn't feel satisfying. I don't know why.
Yes, along with several others, including Connections (my favorite) and now Strands. At one point, I played Wordle, Quordle, and Octordle every day. Then I fell off. When playing habitually, I always snap a screenshot at the end, a trail of words through time. I’m surprised to see you don’t start with the same word, which is, of course, common for many. Love that you keep an analog record.
I started out using the same words, with many vowels of course, but then at some point I began just using any word that came into my head. Daring, I know! 😉
My wife and I play side-by-side after dinner and compare screenshots afterward. There is, of course, ribbing when one of us takes much longer than the other. I’m a same-first-word guy (ARISE); she prides herself on picking a new first word every time. In the big picture, it doesn’t seem to make a real difference. (Never gotten it in one; congratulations!)
And yes, we both faced the “They wouldn’t use BITCH, would they?” question last night. She went with it and lost; I thought better and got it.
Yes, never heard of Wordle (I don't get out much, LOL) Sudoku isn't really about the numbers, it's about the patterns the numbers make. Once you know what to look for, it's a piece of time-consuming cake. I'm thinking of writing a "how to" book about it. I thought about teaching a class in how to do Sudoku, but my husband said no one would take it. But people did. I got about 10 on my first class. (Just sayin')
I love Wordle. I do it early in the morning. I'm currently at 98%. My longest streak is 97 days. I'm impressed that you are at 99%. I actually use two starting words which between them have all 5 vowels and a Y. I found that this helped me figure out the eventual answer even though I've used up an extra "go". 4 tries is also my most popular score, followed by 3.
This is so timely! I've JUST gotten addicted, and I can't imagine why it took me so long. It was prompted by my 2nd grader's teacher who told me that he loves doing it and is quite good. We start every try with AUDIO then segue to MONEY or LEMON, depending. Helps us knock out those vowels. Playing w/ my kids is the best part of my day--although I fear I'm sort of a word-hog.
Love the dedication and totally agree that we word people are easily sucked in. I played for a solid string of months, then stopped. Had to turn my attentions elsewhere, like folding laundry and, uh, doing my j.o.b. 😂 It's been off my radar, but thanks to this post, I played today's and got it in four. Good to know I haven't lost my touch completely. Now, to resist the urge anew!
The latest article in John McPhee's Tabula Rasa series in the May 13 New Yorker is "The Wordle Philosophy." Showing my age here, but reading McPhee back in the 1970's really awakened my interest and appreciation for the use of words and language. I'm happy to say that my 18-year-old granddaughter inherited this interest, and every day we share our Wordle, Connections, and Strands results. Wonderful way to stay connected, pardon the pun.
I am a Wordle addict. There. I said it. I once made it to a 200 wins winning streak, and then they stopped giving stats for non-subscribers. As I don't subscribe to the NYT, I'm expecting that one day they will no longer let me play. They are annoying in so many ways. At one point I signed up for one of those free accounts, where they send you the headlines and a daily news dump. So even though they have figured out how to keep sending these to my email inbox, they haven't figured out how to connect that with my Wordle page.
It's probably better that I don't know.
I used to share my scores on Twitter, when it was Twitter. Now I share them with a couple of friends I have daily texts with. It's good that there is only one puzzle a day, or I could see myself wasting hours wordling.
I wrote this back in January 2022 just after getting hooked on the game and before it was taken over by the NYT. Since then I've managed to get the word in 1 and my best streak is 102. I live alone and sending my Wordle score to my eldest son first thing in the morning is my 'proof of life' message...
Sharing Wordle is sometimes the best part! That may be part of its appeal, now that I think of it. And the fact that we can only do it once a day. Whatever it is, it looks like it’s here to stay!
While not an active Wordle player (yet) I love the simple creation of it, how it took the world by storm and has brought together people and families who may not live close by but can still play and share their experience. The success of Wordle restores my faith in humanity!
My good friend and her brother play it daily with their other brother, who is in recovery. That’s how they can tell early signs if he’s in trouble or in need of more support.
I’m afraid to try it once and get immediately addicted. I’m already hooked on Two Not Touch, a daily logic puzzle that is my morning pleasure. I rationalize that one by telling myself it’s good for my brain. And maybe it us. imagine it is turning on the engine, warming it up, which these games may be.
Yes, good for the brain. That’s why I began in the first place. It is addictive, at least for me. There are times when I have to move away from it and then go back later, but for the most part I can get it done before my coffee gets cold!
Hello from another addict, lol! First thing in the morning for me too, and then the "mini", "connections" (still the hardest!), and the newbie "Strands".... when you love words, that's the ticket to get your brain going!
I do Connections but I'm not especially good at it every time. Which of course grinds me. I've done Strands but it takes too long for me and it doesn't feel satisfying. I don't know why.
Posted before I’d finished editing! What I wanted to add was that at some point you have to get to work!
Yes! The whole point is to wake up my brain in order to get to work. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't... 😏
Yes, along with several others, including Connections (my favorite) and now Strands. At one point, I played Wordle, Quordle, and Octordle every day. Then I fell off. When playing habitually, I always snap a screenshot at the end, a trail of words through time. I’m surprised to see you don’t start with the same word, which is, of course, common for many. Love that you keep an analog record.
I started out using the same words, with many vowels of course, but then at some point I began just using any word that came into my head. Daring, I know! 😉
Sorry, never heard of Wordle. Glad not to, as I "waste" enough time with Sudoku. I suspect I'm just not a games person.
Wait…you’ve never heard of Wordle? Hmm. I’ve never tried Sudoku. I’m terrible with numbers and much prefer words.
My wife and I play side-by-side after dinner and compare screenshots afterward. There is, of course, ribbing when one of us takes much longer than the other. I’m a same-first-word guy (ARISE); she prides herself on picking a new first word every time. In the big picture, it doesn’t seem to make a real difference. (Never gotten it in one; congratulations!)
And yes, we both faced the “They wouldn’t use BITCH, would they?” question last night. She went with it and lost; I thought better and got it.
Ha! It would be fun to play Wordle with you guys!
But they DID recognize it as a word, so in theory, "bitch" could have been the answer!
Yes, never heard of Wordle (I don't get out much, LOL) Sudoku isn't really about the numbers, it's about the patterns the numbers make. Once you know what to look for, it's a piece of time-consuming cake. I'm thinking of writing a "how to" book about it. I thought about teaching a class in how to do Sudoku, but my husband said no one would take it. But people did. I got about 10 on my first class. (Just sayin')
Good for you! There is always an audience for everything, it seems. We just have to know how to lock into it.
I love Wordle. I do it early in the morning. I'm currently at 98%. My longest streak is 97 days. I'm impressed that you are at 99%. I actually use two starting words which between them have all 5 vowels and a Y. I found that this helped me figure out the eventual answer even though I've used up an extra "go". 4 tries is also my most popular score, followed by 3.
I love how everyone has their own way of choosing that first word. It probably makes no difference statistically, but we do things our way!
I use completely random starting words, but do try in my starting word not to use words that have double letters.
And get that damn key!
This is so timely! I've JUST gotten addicted, and I can't imagine why it took me so long. It was prompted by my 2nd grader's teacher who told me that he loves doing it and is quite good. We start every try with AUDIO then segue to MONEY or LEMON, depending. Helps us knock out those vowels. Playing w/ my kids is the best part of my day--although I fear I'm sort of a word-hog.
That’s so great! Welcome aboard! You’re stuck now. And I love that you do it with your kids. That’s pretty special.
Love the dedication and totally agree that we word people are easily sucked in. I played for a solid string of months, then stopped. Had to turn my attentions elsewhere, like folding laundry and, uh, doing my j.o.b. 😂 It's been off my radar, but thanks to this post, I played today's and got it in four. Good to know I haven't lost my touch completely. Now, to resist the urge anew!
The latest article in John McPhee's Tabula Rasa series in the May 13 New Yorker is "The Wordle Philosophy." Showing my age here, but reading McPhee back in the 1970's really awakened my interest and appreciation for the use of words and language. I'm happy to say that my 18-year-old granddaughter inherited this interest, and every day we share our Wordle, Connections, and Strands results. Wonderful way to stay connected, pardon the pun.
I’m such a huge McPhee fan from way back. I need to read that!
I am a Wordle addict. There. I said it. I once made it to a 200 wins winning streak, and then they stopped giving stats for non-subscribers. As I don't subscribe to the NYT, I'm expecting that one day they will no longer let me play. They are annoying in so many ways. At one point I signed up for one of those free accounts, where they send you the headlines and a daily news dump. So even though they have figured out how to keep sending these to my email inbox, they haven't figured out how to connect that with my Wordle page.
It's probably better that I don't know.
I used to share my scores on Twitter, when it was Twitter. Now I share them with a couple of friends I have daily texts with. It's good that there is only one puzzle a day, or I could see myself wasting hours wordling.
I start each day with EARTH. Has that ever been the correct word?
Yes, it has. You can look up used words in an archive.
Thank you.
I wrote this back in January 2022 just after getting hooked on the game and before it was taken over by the NYT. Since then I've managed to get the word in 1 and my best streak is 102. I live alone and sending my Wordle score to my eldest son first thing in the morning is my 'proof of life' message...
https://open.substack.com/pub/harrywatson/p/theres-a-word-for-that-aa8116fa4af8?r=1v4z4o&utm_medium=ios
I also play Rootl everyday that's all about the etymology of words...
Sharing Wordle is sometimes the best part! That may be part of its appeal, now that I think of it. And the fact that we can only do it once a day. Whatever it is, it looks like it’s here to stay!
Nice piece. Thanks so much for sharing it.
While not an active Wordle player (yet) I love the simple creation of it, how it took the world by storm and has brought together people and families who may not live close by but can still play and share their experience. The success of Wordle restores my faith in humanity!
Good points. I wonder then why you’ve never played. Yes, it’s addictive, but in a good way!
My good friend and her brother play it daily with their other brother, who is in recovery. That’s how they can tell early signs if he’s in trouble or in need of more support.