# Wordplay & Linguistic Patterns The NYT Connections puzzle makers love wordplay. From simple rhymes to complex homophones, from compound words to clever puns, linguistic patterns are at the heart of many challenging categories. This guide will help you think like a puzzle maker and spot these tricky connections. ## Homophones & Sound-Alikes ### 🔊 Classic Homophones Words that sound identical but have different spellings and meanings: ### 🎭 Near-Homophones

⚠️ Tricky Near-Misses

Sometimes the puzzle uses words that sound almost the same:

• ACCEPT/EXCEPT - Very close in pronunciation
• AFFECT/EFFECT - Often confused
• ELICIT/ILLICIT - Nearly identical sounds
• ENSURE/INSURE - Regional pronunciation varies

## Rhyming Patterns ### 🎵 Perfect Rhymes

Common Rhyme Groups

Simple Rhymes

• CAT, BAT, HAT, MAT
• NIGHT, LIGHT, SIGHT, FIGHT
• MAKE, TAKE, BAKE, SHAKE

Sneaky Rhymes

• ROUGH, TOUGH, ENOUGH, STUFF
• THROUGH, BLUE, NEW, TRUE
• CAUGHT, THOUGHT, BOUGHT, TAUGHT

### 🎪 Slant Rhymes & Assonance

Imperfect Sound Matches

Watch for words that share vowel sounds or consonant patterns:

• Assonance: LAKE, FADE, PAIN, WAIT (long A sound)
• Consonance: PITTER, PATTER, BITTER, BUTTER (double T)
• Slant Rhyme: LOVE, MOVE, PROVE, GROOVE

## Compound Word Patterns ### 🔗 Words That Combine

Common Compound Patterns

___ + WORD

FIRE + works, place, fly, ball

Look for words that commonly start compounds

WORD + ___

work + SHOP, PLACE, LOAD, FORCE

Words that commonly end compounds

Both Directions

BACK (backyard/quarterback), OVER (overtime/moreover)

Words that work as prefix or suffix

## Letter & Spelling Patterns ### 🔤 Anagrams ### 📝 Letter Addition/Subtraction

Progressive Patterns

• Add a Letter: AT → CAT → SCAT → SCANT
• Remove a Letter: PLANET → PLANE → PLAN → PAN
• Change One Letter: COLD → CORD → WORD → WORK

## Puns & Double Meanings ### 😄 Category Puns

When Categories Get Punny

"Things that are CURRENT"

STREAM, NEWS, ELECTRIC, TRENDY

Playing on different meanings of "current"

"LIGHT subjects"

FEATHER, COMEDY, PASTEL, PHOTON

Different interpretations of "light"

### 🎯 Idiom Components

Parts of Common Phrases

Words that complete well-known idioms:

• BLESSING, DISGUISE, SHEEP, WOLF → "in ___" phrases
• BEANS, MILK, WATER, BRIDGE → "spill the ___" type phrases
• MUSIC, PIPER, TUNE, FIDDLE → "face the ___" expressions

## Advanced Linguistic Tricks ### 🧩 Palindromes & Symmetry

Words with Special Properties

Palindromes

NOON, LEVEL, RADAR, CIVIC

Double Letters

BOOK, MOON, FEET, JAZZ

### 🌍 Foreign Language Connections

International Wordplay

• Numbers in Other Languages: UNO, DEUX, TRES, VIER
• Colors in Spanish: ROJO, AZUL, VERDE, BLANCO
• Common Foreign Words: HELLO in different languages

## Quick Reference: Wordplay Checklist

When Looking for Wordplay

Sound Patterns

☐ Do any words sound the same?
☐ Do they rhyme perfectly?
☐ Share vowel sounds?
☐ Have similar endings?

Structure Patterns

☐ Can they form compounds?
☐ Share letter patterns?
☐ Work as anagrams?
☐ Have special properties?

## Pro Tips for Wordplay 1. **Say Words Aloud**: Many patterns become obvious when spoken 2. **Think Like a Dad Joke**: Puns and wordplay often use groan-worthy humor 3. **Check Multiple Languages**: Especially numbers, colors, and greetings 4. **Look for Letter Patterns**: Count letters, check for doubles, look for symmetry 5. **Consider All Meanings**: Wordplay thrives on double meanings ## Read Next

Double-Meaning Words

Deep dive into polysemous words - wordplay's favorite tool.

Common Themes & Patterns

See how wordplay fits into the bigger picture of puzzle patterns.