The NYT Strands answer for Wednesday, August 26, 2026 is puzzle #906. The theme is “All in a Day’s Work.” The spangram is PART OF THE JOB. The six theme words are ASSIGNMENT, CHORE, DUTY, ERRAND, PROJECT, and TASK.
Hints for NYT Strands #906 — August 26, 2026
Three hints before the full solution:
- Hint 1: Every theme word refers to something expected of you — not something done voluntarily.
- Hint 2: The words span domestic, academic, and professional settings without favoring any one context.
- Hint 3: The spangram is a phrase used to explain why someone is doing something nobody volunteered for.
NYT Strands Answers — Puzzle #906
Theme: All in a Day’s Work
Spangram: PART OF THE JOB
Theme words: ASSIGNMENT · CHORE · DUTY · ERRAND · PROJECT · TASK
The Theme Words Explained
Each of the six words covers a different register and implied setting. CHORE implies unglamorous domestic work — dishes, laundry, taking out the bins. ERRAND requires movement away from wherever you are, to handle something that cannot be done remotely.
DUTY is the most formal of the six, carrying obligation tied to a specific role or institution. ASSIGNMENT and PROJECT both lean academic or professional, with PROJECT suggesting something longer in duration and larger in scope. TASK is the most neutral — it fits almost any context without implying a setting.
That breadth is the real difficulty today. Because the theme spans so many settings, context alone cannot eliminate candidates. Each word belongs on its own terms.
The Spangram: PART OF THE JOB
PART OF THE JOB is the phrase someone says when handing you a task that falls outside the pleasant parts of a role but is required regardless. It traces across the board from one edge to the other. Most players find the theme words first and the spangram clicks into place afterward — the letter pattern does not closely overlap with ASSIGNMENT or CHORE where they are likely to cluster.
Difficulty Rating
Moderately difficult. The theme words are all common, which helps with recognition, but their breadth across contexts makes the pattern harder to spot early. CHORE and ERRAND are the natural starting point — from there the others follow more readily.
More NYT Strands
For previous themes and spangrams, browse our NYT Strands answer archive. Today’s puzzle resets at midnight Eastern — play at the NYT Strands page.
