Spelling Bee: Rules, Ranks and Tips
Spelling Bee is a daily word game from The New York Times. You get seven letters arranged in a honeycomb, and your goal is to make as many words as you can.
The rules
- Words must have at least four letters.
- Every word must include the centre letter.
- Letters can be used more than once.
- A pangram uses all seven letters at least once and earns bonus points.
How scoring works
Four-letter words earn one point. Longer words earn one point for each letter, so longer words add up quickly. As your score grows, you move through ranks towards Genius.
Tips for finding more words
- Look for common endings such as -ING, -ED and -ER if the letters allow them.
- Try simple prefixes like RE- and UN-.
- Hunt for the pangram early, as it gives your score a good lift.
- Step away and come back. A fresh look often reveals easy words you missed.
Enjoy word games? Try our free Connections puzzle next.
