Considering the global sensation it has become, the origins of Wordle are remarkably modest. The puzzle was first developed during coronavirus lockdown by New York software developer Josh Wardle, who simply wanted a game “for me and my partner to enjoy.”
Wardle released Wordle to the public in October 2021, and the game quickly developed into a viral sensation, with users across the world. Some would take to social media each day to share their scores and tips. Such was Wordle‘s popularity that, in January 2022, Wardle was able to sell it to The New York Times for a low seven-figure sum, though it remained free to play.
Speaking to Newsweek, Erhan Aslan, who teaches applied linguistics at the University of Reading in the U.K., provided some tips for Wordle players. He said: “One thing that I think is important in this game is the starting word chosen. Starting off with words that include commonly used vowels, for example, e and a, consonants such as r and t, and sound sequences might be helpful. Choosing a word that starts with q, z, j, or x, for instance, may not be the best choice.
Brandon Bell/GETTY
“As you get more feedback after a few guesses, users need to draw on some knowledge of phonics to narrow down or eliminate some words that they might be thinking,” Aslan added. “For example, if the second letter of the target word is l (indicated by green) and the player feels that the word starts with a consonant, they will need to know that there are only a few consonant cluster possibilities (such as bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sl).”
The answer to today’s puzzle will be revealed at the end of this article, so scroll down with caution if you want to work it out for yourself.
‘Wordle’ #910, Clues for Saturday, December 16
Newsweek has put together five clues to help you solve today’s Wordle puzzle.
Hint #1: The answer contains two vowels.
Hint #2: There are no repeated letters.
Hint #3: Synonyms for Saturday’s Wordle include “sphere.”
Hint #4: The last letter is a vowel.
Hint #5: None of the first three letters in the alphabet features.
Wordle #910, Answer for Saturday, December 16
The answer to today’s Wordle puzzle is “globe.”
Well, that was a fun one! A relatively common word with two vowels, it admittedly wasn’t one of the toughest Wordle puzzles we’ve yet faced, but it was still a good brainteaser. Did you get it? Congratulations if so, but please don’t be put off if not. Another Wordle puzzle will be released on Sunday, and Newsweek will be back with another round of hints and tips.
What Does ‘Globe’ Mean?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines globe as “something spherical or rounded: such as a spherical representation of the earth, a celestial body, or the heavens.”
For example: “While I was in the kitchen, I think the cat knocked over the globe in my office.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.