What is ThroughWord?
Sorting 12 words into four groups is only half the puzzle. The real job is finding the 13th word that fits all four groups... and is sitting just out of sight.
How to play ThroughWord
- Examine the twelve words displayed in the grid. Look for any three that share a clear category, association, or wordplay link.
- Select exactly three words by tapping or clicking them. Use Deselect if you change your mind.
- Press Submit. A correct group is removed and color-coded. An incorrect selection costs one of the four available mistakes.
- Continue until all four groups of three have been found. The locked Throughword panel then becomes available.
- Identify the Throughword—the single word that fits inside every group—and submit it to complete the puzzle.
- Review the result screen, copy your score if desired, or visit Stats and Archive for past performance and earlier puzzles. Shuffle rearranges the remaining tiles at any time. Give Up reveals the solution when needed.
Understanding the Throughword
The Throughword is the central element that ties the entire board together. Once the four groups are solved, the locked panel opens and the player must name the word that belongs to all of them at once. It is not simply another category member; it is the common thread that runs through every group. Guessing it correctly awards the Throughword portion of the score.
Groups can be based on literal categories, shared prefixes or suffixes, cultural references, or subtle wordplay. Words that appear to fit more than one possible set are deliberate misdirection. The correct grouping is the one that leaves a coherent Throughword possible.
Tips for careful play
Count remaining mistakes before submitting. With only four errors allowed, each wrong trio reduces the chance of a perfect or high-scoring finish. Order of discovery can affect the order bonus, so solving groups in a logical sequence may improve the final total.
Base score reflects the groups found, Throughword score rewards the connecting word, and a small order bonus is available for efficient solves. Progress and history are stored locally in the browser; a player code allows transfer to another device. The Archive holds every previous puzzle for practice or review after the daily challenge is finished.