Today’s NYT Strands (Puzzle #702) for Tuesday, February 3, 2026, might have you looking down at your fingertips for answers. The theme “On Key” refers to the special characters found on a standard computer keyboard—the ones you usually need to press “Shift” to access.
Whether you are looking for the Spangram or just need to find that last elusive punctuation mark, we have the full breakdown below.
Puzzle Analysis
Today’s grid is populated by the names of symbols found on the number row of a keyboard.
- Theme: “On Key”
- Spangram: Touches two opposite sides of the board (mostly horizontal).
- Total Words: 7 (including the Spangram).
- Vibe: Typing and Tech.
Hints for Today’s Puzzle
Need a nudge without the full reveal? Here are your clues to help you connect the letters.
1. The Theme Hint
Look at the top row of your keyboard (above the letters). What are those little shapes called?
2. Word Clues
- Hint A: The star symbol (*) often used for footnotes.
- Hint B: The pound sign (#) popularized by social media.
- Hint C: A wavy line (~) often found on the same key as the backtick.
- Hint D: A little hat (^) used in math to denote an exponent.
3. Spangram Hint
This word describes characters that represent something else, like $, %, or &.
Spoilers Below!
Warning: The section below contains the direct answers for today’s puzzle.
Today’s Spangram
The Spangram for February 3 is:
SYMBOL
Full Word List
Here are the 6 theme words found in the grid:
- ASTERISK
- HASHTAG
- TILDE
- BRACKET
- UNDERSCORE
- CARET
How to Play Strands
If you are new to the New York Times Strands game, here is the quick rundown:
- Find Words: Connect letters horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to form words related to the daily theme.
- The Spangram: One special word (the “Spangram”) describes the puzzle’s theme and spans across the entire board, touching two opposite sides.
- Blue vs. Yellow: Theme words turn blue when found. The Spangram turns yellow.
- Hints: Find 3 non-theme words to earn a hint, which reveals the letters of a theme word.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Strands answer for February 3? The solutions for the February 3 puzzle include ASTERISK, HASHTAG, TILDE, BRACKET, UNDERSCORE, and CARET.
What is the Spangram for today? The Spangram is SYMBOL.
When does Strands reset? The puzzle resets daily at midnight local time.
