How Wordle Became A Global Sensation During The Pandemic

When Josh Wardle first developed Wordle, during the COVID-19 lockdown, the New York-based software engineer surely had no idea he was about to launch a global sensation. Indeed, his initial aim was remarkably modest, as Wardle simply wanted to create a game "for me and my partner to enjoy." This humble beginning set the stage for a phenomenon that would captivate millions.

In October 2021, Wardle released Wordle to the general public. Almost immediately, the game gained a dedicated following around the world. Players began sharing tips, results, and strategies on social media platforms, creating a vibrant community. The game's popularity soared, leading to its acquisition by The New York Times in January 2022 for an undisclosed low seven-figure sum, although it still remained free for users to play.

In a previous interview with Newsweek, linguistics expert Erhan Aslan from the University of Reading offered valuable insights for players looking to improve their Wordle game. He emphasized the importance of choosing a strong starting word, particularly one that includes commonly used vowels and consonants. Starting with less common letters like q, z, j, or x could hinder your chances of winning.

Aslan noted, "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." For instance, if the second letter of the target word is 'l' and the player believes the word starts with a consonant, knowing the possible consonant clusters can significantly assist in solving the puzzle.

The answer to Sunday’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 #1,226, Clues for Sunday, October 27

Newsweek has put together five clues to help you solve today's Wordle brainteaser.

• Hint #1: There are no repeated letters.
• Hint #2: The answer contains two vowels, one of which functions as a consonant in a different sentence structure.
• Hint #3: Associated with the beach.
• Hint #4: The second letter is a vowel.
• Hint #5: One of the first three letters in the alphabet is featured.

Wordle #1,226, Answer for Sunday, October 27

The answer to today’s Wordle puzzle is "sandy." Well, that was a fun one! Did you get it? If so, congratulations, but please don’t be put off if not.

What Does 'Sandy' Mean?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "sandy" as "consisting of or containing sand." For example: "I’d love to go with you to the beach but only if it’s a sandy one."

Wordle has not only entertained individuals during the pandemic but has also fostered community engagement through its daily puzzles. The combination of simple gameplay and social sharing has made it a true cultural phenomenon, demonstrating how a small idea can become a worldwide sensation.