Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, July 28 (game #512).Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Strands today (game #513) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… You got that rightNYT Strands today (game #513) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.STEAKSNICKETSTEPCRUETPANICRACINGNYT Strands today (game #513) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 11 lettersNYT Strands today (game #513) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: top, 2nd columnLast side: bottom, 3rd columnRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #513) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #513, are…EXACTSTRICTPRECISEACCURATEPERSNICKETYSPANGRAM: TAKING PAINSMy rating: HardMy score: 1 hintI had pernickety instead of PERSNICKETY as one of my non-game words, as this is the UK spelling and one which I thought was universal.It’s the longest non-game word I’ve ever gotten but was dashed on the rocks of cultural differences. I’m not peeved, but it is odd that US grammarists have chosen this particular word to add letters to, rather than subtract from. A minor quibble.Anyway, this peccadillo aside, here was a list of words that describe everything I am not – or maybe that I am, seeing as I’ve got such a bee in my bonnet about persnickety.Also, while we’re splitting hairs, I can’t help thinking Strands wanted to say “painstaking” for the spangram, but needed to lose a letter so went with TAKING PAINS, which is essentially the same thing but less common – a bit like pernickety. I’ll shut up now.Dear Strands, I think you’ll find…Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, July 28, game #512)GROWSEEDRIPENHARVESTBLOSSOMSPROUTSPANGRAM: VEGETABLE GARDENWhat is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.