In this puzzle, solvers may find themselves getting stuck primarily in the blue and purple categories. For instance, the words BUFF, FAN, LOVER, and NUT all relate to the concept of enthusiasm or passion for a particular subject. However, solvers might confuse these terms with words that could fit into other categories, leading to misclassification. Similarly, the purple category includes BRAIN, PRUNE, PUG, and WALNUT, which all share a common theme of being wrinkly or having a wrinkled appearance; yet, players might struggle with distinguishing between the more abstract concept of 'wrinkly things' versus the physical traits of the other categories. This overlap can create confusion and lead to incorrect groupings if players do not carefully consider the meanings of each word in context.

To effectively distinguish the real groups from plausible decoys, solvers should look for thematic links that are tightly defined. For example, the yellow group focuses on actions that reduce size or length, such as CLIP, CUT, PARE, and TRIM. Recognizing that all these words are verbs relating to making something shorter can help solidify this category. On the other hand, the green group centers around physical fitness and muscularity, featuring words like BUILT, JACKED, RIPPED, and SWOLE, which all denote a particular type of physique. Understanding these nuanced distinctions is key to successfully organizing the words into their correct categories.

One useful heuristic for players is to start by identifying the most obvious or unique words in each potential category. For instance, the word RIPPED is distinctively associated with fitness culture, making it easier to categorize into the green group right away. Another effective strategy is to look for common prefixes or suffixes that might link words together, such as the 'wrinkly' theme in the purple category. By honing in on these unique characteristics and patterns, solvers can make more informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls in word classification.