In the NYT Connections puzzle, solvers often find themselves stuck when trying to differentiate between words that seem related but belong to different categories. For example, the words "ASSIGNMENT" and "LESSON" are clearly associated with educational tasks, but players might confuse them with words like "EXERCISE" or "DRILL" if they are not careful. Similarly, in the green category, terms like "ALMOST" and "CLOSE" can lead to confusion with more vague terms, particularly if players are not attuned to the specific context of encouragement in a guessing game. These moments of uncertainty can easily derail a solver's progress, leading to incorrect groupings and wasted time.

To effectively distinguish the real groups from plausible decoys, solvers should focus on the defining characteristics of each category. For instance, in the yellow group, identifying the educational context is crucial; all four words explicitly relate to structured learning tasks. Conversely, in the green category, recognizing that the terms are all associated with providing positive feedback in a guessing scenario helps to eliminate potential distractions. Keeping the overall theme of each category in mind allows solvers to sort through the words more efficiently and avoid mixing categories that may appear similar at first glance.

One effective heuristic for players to reuse on future puzzles is to always look for a unifying theme or context for each word group. If a word seems to fit but doesn't align with the overall concept of the category, it’s likely a decoy. Another helpful strategy is to write down potential groupings as you consider them; this allows for a clearer visualization of how the words connect and can facilitate the identification of the correct groupings when you feel stuck. By honing these skills, solvers can improve their efficiency and accuracy in tackling future puzzles.