Considering the global sensation it has grown into, Wordle has remarkably humble origins. The puzzle was created during the COVID-19 lockdown by Josh Wardle, a New York-based software engineer, who simply wanted a game "for me and my partner to enjoy."
In October 2021, Wardle decided to release Wordle to the general public and it soon developed a passionate following across the world, with some players taking to social media each day to share their scores and tactics.
The New York Times purchased Wordle in January 2022 for an undisclosed low seven-figure sum, though the game has since remained free to play.
Speaking to Newsweek, Erhan Aslan, who teaches applied linguistics at the University of Reading in the U.K., offered some tips for Wordle players.
He said: "One thing that I think is important in this game is the starting word chosen. Starting off with words that include commonly used vowels, for example, e and a, consonants such as r and t, and sound sequences might be helpful. Choosing a word that starts with q, z, j, or x, for instance, may not be the best choice.
"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 example, if the second letter of the target word is l (indicated by green) and the player feels that the word starts with a consonant, they will need to know that there are only a few consonant cluster possibilities (such as bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sl)."
The answer to today'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' #1,057, Clues for Saturday, May 11
Newsweek has put together five clues to help you solve today's Wordle puzzle.
Hint #1: The answer contains two vowels.
Hint #2: There are no repeated letters.
Hint #3: Associated with the sea.
Hint #4: The second letter is a vowel.
Hint #5: One of the first three letters in the alphabet features.
'Wordle' #1,057, Answer for Saturday, May 11
The answer to today's Wordle puzzle is "tidal."
Well, that was a fun one! A relatively common word, containing two vowels, it may not have been the toughest Wordle we've yet faced but it was still a good brainteaser. Did you get it? Congratulations if so, but please don't be put off if not. The next Wordle puzzle will be released on Sunday and Newsweek will be back with another round of hints and tips.
What Does 'Tidal' Mean?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines tidal as "of, related to, caused by, or having tides."
For example: "Tidal erosion."
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James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is covering U.S. politics and world ... Read more
