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Possible Subtext Words: ? 


      

      
      
      

        
        
      


      
© 2025 Steve Ellington · All rights reserved.


      

        

          
🟦 Valid Words 🟦

          
    
        
    
        
    
          
    🟥 Invalid Words 🟥
    
          
      
        
      
      
      
    
      

    
    
      
      
      
          

    
      
      
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      About Subtext
      
        
      Subtext is the creation of Steve Ellington.
      

        
      Other Projects
      
        
      
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          a podcast about plants for when you’re stuck inside.
      
          Currently on extended hiatus, but if you like plants, there are over 130 episodes to enjoy.
      
          Also available on
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          and YouTube.
        
      

        
      
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          A collection of Steve’s filmmaking and photography work — among other things.
        
      

        
      Support
      
        
      
          If you like what Steve is doing, you can leave a tip on Ko-fi.
      
          Or, if you’re in the market for a book, support local bookstores and Subtext by shopping through this
          Bookshop.org affiliate link.
        
      

        
      
          All book links featured on Subtext are Bookshop.org affiliate links — every purchase helps support independent bookstores and the ongoing development of Subtext.
        
      

        
      © 2025 Steve Ellington. Subtext and Rootbound are trademarks of Steve Ellington. Subtext uses short literary excerpts that serve as clues for a daily puzzle. These brief passages are used in a transformative, educational context, and all rights to the original works remain with their copyright holders.
      
      
      
          


    
    
      
      
      How to play Subtext
      
      
      
        
      
          
      
            
      1. Start with the quote
      
            
      Each day brings a fresh Subtext puzzle packed inside a literary quote.
      
          
      
          
      
            
      
              
      
                
      
                
              
      
              
      Read the quote and interpret the subtext.
      
            
      
          
      
        
      
        
      
          
      
            
      2. Reveal the subtext
      
            
      Six hidden five-letter Subtext words tied to the quote’s themes, imagery, and key language form the puzzle's solution.
      
          
      
          
      
            
      
              
      
                
      
                
              
      
              
      Subtext words can be simple words from the quote or something that requires more literary interpretation.
      
            
      
          
      
        
      
        
      
          
      
            
      3. Shuffle the letters
      
            
      Those six five-letter words' letters are shuffled into the shared hopper below.
      
          
      
          
      
            
      
              
      
                
      
                
              
      
              
              
      Every puzzle starts with thirty shuffled letters. The letters can be rearranged by the user.
      
            
      
          
      
        
      
        
      
          
      
            
      4. Follow the clues
      
            
      Clue letters share the same position in their word as a foundation word.
      
          
      
          
      
            
      
              
      
                
      
              
      
              
              
      There is one clue per foundation word. Clues disappear when a foundation word is guessed, or its not possible to play anymore.
      
            
      
          
      
        
      
        
      
          
      
            
      5. Play a row, lock it in
      
            
      Play the letters from the hopper into the row: green are foundations words, blue are valid words -- but not solutions, red are invalid words.
      
          
      
          
      
            
      
              
              
      Valid or Invalid words use letters and make foundation words less possible. The possible number of foundation words are kept track of below the play area.
      
            
      
          
      
        
      
        
      
          
      
            
      6. Wrap it up
      
            
      Finish all six foundations to keep your streak alive. Share your score with friends