Today’s NYT Connections puzzle has a true red herring — or maybe a white herring. You’ll see a lot of pale or light-colored things, but they don’t end up in the same category. Read on for hints and today’s Connections answers.

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Hold together.

Green group hint: You might pass them by.

Blue group hint: Smart advice.

Purple group hint: School days.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Fasteners.

Green group: Nondescript.

Blue group: Units of wisdom.

Purple group: ____boards in a classroom.

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is fasteners.

The four answers are nail, rivet, screw and staple.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is nondescript.

The four answers are basic, mid, plain and vanilla.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is units of wisdom.

The four answers are gem, nugget, pearl and word.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____boards in a classroom.

The four answers are black, chalk, cork and white.