How to Play LinkedIn Pinpoint
Pinpoint is LinkedIn’s word-association game. It shows you one clue to start and asks for the category that could explain it. Each missed guess gives you another clue, up to five in all. The link might be a group of things, a second meaning, or a word that pairs with every clue. The fun is catching the moment when the same idea makes all the clues click.
Pinpoint rules
- Guess one category that fits every clue shown. There are five clues in the full set.
- A missed guess reveals another clue while clues remain. Aim to get the category with as few reveals as possible.
- A correct category ends the game. If you use up your guesses, the game shows the answer.
Use the next clue to change your guess
Step 1. Plant could mean a living thing, a factory or a verb. Keep a couple of meanings in mind before you guess. 
Step 2. Guest and Cat make a garden category hard to defend. Try putting HOUSE before each clue: houseplant, houseguest and house cat. 
Step 3. You could solve it after three clues. The final two, Keys and Party, confirm the pattern with house keys and house party.
How to play on LinkedIn
- Read the first clue and think of a few ways it could be used. One word can point to several unrelated categories.
- Enter a category in the guess box and choose Guess or press Enter.
- When a clue is revealed, test it against every earlier clue. Try putting a word before or after the clues if a category of objects doesn’t fit.
- Describe the link plainly when you have it. For example, “words that follow house” tells the game what the five clues have in common.
Pinpoint solving tips
Try the words out loud
If two clues make natural phrases with the same word, say the third one with it. A phrase that needs a long explanation is a good reason to try another link.
Use the newest clue to test the oldest
When a new clue seems unrelated, go back to the first one and try a different meaning. “Crane” might be a bird, a machine, or something you do with your neck.
Make the guess as specific as the clues
“Things you wear” is broad. If the clues are fedora, beret and beanie, “types of hats” says exactly what connects them.
Common questions
How many clues do you get in Pinpoint?
There are five. The game shows the first at the start, then reveals the others as you make guesses.
What happens if you get a Pinpoint guess wrong?
The next clue appears if any remain. Compare it with the earlier clues and use the new information to revise your category.
Can a Pinpoint clue be part of a phrase?
Yes. The clues can share a word that goes before or after them. Test the full phrase with each clue before submitting the category.
What does the Pinpoint score show?
It shows how many clue reveals it took you to solve the puzzle. A solve after two clues used fewer reveals than a solve after four.
When does Pinpoint reset?
LinkedIn releases a new puzzle every day at midnight Pacific Time. Find previous solutions in the Pinpoint answer archive.