blue group · The short answer
"Y" IS THE ONLY VOWEL
Each puzzle word passes the same exact test. The four mappings show how the answer works.
FLY BY has no A, E, I, O, or U; the two Y letters are the only letters functioning as vowels.
MYRRH contains no conventional vowel letters except Y, which serves as the vowel in the word's pronunciation.
NSYNC is written without A, E, I, O, or U, leaving Y as the only letter performing a vowel role.
RHYTHM contains no A, E, I, O, or U, and its Y carries the word's vowel sound.
Why this group was difficult
- The connection is orthographic
The entries do not share a subject, object, or category; the rule appears only when their spelling is examined closely. - Y changes grammatical role
Y is often treated as a consonant, but in these entries it functions as a vowel, which makes the rule less immediate. - The phrase hides the letter test
FLY BY looks like two ordinary words, so solvers may overlook that the complete entry passes one combined spelling rule.
How to spot this pattern next time
For an apparently miscellaneous remainder, compare the actual letters and test whether a narrow spelling rule applies to every full entry.
Count A, E, I, O, and U first; if they are absent, ask whether Y is carrying the vowel function.
Four useful facts behind the group
- Y can function as a vowel in words such as MYRRH and RHYTHM.
- FLY BY contains neither A, E, I, O, nor U.
- RHYTHM is a familiar example of a word with unusual vowel spelling.
- NSYNC is conventionally written without the standard vowel letters.
Questions players ask
The details people search after seeing the group
What connects FLY BY, MYRRH, NSYNC, and RHYTHM?
None contains A, E, I, O, or U; Y is the only letter serving as a vowel in each entry.
Does Y always count as a vowel?
No. Its role depends on pronunciation and position, but it functions as a vowel in all four entries here.
Why is FLY BY included as one entry?
The rule applies to the full displayed phrase, and neither word introduces A, E, I, O, or U.
Is NSYNC normally written with an asterisk?
The puzzle entry is NSYNC, and that exact spelling contains no standard vowel letters other than its Y.