Connections is a daily word puzzle presenting sixteen words; your task is to categorize them into four groups with minimal errors. This guide provides solutions and hints for NYT Connections Puzzle #578 (January 9, 2025).

The puzzle words are: Shining, Finance, Table, Sit, Stand, Stay, To, It, Sea, Stall, Come, From, Legal, Heel, Booth, and Sales.

General Hints:

1. The themes avoid horror films and journeys between locations.
2. "Legal" and "Sales" belong together.

Category Hints and Solutions:

Yellow Category (Easy):

• Hint: Small, non-storefront sales locations.
• Answer: Vendor's Spot at a Market
• Words: Booth, Stall, Stand, Table

Green Category (Medium):

• Hint: Canine training commands.
• Answer: Dog Commands
• Words: Come, Heel, Sit, Stay

Blue Category (Hard):

• Hint: Business divisions.
• Answer: Corporate Departments
• Words: Finance, IT, Legal, Sales

Purple Category (Tricky):

• Hint: Final words of a famous American song.
• Answer: Last Words in "America the Beautiful"
• Words: From, Sea, Shining, To

Complete Solution:

• Yellow: Vendor's Spot at a Market: Booth, Stall, Stand, Table
• Green: Dog Commands: Come, Heel, Sit, Stay
• Blue: Corporate Departments: Finance, IT, Legal, Sales
• Purple: Last Words in "America the Beautiful": From, Sea, Shining, To

Play Connections on the New York Times Games website.