LinkedIn Pinpoint Answer for January 14, 2026
LINKEDIN PINPOINT CLUES
January 14, 2026
Area
Source
Secret
Genetic
Morse
Clue Meanings Explained
Area
This refers to a specific region, a part of a town, or a measurement of space within a set of boundaries.
Source
This is the place, person, or thing from which something originates or can be obtained, like a river's beginning or the origin of information.
Secret
This describes something that is intended to be kept hidden, unknown, or unnoticed by others.
Genetic
This relates to genes, heredity, or the biological information passed down through DNA in living organisms.
Morse
This refers to a specific system of communication using dots and dashes (short and long signals) to represent letters and numbers.
Hey there, fellow puzzle enthusiasts! If you jumped into today’s LinkedIn Pinpoint, you probably noticed it started off a bit broad but quickly narrowed down into a very specific theme. As an analyst who looks at these puzzles daily, I love how this one transitioned from geography to technology and then straight into biology. It’s a classic example of how the game tests the versatility of your vocabulary. Let’s break down exactly what happened in today’s puzzle and how we navigated the twists and turns to find the common thread.
The Solve: A Tale of Wrong Turns
When the first clue, Area, popped up, I’ll be honest—I was a bit stumped. "Area" is such a common word that it could lead anywhere. I immediately thought about math (Area of a circle) or maybe geography (Area 51). I even considered "Manager" or "Code," but since it was only the first clue, I didn't want to burn a guess. It felt too risky to commit to a category like "Land" or "Space" just yet.
Then came the second clue: Source. Now my brain started moving toward technology. "Source" and "Area" together immediately screamed "Code" to me. Think about it: an Area Code for your phone and Source Code for a computer program. But I hesitated. Could it be "Information"? A "Source of Information" and an "Area of Information"? That felt a bit clunky. I decided to wait for one more clue just to be absolutely certain before submitting.
The third clue was Secret, and that was the "aha!" moment. "Secret code" is one of the most common phrases in the English language. When you line it up with "Area code" and "Source code," the pattern becomes undeniable. The game was clearly looking for words that precede the word "code." At this point, I was 95% sure, but looking at the final two clues just solidified the victory.
When Genetic and Morse appeared, it was a total wrap. "Genetic code" is the foundation of biology, and "Morse code" is the grandfather of telecommunications. Every single clue fit perfectly into the "____ code" template. It’s a great feeling when the clues span across totally different industries—telephones, programming, espionage, biology, and history—yet all point to one four-letter word.
Lessons Learned From Today's Pinpoint Solution
Wait for the Pivot: The first clue is often intentionally vague. "Area" could mean a hundred things, but the second clue ("Source") acted as a pivot point that narrowed the field from "everything" to "systems and data."
Think Across Disciplines: This puzzle was a masterpiece in cross-disciplinary thinking. To solve it quickly, you had to jump from geography to computer science to biology. Don't get stuck in one "lane" of thinking.
Suffix and Prefix Hunting: Many Pinpoint puzzles rely on a common word that either follows or precedes the clues. When you see a word like "Morse" or "Genetic," your first instinct should be to ask, "What word do I always say right after this?"
Identify the "Anchor" Clue: Usually, there is one clue that is so specific it can't mean anything else. In this set, "Morse" and "Genetic" were the anchors. While "Area" is vague, "Morse" almost exclusively pairs with "Code" in a puzzle context.
Expert Q&A
Why did the puzzle start with "Area" instead of a more obvious word like "Morse"?
The game is designed to increase in specificity. "Area" is a high-level word that challenges you to think broadly, whereas "Morse" is a "dead giveaway" clue. Starting with broader terms rewards players who can spot patterns early with fewer hints.
Can "Source" refer to anything other than computer programming in this context?
While "Source Code" is the most common pairing, in a broader sense, "Source" refers to the origin. However, in the logic of this puzzle, it specifically links to the technical terminology used in software development.
Is there a difference between a "Secret Code" and a "Cipher" in puzzle logic?
In common conversation, people use them interchangeably. However, for Pinpoint, the game relies on common linguistic pairings. "Secret Code" is a much more common compound phrase than "Secret Cipher," making "Code" the intended target.
How do "Genetic" and "Morse" help players who might not be tech-savvy?
These clues act as safety nets. Even if a player doesn't know what "Source Code" is, almost everyone has heard of "Morse Code" from movies or "Genetic Code" from basic science, ensuring the puzzle is accessible to a wide audience.
What is the best strategy if I get stuck on the first three clues?
If the first three clues don't click, try saying each word out loud and adding common nouns after them. For example: "Area... map? Area... code? Source... map