LinkedIn Pinpoint Answer for January 16, 2026
LINKEDIN PINPOINT CLUES
January 16, 2026
Purity of gold
Chess king
Thousand
Potassium
Okay (in a very short text)
Clue Meanings Explained
Purity of gold
This refers to "Karat" (often abbreviated as K or kt), which is the unit used to measure the fineness or purity of gold alloys, with 24K being pure gold.
Chess king
In algebraic chess notation, the "King" is the most important piece on the board and is uniquely represented by the capital letter "K" when recording moves.
Thousand
Derived from the Greek word "chilioi" (meaning thousand), the prefix "kilo-" is used globally, leading people to use "K" as a shorthand for 1,000, especially in salaries or social media follower counts.
Potassium
This is the chemical element with atomic number 19; its symbol on the periodic table is a capital "K," which comes from its Neo-Latin name "Kalium."
Okay (in a very short text)
In modern digital slang and SMS shorthand, the word "Okay" is frequently shortened to just the letter "k" to indicate a quick (and sometimes unintentionally blunt) acknowledgment.
Hey there, fellow puzzle enthusiasts! Todayâs LinkedIn Pinpoint was a masterclass in how a single, solitary character can bridge the gap between ancient chemistry, modern finance, and even our daily text habits. If youâve ever looked at a gold ring or sent a quick reply to a friend, you were already holding the keys to this puzzle without even realizing it. Letâs dive into the breakdown of how these clues connected to the letter "K."
The Solve: A Tale of Wrong Turns
When the first clue, "Purity of gold," popped up, my mind immediately went to the jewelry store. I was thinking of words like "Karat," "Carat," or maybe even "Fineness." At this stage, the category could have been anything related to precious metals or luxury standards. I actually toyed with the idea that the answer might be "Units of Measurement," but that felt a bit too broad for a Pinpoint puzzle.
Then came the second clue: "Chess king." Now, this changed the trajectory. In chess notation, the King is "K" and the Knight is "N." Seeing "Karat" and "King" together made a lightbulb go off. I started wondering if the theme was simply the letter "K" itself. However, I hesitatedâwas it too simple? I waited for the third clue to be sure.
The third clue, "Thousand," was the clincher. In finance and tech, we see "10k" or "50k" every single day. Since "Kilo" starts with K and is used as the universal symbol for a thousand, the pattern became undeniable. We had a unit of gold purity, a chess piece, and a mathematical shorthand all sharing the same character.
By the time "Potassium" and "Okay" appeared, it was just a victory lap. Potassium is one of those classic science trivia factsâK for Kaliumâand the "Okay" clue brought it into the realm of modern linguistics. It was fascinating to see how the puzzle designers pulled from chemistry, sports, math, and texting to point toward one specific letter. I confidently entered the connection, knowing the letter "K" was the thread tying these vastly different worlds together.
Lessons Learned From Today's Pinpoint Solution
First, always look for the "Symbolic Link." Often in Pinpoint, the clues aren't synonyms for each other, but rather things that share a common abbreviation or symbol. If you see items from completely different fields (like science and chess), start looking for a single letter or number that represents them all.
Second, don't ignore the "Latin Roots." Many of our modern symbols, like "K" for Potassium or "K" for Thousand (via Greek), come from ancient languages. Having a basic grasp of the periodic table or metric prefixes can help you solve these puzzles much faster than trying to find a conceptual link between "salt" and "money."
Third, consider the "Context Shift." This puzzle required us to jump from a physical property (gold) to a game (chess) to a digital habit (texting). When you get stuck, try to move the clue into a different room of your life. If "King" doesn't work in the context of royalty, try it in the context of games or cards.
Expert Q&A
Why is the letter K used for Potassium instead of P?
The letter "P" was already taken by Phosphorus. Potassiumâs symbol "K" comes from "Kalium," the Neo-Latin word for potash (plant ashes), which is where the element was originally derived.
Is there a difference between Karat with a 'K' and Carat with a 'C'?
Yes, though they are often confused. "Karat" (K) measures the purity of gold, while "Carat" (C) is a unit of weight specifically for diamonds and other gemstones. Pinpoint specifically used the gold clue to point you toward the 'K'.
Where did the use of 'K' for a thousand actually originate?
It comes from the Greek word "chilioi," which means thousand. The French later adopted this into the metric system as "kilo-." Eventually, it was shortened to just "K" in common parlance, especially in financial and technical contexts.
Why is sending just a "K" in a text message sometimes considered rude?
In the world of digital etiquette, "K" is seen as the shortest possible acknowledgment. Because it lacks punctuation or additional letters (like "Okay" or "Ok!"), it can come across as dismissive, cold, or indicating that the sender is annoyed.
Does the King in chess always have to be capitalized?
In formal algebraic notation, the piece is always represented by a capital "K." Using a lowercase "k" would be considered incorrect in