Based on user feedback some improvements to the hint feature have been installed today.
Previously, the hints feature wouldn't work properly if there were fewer than 3 empty/incorrect spaces on the board. Now it will find and fix errors or empty spaces even when there are only 1 or 2 on the board. (If you ask for hints and the playing board is completely correct it will tell you so and prompt you to submit the puzzle.)
You will still receive the same total time penalty regardless of whether the hints function fixes 1, 2 or 3 letters on the board.
Previously, the hints feature wouldn't work properly if there were fewer than 3 empty/incorrect spaces on the board. Now it will find and fix errors or empty spaces even when there are only 1 or 2 on the board. (If you ask for hints and the playing board is completely correct it will tell you so and prompt you to submit the puzzle.)
You will still receive the same total time penalty regardless of whether the hints function fixes 1, 2 or 3 letters on the board.