What prompted Wheel of Fortune to use the letters R S T L N and E in the bonus round?

The letters "R S T L N E" in the bonus round of Wheel of Fortune were chosen because they are the most common letters in the English language, particularly in the context of the puzzles used on the show.

• These letters are frequently found in many words, making them highly likely to appear in the bonus round puzzles. This is supported by various analyses of letter frequencies in the show's puzzles, which have consistently shown that these letters are among the most common134.

• By providing contestants with these letters at the outset, the show increases the chances that they will have a significant portion of the puzzle revealed, making it more feasible to solve within the 10-second time limit.