I like to add something: a hint is just a hint! You can write your thoughts and weave the "answers" into a text. There's no need to mention it nor stick to it. Hints just like contests started to give those without ideas something to write about and it's an extra option to grow!

I rarely mentioned the questions or hints. It's not creative but boring. Today I rarely join contests since the topics are always the same and some topics are even hosted by 5 different communities at the same time. Even many entries are copies..