How to Solve Word Ladder Puzzles
A word ladder turns one word into another by changing one letter at a time, with every step a real word. The game was invented by Lewis Carroll in 1877, who called it Doublets.
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1. Compare the two words
Count how many letters differ. That is the least number of steps, and any extra steps are detours you may need.
2. Work from both ends
Think of words you can reach from the start, and words that lead into the target. Look for a word that fits both.
3. Change vowels as well as consonants
Vowel swaps often open the way. If you are stuck on consonants, try changing the vowel in the middle.
4. Use common endings
Words ending in -at, -ot, -ag and -an have many neighbours. Use them as stepping stones.
5. Avoid dead ends
Rare words with few neighbours can trap you. If a step has only one way out, choose a more flexible word.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the shortest ladder?
- It is the number of letters that differ, if each change lands on a real word. Often there is one extra step.
- Who invented word ladders?
- Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland, in 1877.