How to Play Word Ladder

What is a Word Ladder?

A Word Ladder (also known as "Doublets", "Word-links", or "Laddergrams") is a word puzzle where the challenge is to build a bridge between two words. You start with one word and end with another, changing only a single letter at each step.

The game was famously invented by Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, on Christmas Day in 1877. He described it as a way to drive "the mental agonies of doing nothing" away. Today, it remains one of the most popular word games in the world, featured in newspapers, magazines, and now, as a daily online challenge.

Word Ladder Rules

The rules of Word Ladder are deceptively simple, which is part of its enduring appeal.

1. Start and End: You are given two words of the same length (e.g., COLD and WARM).
2. The Transformation: You must transform the starting word into the ending word by creating a chain of other words.
3. One Letter Rule: In each step, you can change exactly one letter of the current word to form the next word. You cannot add, remove, or rearrange letters—only substitute them.
4. Valid Words Only: Every word you create in the chain must be a valid dictionary word. You cannot use proper nouns (names like 'Mary'), abbreviations, or hyphenated words.
5. Shortest Path: The ultimate goal is to complete the ladder in the fewest number of steps possible. This is often called the "optimal solution."

Word Ladder Strategy: How to Solve Like a Pro

While some ladders are straightforward, others can be fiendishly difficult. Here are the core strategies used by expert solvers to find the shortest path.

1. Work Backwards

Sometimes the path from the Start Word is blocked or confusing. Try starting from the Target Word and working your way up! Often, the Target Word has fewer "neighbors" (words that differ by one letter), making the path clearer.

2. Focus on Vowels

Vowels are the anchors of English words. If your start word has a different vowel structure than your target word (e.g., changing 'MOON' to 'TIME'), prioritize changing the vowels first. Once the vowels match, the consonants often fall into place easier.

3. Identifying "Bridge Words"

A "bridge word" is a common word that connects many different word families. Words like SEAT, CARE, LANE, and MORE are excellent hubs. If you get stuck, try steering your ladder toward one of these high-connectivity words.

4. The "One-Off" Technique

Look for words that are "one off" from your target. If you are trying to reach PLATE, list out words like SLATE, PLACE, PLANE. Then, try to reach one of those words instead of the final target. This breaks the problem into smaller, manageable chunks.

Advanced Tips & Tricks

• Don't Fear Rare Words: Sometimes the optimal path requires a word you don't use daily (like 'ERNE' or 'ETUI'). Our game dictionary includes standard English vocabulary, so don't be afraid to try obscure words if they fit.
• Watch Out for "Islands": Some words are "islands"—they have no neighbors (e.g., 'ORANGE'). Our daily puzzles are guaranteed to be solvable, so you won't encounter true islands, but you might hit "dead ends" where a word only has one neighbor (the one you just came from!). Backtrack immediately if this happens.
• Practice Daily: Like any skill, word ladders require practice. Playing the Daily Puzzle every day builds your mental library of connections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I re-use a word?

No, you typically cannot loop back to a word you've already used in the same ladder. It would only add unnecessary steps!

What dictionary is used?

We use a standard American English dictionary optimized for word games. It excludes proper nouns, offensive terms, and extremely archaic words, but includes common scrabble-legal words.

Is every puzzle solvable?

Yes! We use an algorithm to ensure that every Daily Challenge has at least one valid solution. However, finding the shortest solution is up to you.