Rung #19: READ to EARN — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 2, 2026: READ to EARN, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from READ to EARN. Par is the shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs, so it cannot be beaten. The leap does not shorten this one: 5 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 53 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. READ → HEAD — the first letter, R becomes H.
2. HEAD → HERD — the third letter, A becomes R.
3. HERD → HARD — the second letter, E becomes A.
4. HARD → EARD — the first letter, H becomes E.
5. EARD → EARN — the fourth letter, D becomes N.

Other routes as short: READ · HEAD · HERD · HARD · HARN · EARN; READ · YEAD · YERD · YARD · YARN · EARN; READ · HERD · HARD · EARD · EARN; and more.

The answer

READ · HEAD · HERD · HARD · EARD · EARN — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #18 (Tue, Sep 1) · Next: Rung #20 (Thu, Sep 3)

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters, one changed at a time, par set by the shortest climb there is. Any real word is a rung; a two-letter leap is yours once a day. How to play Rung, or play today’s.