Rung #30: PLUS to DUST — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 13, 2026: PLUS to DUST, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from PLUS to DUST. 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. Without the leap the shortest climb is 6 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 7 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. PLUS → POSS — the leap: L becomes O and U becomes S, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. POSS → DOSS — the first letter, P becomes D.
3. DOSS → DOST — the fourth letter, S becomes T.
4. DOST → DUST — the second letter, O becomes U.

Other routes as short: PLUS · POSS · POST · DOST · DUST; PLUS · POUT · DOUT · DOST · DUST; PLUS · POUT · POST · DOST · DUST; and more.

The answer

PLUS · POSS · DOSS · DOST · DUST — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #29 (Sat, Sep 12) · Next: Rung #31 (Mon, Sep 14)

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.