Rung #68: THOSE to WRITE — the solution

The Rung ladder from October 21, 2026: THOSE to WRITE, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6: the shortest climb there is takes 4 rungs, and par gives you 2 to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from THOSE to WRITE. The shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs — is 4 rungs; par is 2 more, so the shortest route comes in under it. Without the leap the shortest climb is 5 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 2 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. THOSE → WHOSE — the first letter, T becomes W.
2. WHOSE → WHITE — the leap: O becomes I and S becomes T, two letters in one move for two rungs.
3. WHITE → WRITE — the second letter, H becomes R.

Another route as short: THOSE · WHOSE · WROTE · WRITE.

The answer

THOSE · WHOSE · WHITE · WRITE — 4 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #67 (Tue, Oct 20) · Next: Rung #69 (Thu, Oct 22) · All Rung solutions

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: five 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, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.