Word ladder
Turn the top word into the bottom word by changing one letter at a time. Every step has to be a real word.
How to play
For example, to change COLD into WARM in four steps: COLD → CORD → CARD → WARD → WARM. Each word differs from the one before by exactly one letter, in the same position, and the letters stay in order.
Word list credit: SCOWL (Spell Checker Oriented Word Lists) by Kevin Atkinson.
Questions
Who invented word ladders?
Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, published them as 'Doublets' in 1879. His first example turned HEAD into TAIL.
Can there be more than one answer?
Often, yes. Any chain of real words that changes one letter per step and uses the right number of steps counts.
Which words are allowed?
Common English words. Proper nouns and abbreviations don't count. The puzzle itself only uses everyday words, but other valid words you type are accepted too.
How do I solve a hard ladder?
Compare the start and end words and look for letters they already share. Try changing the letters that differ one at a time, and use vowel changes as stepping stones.