Poople Answer — #427, October 15, 2026

October 15, 2026 · #427: LAWN to POOP

LAWN differs from POOP in all four positions. The shortest checked solution takes five moves because the third position changes twice: W becomes I before becoming O. The final N remains in place through most of the route, and the first L stays until the last move. This makes the center of the word the useful place to begin. Replacing the outside letters first is not necessary, even though both of those positions eventually have to become P.

LAWN to LAIN replaces the third letter W with I. L, A, and N keep their original positions. LAIN is the exact spelling needed here; read all four letters so that a familiar-looking word does not lead you to enter something different. The next move, LAIN to LOIN, changes the second letter A to O. This gives the ladder its first target match. The first L, third I, and final N remain unchanged through that second move. Neither step rearranges the letters.

LOIN becomes LOON by changing the third I to O. This completes the temporary third-position detour from W through I, and puts the middle OO into its final form. The word still begins with L and ends with N, so it is not yet a one-move finish. A direct jump from LOIN to LOOP would replace both the third and fourth letters. LOON is the separate stop that allows those changes to happen legally. Compare the two words column by column if that shortcut initially looks plausible.

LOON to LOOP replaces the final N with P. The first L and the middle OO stay fixed. Only the opening letter now differs from the target, so LOOP to POOP completes the ladder by changing L to P. There are six words in the displayed answer and five changes between them. Start counting at the arrow from LAWN to LAIN; the printed starting word uses no move. The final change into POOP is still included in the count.

To try this date again with less help, remember that the final N can remain while the two middle positions are prepared. The third letter needs an intermediate I before the route reaches its OO shape. Once you have LOON, the remaining work is on the outside of the word. This is a useful example of a single temporary letter adding one move above the starting mismatch count. Five moves are sufficient and no shorter accepted ladder works. Another valid five-move route would be an equally short answer.

There are no repeated words in this solution. The apparent repetition comes from keeping L at the front and N at the end while the center changes. Those anchors are useful until the middle is ready, then each outside letter changes directly to P. Read the four columns rather than the similar sounds of the words to keep the order clear.