What's the longest sequence of words you can make, beginning with any word and adding one letter at a time, if each step must also be a word?
-If you add can add letters on either end, I found this 10-letter sequence with a computer search:
-
- I
- in
- tin
- ting
- sting
- siting
- sitting
- slitting
- splitting
- splittings
-
-If you can add them only at the beginning my search outputs the dubious:
+If you can add them only at the end, a computer search outputs the dubious:
co
com
composer
composers
-Or for only at the end, see the equally doubtful:
+Adding letters only at the beginning I get the equally doubtful:
es
hes
plashes
splashes
+
+If you add can add letters on either end, I found this valid 10-letter sequence:
+
+ I
+ in
+ tin
+ ting
+ sting
+ siting
+ sitting
+ slitting
+ splitting
+ splittings
+
My personal favorite, allowing rearranging letters, yields this whopping 15-letter series:
I