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Move a letter

A classic GL-style question: take one letter out of the first word and put it into the second word so that BOTH become real words. The other letters stay in the same order - you only move one letter.

What is tested

  • Spotting which letter can be removed and still leave a real word
  • Finding where that letter fits in the second word
  • Checking both new words are real, common words

Worked example

Move one letter from the first word to the second to make two new words: PLAIN, BET.

  1. Try removing each letter of PLAIN in turn: LAIN, PAIN, PLIN, PLAN, PLAI.
  2. Removing L leaves PAIN and removing I leaves PLAN - both real words.
  3. Try each in BET, keeping B, E, T in order: L makes BELT; I only makes non-words such as BIET or BEIT.
  4. So L moves: PAIN and BELT.

Answer: L (PAIN and BELT)

Exam-day checklist

  • Try removing every letter of the first word in turn.
  • Keep the other letters in their original order.
  • Try the letter in every position of the second word.
  • Both new words must be real - check each one.

Common mistakes

  • Moving a letter that makes only one real word.
  • Rearranging the other letters as well.
  • Stopping at the first letter that works for the first word without testing the second.

Try it yourself

1. Move one letter from the first word to the second to make two new words: CLAMP, FAT.

Show answer

L (CAMP and FLAT)

Removing L leaves CAMP; putting L after F makes FLAT.

2. Move one letter from the first word to the second to make two new words: SPEAR, CAT.

Show answer

S (PEAR and CAST)

Removing S leaves PEAR; S between A and T makes CAST.

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More topic guides

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