LinkedIn Crossclimb #720 Answer & Analysis

🧠 Expert Logic Walkthrough

Right off the bat, I see a mix of concrete and abstract clues. Let's break them down. The clue Person organizing a party at their house is a straightforward definition for HOST. It’s a solid four-letter word to start anchoring the puzzle.

Next, the clue Fire hydrant attachment immediately brings HOSE to mind. Firefighters connect a hose to the hydrant. That's another easy four-letter word locked in. It's only one letter off from HOST (T to S), so I'm already seeing a potential connection.

Then we have a dual-meaning clue: Owl’s sound, or a very amusing experience. An owl's call is a HOOT, and a fun time can also be called a "hoot." This confirmation from two angles makes me very confident in this answer. And look at that, HOOT is just one letter away from HOST (O to S). This is feeling good.

The clue Sharpen, as one’s skills at a job points directly to the verb HONE. You hone your skills to make them better. HONE connects nicely to HOSE (S to N), keeping the chain going.

Finally, the fill-in-the-blank clue ___ of the above (option when nothing seems to fit) is a classic phrase from multiple-choice tests. The missing word is NONE. This feels right, and it links perfectly with HONE (H to N).

So, the five core words I've deduced are HOST, HOSE, HOOT, HONE, and NONE. Arranging them based on the single-letter change rule gives me a clear sequence: HOOT → HOST → HOSE → HONE → NONE. Now for the top and bottom words. The hint says, "The top + bottom rows = A compound word for extra information printed at the bottom of a page... The first word may be at the bottom."* The mention of asterisks and daggers immediately screams FOOTNOTE. This means my anchor words are FOOT and NOTE. Since my ladder ends with NONE, the logical next step is to change one letter to get NOTE (N → T). This confirms NOTE is the bottom word. That leaves FOOT for the top. Does it connect to the start of my chain, HOOT? Yes, it does (F → H). The full, logical ladder is complete.

This puzzle was a perfect example of how a strong central chain can be built from straightforward clues, with the theme providing the essential bookends. The trick was recognizing the compound word "footnote" and using the existing chain to determine which word went on top and which went on the bottom.

🔍 The Word Ladder