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Here is an open-ended challenge.

Find the longest series of English words such that the final four letters of word $n$ are the same as the first four letters of word $n+1$.

Example

(3 words) quintuplet plethora horary

At that point I stopped because I could find no dictionary words beginning with 'rary'.

Rules

  1. Only words that are defined in dictionary.com are allowed. Plurals and verb conjugation are allowed. If a word is doubtful then the community will decide by their votes.

  2. No repeats. No word must appear more than once in a list.

  3. Four letter words are allowed. But if you use one then it must be the last in the list.

  4. Before posting, check the longest answer so far. If you cannot do better then please don't post. This prevents many equal answers.

  5. If by chance two or more people post equal solutions at the same time then the one that is earliest on the SE system clock is counted and the others are not. As a courtesy, please delete your answer if you were beaten time-wise. If it is a dead-heat by the system clock then the answers will be considered equal.

5a. If by examining someone else's answer you are able to improve it by inserting one or more words then this is allowed and you may give it as a separate answer. Note that the consensus from reading other peoples' comments is that this is disapproved of. If you do it you may get down-voted unless you can justify it to the community.

  1. Please give your answer in the following format so that others can easily see what they have to beat.

Answer format

(3 words) quintuplet plethora horary

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    $\begingroup$ I am staunchly against rule 5a. Because right now @randal'thor is working on his list and has reached 49 words (at the time of this comment). Maybe he will reach 100 and then stop. And then someone comes along tomorrow and adds his own answer by inserting one word somewhere between rand's list, and that's a valid strategy? Hardly seems fair. $\endgroup$ – CodeNewbie Aug 26 '15 at 12:44
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    $\begingroup$ I really don't wanna be "that guy", but this is one of those questions, that are too easily solved by a machine. The dumbest brute-forcing approach yielded a chain of length 885 pretty fast. $\endgroup$ – dmg Aug 26 '15 at 13:26
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    $\begingroup$ I don't know if there's a list or not, but I assume any standard dictionary 's world list would be a subset of that in dictionary.com, but you don't even need a list, you can just query dictionary.com for each word to check they have a page for it. $\endgroup$ – dramzy Aug 26 '15 at 14:04
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    $\begingroup$ So post your 885 word list and we can check it. $\endgroup$ – Kingrames Aug 26 '15 at 14:10
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    $\begingroup$ Seems to me it would be a better puzzle if there were a restriction disallowing the use of the same four-letter link more than once. So that a sequence like this would be forbidden: makeover overturn turnover overcome $\endgroup$ – dennisdeems Aug 26 '15 at 16:52
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(4 words) monopoly polymath mathematically allying

(8 words) sleepover overwork workshop shoplift liftoffs offside sideburn burnout

(123 words) thigh highjack jackboot, bootstrap trapdoor doorstep stepbrother therein, reinterpret preterm termini minidrama ramada, madam adamant mantram tramp rampart, partake takeover overflow flowering ringside, sidestep stepmother there heretofore forevermore, moreover overfree freeform formant mantrap, trapdoor doorbell bellpull pullover overturn, turnover overwork workshop shoplift liftoffs, offspring ringtone toneless lessens sensitising, singsong songbird birdsong songbook bookkeepers, persistent tenterhook hooking kinglike likelihood, hoodwink winking kingship shipload loadmaster, stereotype typewriter iterant ranting tingling, lingering ringworm wormwood woodworm wormhole, holeless lessons sonship shipwreck reckoner, onerous rousing singalong longhorn hornbeam, beamish mishmash mashing hinge ingest, gesticulate latewood woodcock cockpits pitstop, stopping pinging gingerbread readership shipyard, yardland landlord lordship shipment mentoring, ringneck necklace lacewing wingspan spanking, kingfisher sherlock lockdown downside sidelong, longboat boatfuls fulsome somewhere herein, reinforcement menthol tholepins pinstripe riper

(commas every 5 words, to make the count easier)

Thanks to all those who helped me with this, including Kingrames, Anachor, Gordon K, Code Newbie, Rj Geraci, and others.

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  • $\begingroup$ change long to longing and then ginger or something else dunno. Or longest and gesture... dunno. Cool stuff. $\endgroup$ – Going hamateur Aug 26 '15 at 17:38
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    $\begingroup$ Man you nuked our comments from orbit! I suppose I'll just be one of "the others" then, LOST-style. ;) $\endgroup$ – Kingrames Aug 26 '15 at 20:38
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    $\begingroup$ You can extend any of the gaps between "...over" and "over...." with the following (and any others like them): overhand handover overpass passover overhang hangover overhung hungover overslip slipover overtake takeover overturn turnover overstep stepover $\endgroup$ – NeedAName Aug 27 '15 at 1:31
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    $\begingroup$ Add to the above string: overhear heart earthmover $\endgroup$ – NeedAName Aug 27 '15 at 1:45
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    $\begingroup$ @NeedAName That's Evil. $\endgroup$ – Rohcana Aug 27 '15 at 6:45
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From exchange to stack overflow:

(45 words) exchange -> angelfish -> fishbone -> bonemeal -> mealtime -> timeline -> lineament -> mentalist -> listless -> lessons -> sonship -> shipside -> sidewalk -> walkyries -> riesling -> linguistic -> stickball -> ballgame -> gameplay -> playmate -> mateship -> shipyard -> yardland -> landlord -> lording -> dinging -> gingerbread -> readjust -> justifies -> fiesta -> establisher -> sherlock -> lockstep -> stepfather -> therefore -> forest -> restack -> tacking -> kingfish -> fishtail -> tailrace -> racemism -> mismove -> mover -> overflow

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    $\begingroup$ Nice one (and welcome to Puzzling.SE!) I've managed to beat it with 39 though :-) $\endgroup$ – Rand al'Thor Aug 26 '15 at 12:12
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks ;-) Unfortunatelly my lunch break was over, so I had to stop. Maybe I'll continue tonight. $\endgroup$ – Christoph Aug 26 '15 at 12:15
  • $\begingroup$ In the last word you used 5 letters from the previous word. You ended up at tack, not stack. $\endgroup$ – CodeNewbie Aug 26 '15 at 12:36
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    $\begingroup$ Is that an overflow ? :o) $\endgroup$ – The random guy Aug 26 '15 at 12:48
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    $\begingroup$ @CodeNewbie, you are right, I fixed it. All the way to overflow $\endgroup$ – Christoph Aug 26 '15 at 13:11
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I think I have finally locked myself in at 174 words:

thigh, highjack, jackboot, bootstrap, trapdoor, doorstep, stepbrother, therein, reinterpret, preterm, termini, minidrama, ramada, madam, adamant, manta, antacid, acidifies, fiesta, establishment, mentalist, listen, stench, enchantment, menthols, holster, stereotype, typecast, castaways, wayside, sidearm, earmark, markdown, downcast, caste, aster, stertorous, rousing, singletons, tonsure, surefire, firearm, earmarking, kingpins, pinstripe, ripest, pestering, ringlike, likelihood, hoodwink, winking, kingship, shipload, loadstar, starch, archbishop, shopkeepers, persecute, cutest, testament, mentoring, ringside,sidecars, carsick, sickbeds, bedside, sidekick, kickback, backbone, bonehead, headband, bandanna, annalist, listens, tense, ensembles, blessing, singletree, treed, reedit, editorship, shipmate, materialising, singsong, songbird, birdbath, bathe, atheistic, stickleback, backdate, dateline, lineage, eagerest, restaff, taffrail, railroad, roadbeds, bedsore, sorehead, headgear, gearing, ringworm, wormwood, woodblock, lockouts, outscore, corespondent, dentistry, strychnine, ninepin, epinephrins, rinse, inseam, seamanship, shippers, perseverance, ancestor, storage, rageless, lessees, seesawing, wingspan, spanking, kingfishers, herself, selfish, fishbowl, bowlfuls, fulsome, somebody, bodysuit, suitcase, casein, seiner, inerrant, ranting, tinge, ingest, gestapos, apostleship, shipwreck, reckless, lessens, sensationalist, listener, enervating, tinging, gingerbread, readdressing, singe, ingesting, tingling, lingering, ringing, gingersnap, snapdragon, agonizing, zinging, ginghams, hamster, sterling, linguistic, stick, ticking, kingfisher, sheriff, riffing, fingering, ringmaster, sternest, nestling, linguines, inescapable, abled, bled

Thanks to rand al'thor, Ian MacDonald, and Anachor for the help!

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  • $\begingroup$ Sorry, "correspondent" is mis-spelled and this invalidates the link. $\endgroup$ – Rand al'Thor Aug 26 '15 at 16:05
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    $\begingroup$ Actually it isn't. dictionary.reference.com/browse/corespondent?s=t Though I have to confess, I wasn't expecting that to be a real word! $\endgroup$ – Kingrames Aug 26 '15 at 16:19
  • $\begingroup$ OK, my mistake! +1 then, although I've just beaten you with 104 :-) $\endgroup$ – Rand al'Thor Aug 26 '15 at 16:21
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    $\begingroup$ Take off the first couple words and put in dictionary.reference.com/browse/overboot instead? $\endgroup$ – f'' Aug 27 '15 at 2:12
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    $\begingroup$ You could replace "thigh" with "overtake, takeover, overhang, hangover, overhigh" which leads into highjack. You could say that was ... overdone? over the top? game over? okay I'll stop... $\endgroup$ – corsiKa Aug 27 '15 at 4:09
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350 and counting :)

highball balladeer deerflys flyspeck pecking kingfish fishable ables bless lessees seesawing wingback backache aches chestfuls fulsome somebody bodybuilding dinging gingerbread readapting tinge ingest gestapos apostasies siesta establisher sherbert berthing hinge ingestant tantalic alice licence enceinte integrate raters tersest sestet stethoscope copenhagen agency encyclic cliches chestier tiering ringbolt bolthead headaches chestnuts nutshell hellbent benthal thalami lamia amias miasmas smash masher sherd herdswomen omens menschen chenille illegal egalite liter iterant ranting tinging gingering ringdove dover overabundance ancestor storables blessedest destain tainting tingling lingering ringing gingersnap snapback backbencher cherish rishis shist histamin amino minoring ringlike likelihood hoodless lessens sensate sateen teener energizing zinging ginghams hamster stereochemistry strychnine ninefold foldboat boatbill billeter eterne ernest nester stereoscope coper opera peradventure tureen reenactment mentalist listen stench enchainment menthol thole holeless lessons sonships hipshot shotguns gunship shipload loadstar starch archaistic stick ticking kingfisher sheriff riffing fingering ringmaster stereoscopy copybook bookcase casebook bookend kendo endomorph orphan phantast taste aster stereotape tapeline lineage eagerest restack tackifies fiesta establishment menthols holster stereotype typebars barstool toolhead headachier hierarch archbishop shope hoper operandi andiron ironbark barkeep keepers persecute cutest testament mentioner onerous rousing singletons tonsorial rialto altogether therapist pistil stilbestrol troll rollback backbenchers herself selfheal healer alertest testee steeling linguistic sticking kingpins pinscher cherisher sherlock locking kingship shipmaster stereotypers persevering ringneck neckband bandanna annalist listens tense ensembles blessing singletree treed reedit edith dither there hereabout boutiques quester sternest nestlike likest kestrel trellising singsong songbird birdbath bathe atheistic stickleback backbone boneblack lackeyed eyedroppers persimmons monseigneur neurogram grammars marseille illegitimate materialist lister stertorous roustabout bouts outscore corelate lateen teenyboppers persist sisterhood hoodwink winking kingside sidearm earmark markdown downcast castaways wayside sideband bandoleer leering ringside sideburn burnouts outscoring ringtail tailbone bonefish fishbone bonehead headband bandwagon agonise niseis seismicity cityward wardens dense enserfing fingernail nailhead headgear gearcase caseload loadstone tones oneself selfhood hoodwinking kingwood woodblock lockouts outsell sellout louts outsets setscrew crewelwork workboat boatswain wainscot scotland landfall fallback backdate dateline linear nearest restaff taffrail railbird birdbrain rainbows bowshot shots hotshots hotspur spurge urgency encyclopedic edict dictaphone honest nestor store toreador adoring ringtoss tosspot spots potshard hardback backdoor doorbell belletristic stickouts outshone honeycomb combatant tantalum alumina minacity citywide widely...

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    $\begingroup$ Pretty good answer, but the question states "no computers". (I do think that that's an unreasonable restriction though.) $\endgroup$ – Deusovi♦ Aug 27 '15 at 9:46
  • $\begingroup$ Oops ! You are right I cheated! I had fun to buid up this little program, though. I'm sorry, please all feel free to get inspired by this answer =) $\endgroup$ – Bitoubi Aug 27 '15 at 10:00
  • $\begingroup$ You don't need to apologize! Hope to see you around on Puzzling.SE more often! $\endgroup$ – Deusovi♦ Aug 27 '15 at 10:09
  • $\begingroup$ @Deusovi what if I don't use a computer, but I use an answer of someone that did? (But then again, how did I post an answer if I didn't use a computer?) $\endgroup$ – John Dvorak Sep 22 '17 at 17:38
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(633 words) terracotta ottawas awash washouts outshines inescapable ables blessedness nesselrode rodent dentistry strychnine nineteen teenyboppers persuading dinging gingersnaps napster sterling lingering ringing gingering ringtone toneless lessens senseless lessees seesawing wingspread readerships hipster sternest nesting tingling lingerie eries riesling linguistic stickleback backstopping pinging gingrich riches chest hester stereoscope copenhagen agency encystment mentalist listen stenographer pheromones oneself selfish fishier hierarchic chicanes anesthetizing zinging gingersnap snapshots hotspot spotting tinge ingesting tinging gingerbread readdressing singalong longitudinal inalienable ablest lester stertorous roust ouster stereotype typecast castaways wayside sidewalk walkabouts outsold soldering ringlike likelihood hoodwink winking kingstown townsend sendoff doffs offsets setscrew crewing wingtips tipsier sierra errand randall dalliance ancestor storekeepers persist sister stereoscopy copycats catsuit suitcase casework workingwoman omanis aniseed seedbeds bedspread readjust justifies fiestas stashing hinge ingest gesture tureen reentering ringworm wormwood woodchuck huckstering ringside sidelong longhand handiwork workplace lacewing wingspan spanking kingston stoneware warehouseman emancipate paternoster sterne ernest nestor storybook booking kingfisher sherlock locksmith mithra thrash rasher sheraton atone tonearm earmark markdown downtown townswomen omens mensches chestfuls fulsome somebody bodywork worktables blessing singletons tonsure surest restrain raindrop droppers perspicacity cityscape capers persephone honeywell wellhead headcase casebook bookkeepers persistent tenth enthusiastic stickpins pinstripe ripest pestilent lento entomb tombstone toner onerous roustabout bouts outshone honeypots potshot shots hotshot shotguns gunship shipwrecking kingfishers hershel shelve elvers versing singsong songbook bookstall tallyhoed hoedown downcast castanets netscape capetown townsfolk folklore lorena renata natalia aliasing singaporean reanimate materialist listens tensing singletree treelike likewise wiseacres crescent centime timeline linear nearside sideswipe wipers persimmons monstrous roustabouts outshouts outspread readouts outspend pendant dante anteroom roommate materialistic sticking kingship shippers persona sonata natasha ashanti anticipate paternalist liston stonewall wallace lacework workshop shops hopscotches chestnuts nutshell hellespont pontiff tiffing fingernail nailbrush rusher sherwood woodblock lockouts outsmart martins tinseltown townswoman omani manitoba tobacco accountant tantalum alumina minamoto motorcars carsick sickouts outstretches chess hesse essene senescent centigram gramophone honeycomb combatant tantrum trump rumpled pledge edgewise wiseacre acres crest restrengthen thenceforward wardrobe robert bertram trampoline linemen emend mendicant cantabrigian giantess tessellate latency encyclopedic edict dictaphone honeymoon moonwalk walkover overturn turnpike pikestaff taffrail railcard cardsharp harpist piston stonework workbook bookshop shoplift liftoff toffs offside sidestep stepmother thereto retort tortoiseshell hellebore boreas reassign signpost postcode codeword wordplay playbill billfold foldouts outsell sellouts outstrip tripoli polisher sheriff riffraff raffish fishcake cakewalk walkouts outspent pentecost costume tumescent centric trick rickover overdraw drawback backchat chattahoochee cheever everywhere hereabouts outside sidereal reallocate catechist histogram grammars marsala salamis amish mishaps hapsburg burglar glare laredo redoes doeskin skincare carefree freebase baseball balladeer deerskin skinhead headbutt butterball ballgames ameslan slang langland landfill fillmore moreover overexposure surefire firetrap trapdoor doorpost postscript riptide tideland landmass massacred credit edith dither therefore forepart participant pantechnicons consolidate datebook bookwork workfare farewell welland landfall fallopian pianissimo simone monegasque squeamish mishear heartland landlady ladybird birdbrain rainfall fallout loutish tishri shrive riverside sidewall walleyes eyestrain raincoat coattail tailback backbone bonehead headlamp lamppost postal stalwart warthogs hogshead headlock lockwood woodland landslip slipstream reamer americana canal analysand sandbank bankroll rollover overextend tenderfoot football ballcock cockcrow crowfoot footsore sorehead headlong longhair hairball ballgame gamecock cocktail tailspin spine pinewood woodwind windsurf surface facet acetaminophen phenomenons nonstop stopcock cockleshell hellfire firebomb bombshell hellbent bentwood woodcock cockerel erelong longtime timeshare harebell bellwether thermostat stateside sideband bandung dunghill hillside sideshow showerproof rooftops topside sidekick kickback backstops topsail sailboat boatswain wainscot scott cottontail tailwind windfall fallback backdoor doorstep stepbrother there heretofore forehand handmaid maidenhead headwind windburn burnett nettlesome somewhere herewith wither theretofore foredeck deckhand handover overhung hungover overplay playback backstairs airstrip triplex plexiglas glasnost nostrum trumbull bullfrog frogmarch archdeacons consign significant cantata tatamis amiss misstep stepfather therein reinhold holdover overpass passport portsmouth outhit thither theresa resale saleslady ladylove lover overcast castro strove rover overcame camelopardalis alissa issachar chartres trespass passover overhang hangover overhead headword wordsworth orthopedist disturb turbocharge argentinean neanderthal thalidomide mideast eastwood woodwork workbasket sketchbook bookplate latest testifies fiesta establishment mentoring ringmaster stern ternaries rieslings

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  • $\begingroup$ I did use a computer to verify that all of the words are on Dictionary.com. $\endgroup$ – 2012rcampion Aug 27 '15 at 20:14
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    $\begingroup$ If you came up with this list without using a computer, I don't know whether to give you a medal or tell you to get a life! :-) $\endgroup$ – Rand al'Thor Aug 27 '15 at 20:20
  • $\begingroup$ @randal'thor I have too much schoolwork to do this completely by hand; no medal for me I'm afraid =P $\endgroup$ – 2012rcampion Aug 27 '15 at 20:21
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(4 words) building ding dinge inge

(13 word) backdoor doorpost postface facedown downspouts outsprang rangeland landmass masacres crescendo endocardial Dialogues Guesswork workmate material rialto altocumulus ulus

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  • $\begingroup$ hope the answer is in a correct way :) $\endgroup$ – Megasa3 Aug 26 '15 at 11:12
  • $\begingroup$ @randal'thor so you mean that a 4 letter word cant be in the middle? Then there can be only maximum one word and it has to be at end? $\endgroup$ – Megasa3 Aug 26 '15 at 11:18
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    $\begingroup$ I'm not sure. The OP says words can't be repeated, therefore 4-letter words can only be at the end; but that logic seems to be wrong. $\endgroup$ – Rand al'Thor Aug 26 '15 at 11:18
  • $\begingroup$ I too believe OP is incorrect in his logic. The example of "building ding dinge" seems completely appropriate. I'd frown on something like "takeover over overtake take taken", I don't think that's in the spirit of it. But with ding being so different from the other words, that seems completely legit. $\endgroup$ – corsiKa Aug 27 '15 at 4:13
  • $\begingroup$ I agree with the OP. There is no need for the intermediary "ding" to link bulding and dinge, and in a puzzle what is unnecessary is de trop. $\endgroup$ – dennisdeems Aug 27 '15 at 14:50
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A very similar puzzle to this was posted on PPCG, and I answered it, but it's significantly harder with an overlap of four letters instead of three. I modified my code from that problem (after digging through old files to find it and fixing some bugs), and, after a few minutes, I got this chain of length 300:

Aachen -> chenille -> illegitimate -> materialistic -> stick -> tick -> tickling -> linguistic -> stickpins -> pins -> pinstripe -> ripens -> pens -> pensioner -> onerous -> rousing -> singletons -> tonsuring -> ringside -> sidetrack -> racketeering -> ring -> ringmaster -> sterling -> lingering -> ringing -> gingerbread -> readjust -> justifies -> fiestas -> stashed -> shed -> shedding -> dinging -> gingersnap -> snap -> snappers -> persecute -> cutest -> test -> tester -> sternest -> nesting -> tinge -> ingest -> gesticulate -> late -> latent -> tenth -> enthronement -> mentoring -> ringworm -> wormwood -> wood -> woodwork -> workmanlike -> like -> likewise -> wisecracking -> kingship -> shippers -> persist -> sisterhood -> hoodwinking -> kingfishers -> herself -> selfish -> fisher -> sheriff -> riffraff -> raffish -> fish -> fishtail -> tailgate -> gate -> gatepost -> poster -> stereotype -> typeface -> facet -> acetaminophen -> phenomenons -> nonsupport -> portables -> blessing -> sing -> singsong -> songbird -> birdwatcher -> cheroot -> root -> rootless -> lessens -> sensationalist -> listens -> tense -> ensembles -> bless -> less -> lessees -> seesawing -> wing -> wingspread -> readership -> shipload -> load -> loadstar -> star -> starch -> archdeacons -> consign -> sign -> signpost -> postmark -> markdown -> down -> downwind -> windmill -> millipede -> pedestal -> stalwart -> wartime -> timekeepers -> perseverance -> ancestry -> strychnine -> nineteenth -> enthusiastic -> stickleback -> backfire -> firetrap -> trapdoor -> doorways -> ways -> wayside -> sideshows -> hows -> howsoever -> ever -> everybody -> body -> bodywork -> workbook -> bookkeepers -> persimmons -> monstrous -> roustabout -> bout -> bouts -> outs -> outstrip -> trip -> tripled -> pled -> pledge -> edgewise -> wise -> wiseacres -> crescent -> cent -> centigram -> gramophone -> honeymoon -> moonstruck -> rucksack -> sackfuls -> fulsome -> somewhere -> heretofore -> forestall -> tall -> tallyhoed -> hoedown -> downcast -> cast -> castor -> storybook -> book -> bookcase -> casework -> work -> workshop -> shoplift -> liftoffs -> offs -> offside -> sidewalk -> walkouts -> outspread -> read -> readouts -> outside -> sideline -> linemen -> emend -> mend -> mendicant -> cant -> cantilever -> evermore -> moreover -> overkill -> killdeer -> deerskin -> skin -> skinhead -> headword -> word -> wordplay -> play -> playback -> backstairs -> airsick -> sickbeds -> beds -> bedsore -> sore -> sorehead -> head -> headline -> line -> linefeed -> feed -> feedback -> backside -> sideshow -> showdown -> downhill -> hillock -> lockstep -> stepbrother -> therein -> rein -> reinterpret -> pretend -> tend -> tenderfoot -> foot -> footstep -> stepmother -> therapist -> pistons -> tons -> tonsure -> sure -> surefire -> fireside -> sidekick -> kickback -> backhand -> hand -> handpick -> pickaback -> back -> backstops -> topsoil -> soil -> soils -> oils -> oilskin -> skins -> kinswomen -> omens -> menswear -> wearisome -> somewhat -> what -> whatever -> everywhere -> here -> herewith -> with -> withhold -> hold -> holdover -> overland -> landlady -> ladybird -> bird -> birdbath -> bathes -> thespian -> pianissimi -> simile -> milepost -> posture -> tureen -> reenlist -> listen -> stenches -> chestnuts -> nuts -> nutshell -> hell -> hellion -> lion -> lionizing -> zing -> zinging -> gingersnaps -> naps

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  • $\begingroup$ You have a lot of 4 letter words. tick, pins pens, ring, shed, snap, test... These are invalid as per rule 3. Only the last word snap is a valid four letter word, given the rules. $\endgroup$ – CodeNewbie Aug 27 '15 at 4:31
  • $\begingroup$ @CodeNewbie I didn't notice that rule. I have modified my program and am generating a valid sequence now. $\endgroup$ – KSFT Aug 27 '15 at 5:13
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    $\begingroup$ @KSFT note the no computers tag $\endgroup$ – Rohcana Aug 27 '15 at 7:36
  • $\begingroup$ @KSFT: And you still have 4-letter word inside (cent, cast, sign, offs, back, sure, and many others) $\endgroup$ – justhalf Aug 27 '15 at 10:49
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    $\begingroup$ Actually you can just remove those 4-letter words, since they can be removed while keeping the chain valid. $\endgroup$ – justhalf Aug 28 '15 at 5:08

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