In this grid horizontal and vertical words are symmetrical about the upper left to lower right diagonal.

This grid is to be reformed by replacing all letters in 6 steps having regard to symmetry, changing one letter at a time and using only English words.

While my solution reflects my title at which you might not arrive, can you at least publish a new grid under my rules?

Asides:
1. Show us any 3 x 3 grids which you have composed from a significantly different initial grid and their development.
2. Beginning with a 4 x 4 grid is it possible to arrive at a new grid, same rules, in 10 steps?

NOTE:
Because of the nature of the language - "English words" - is a difficult phrase to define. If a word seems to need justification then please do so; challenges are otherwise likely.

(In reply to so many ways by Charlie)

The "now" list was taken from a larger list. I'd like to be able to narrow down the solutions, so that what's really the same solution in a different order of changing letters doesn't show up more than once.  A sampling:

cry  cay  cay  cay  cad  cad  
rye  aye  age  age  age  ago  
yes  yes  yes  yen  den  don  

fry  fry  fay  fay  fat  fat  
rye  rye  aye  age  age  ago  
yes  yen  yen  yen  ten  ton  

wry  way  way  way  war  war  
rye  aye  age  age  age  ago  
yes  yes  yes  yet  ret  rot  

try  fry  fey  fey  few  few  
rye  rye  eye  ere  ere  era  
yen  yen  yen  yen  wen  wan  

try  wry  way  way  was  was  
rye  rye  aye  age  age  ago  
yet  yet  yet  yet  set  sot  

Posted by Charlie on 2007-04-25 17:06:56