LETTER CARRIERS
Credit: GAMES Magazine
December, 1993
Steve Coughlan

Each of the 26 words below can be turned into a new, familiar, uncapitalized word with the insertion of another letter somewhere within it, but not as the first or last letter of the new word. No anagramming is needed. For example, given the word ARREST, you could insert an M to make ARMREST. While some words can be changed with several different letters, there is only one solution that uses each letter of the alphabet once and only once. [As a hint, I have starred (*) the words which I know can be changed by more than one letter - there may be more.]

_ + ASTRAY =
_ + BANANA =
_ + BOUGHT =
_ + BRIDE = *
_ + BRING =
_ + CHASE =
_ + CLOSET =
_ + CREATE = *
_ + DOING = *
_ + ETERNAL =
_ + EXERT =
_ + FAULTY =
_ + FLING = *
_ + GALLON =
_ + INURE = *
_ + MANGER =
_ + MONEY =
_ + NOEL =
_ + SHIED = *
_ + SHRED = *
_ + SMILE =
_ + STATE =
_ + SUINT =
_ + SURER =
_ + WATERED =
_ + VIOLET =

Answers:

H + ASTRAY = ASHTRAY
D + BANANA = BANDANA
R + BOUGHT = BROUGHT
G + BRIDE = BRIDGE
O + BRING = BORING
T + CHASE = CHASTE
S + CLOSET = CLOSEST 
M + CREATE = CREMATE
Z + DOING = DOZING
X + ETERNAL = EXTERNAL
P + EXERT = EXPERT
C + FAULTY = FACULTY
Y + FLING = FLYING
E + GALLON = GALLEON
J + INURE = INJURE
A + MANGER = MANAGER
K + MONEY = MONKEY
V + NOEL = NOVEL
L + SHIED = SHIELD
W + SHRED = SHREWD
I + SMILE = SIMILE
U + STATE = STATUE
Q + SUINT = SQUINT
F + SURER = SURFER
B + WATERED = WATERBED
N + VIOLET = VIOLENT