How to solve cryptograms

A cryptogram is a short text in a simple code: every letter has been swapped for another letter. Here the text is always a famous quote, and the author’s name is coded too. You solve it like a detective, one letter at a time.

The rules

1. Each code letter stands for one real letter, the same one every time it appears.
2. Two different code letters never stand for the same real letter.
3. No letter stands for itself.
4. Spaces and punctuation are not coded, so word lengths, commas and apostrophes are real.

1. Start with the short words

One-letter words are almost always A or I. The most common two-letter words are OF, TO, IN, IS, IT, BE, AS, AT, BY, HE, WE, OR, ON and NO. The most common three-letter words are THE and AND, followed by FOR, ARE, BUT, NOT, YOU, ALL and WAS.

If one three-letter code word shows up two or three times, try THE first.

2. Count the letters: ETAOIN

In English the most common letters are roughly E, T, A, O, I, N, then S, H and R. The code letter that appears most often is a good candidate for E or T. In a short quote the order can change, so use counting as a hint, not a rule.

Some letters are rare: J, Q, X and Z. Q is nearly always followed by U.

3. Use apostrophes

An apostrophe near the end of a word gives a lot away. After the apostrophe you usually find S (IT’S), T (DON’T), D (I’D), M (I’M), LL (WE’LL), RE (THEY’RE) or VE (I’VE). A code word like X’Y is often I’M or I’D.

4. Look for double letters

Two of the same code letter in a row are a real double letter. The most common are LL, EE, SS, OO, TT, FF, RR, NN, PP and CC. Words such as WILL, SEEN, LESS, GOOD and LITTLE often show up in quotes.

5. Match word patterns

Write the pattern of a word by its repeated letters. For example, a code word like XYZX has the same first and last letter, which fits THAT. Long words with repeats are often easier than they look.

6. Use word endings

Common endings are -ING, -ED, -LY, -TION, -NESS and -MENT. A long code word ending in the same three letters as another word is often -ING or -ION.

7. Think about the author

The author’s name is coded too. If a puzzle ends with a short first name and a long last name, try well-known writers. Once you have a few letters, the name can unlock the rest.

8. Fill in, test and change

A guess is fine. Fill in a letter and see if the other words still make sense. On this site you can press Check to see which letters are wrong, or Hint to reveal one letter.

Questions

Can a letter stand for itself in a cryptogram?

No. In the cryptograms on this site, no letter is ever replaced by itself. If the code shows K, the real letter is not K.

Which letters are most common in English?

The most common letters are E, T, A, O, I and N, often remembered as ETAOIN. The letter that appears most often in a puzzle is often E or T, but in short quotes it can be different.

What is the best first step?

Look for one-letter words (almost always A or I), then three-letter words that use the same code letters often, such as THE and AND.

How do apostrophes help?

A letter after an apostrophe is usually S, T, D, M, LL, RE or VE, as in IT'S, DON'T, I'D, I'M, WE'LL, THEY'RE and I'VE.

What is a pattern word?

A word where the same code letter repeats, like the double letter in LITTLE or the repeat in THAT. Matching these patterns narrows down the possible words a lot.

Is a cryptoquote the same as a cryptogram?

A cryptoquote is a cryptogram made from a quotation, usually with the author name coded too. All the daily puzzles here are cryptoquotes.

Ready? Play the daily cryptogram, or start with an easy one in free play.