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Please give me strategies im just starting out and can even solve an easy one.
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On the Cryptograms home page there is a link to an excellent tutorial that goes over all the strategies for solving them. It's in the More Information section. -
Here are the ways to solve it and i think this will solve your problem for sure.
1️⃣ Look for Single-Letter Words
In English, A and I are the only common single-letter words.
So if you see a 1-letter coded word → start there first.
2️⃣ Spot Apostrophes & Common Contractions
Patterns like:- n’t → don’t, can’t, isn’t
- ’s → it’s, that’s
- ’re ↠ you’re, we’re
Example:
If you see X’Q → likely I’M or I’D.
3️⃣ Use Letter Frequency (English Pattern)
Most common English letters:E, T, A, O, I, N, S, H, R
Most common starting letters of words:T, A, O, D, W
Most common ending letters:E, S, T
If a symbol repeats many times → try E first.
4️⃣ Identify Common Short Words
Compare 2- and 3-letter patterns:- the
- and
- for
- you
- but
- not
- are
Example:
_ _ E at the end of many sentences → probably THE.
5️⃣ Recognize Double Letters
English double letters often:LL, SS, EE, OO, TT, PP, RR
So pattern GG may be LL or SS etc.
6️⃣ Look for Repeating Patterns
If two coded words share same pattern → they may be same word type.
Example:
ABC and ADC → look for common structure like YOU vs NOW.
7️⃣ Sentence Structure Clues
Check grammar patterns:- Articles before nouns: a, an, the
- Verb helpers: is, are, was, will, can
- Common endings: -ing, -ed, -tion
8️⃣ Start With Titles or Famous Quotes
If a cryptogram is a quote, first guess:- common opening: The, Life, Success
- author’s typical phrases
9️⃣ Use Cross-Checking
After each letter you solve:- fill all occurrences of that letter
- re-evaluate patterns — snowball effect!
Avoid Guessing Too Much
Make logical deductions, not random swaps — or you’ll get stuck.
Quick Cheat Sheet
1-letter word A or I Common 3 letters THE, AND, YOU Ends in 't don’t, can’t, won’t Ends in ed past tense verbs Double letters EE, LL, SS, OO
Pro Tip (Faster Solving!)
Start with the rarest pattrn in the puzzle — the one that appears only once — because fewer possibilities = faster solve.
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