Cryptogram facts for kids

A cryptogram is like a secret message puzzle! It's a short piece of text that has been scrambled using a special code. The cool thing is, the code used to scramble the message is usually simple enough that you can figure it out yourself, often with just a pen and paper.

Most cryptograms use a substitution cipher. This means each letter in the original message is replaced by a different letter or a number. Your job is to crack the code and find the original message! While these puzzles were once used for serious secret communication, today you'll mostly find them for fun in newspapers and magazines.

Sometimes, other types of old-fashioned codes are used to make cryptograms. For example, a book cipher might use a book or article to hide the secret message.

How to Solve a Cryptogram Puzzle

Solving cryptograms that use substitution ciphers can be a fun challenge! Here are some tricks to help you crack the code:

Look for Common Letters

One of the best ways to start is by using frequency analysis. This means looking at which letters appear most often in the scrambled message. In English, some letters like 'E', 'T', 'A', 'O', 'I', 'N', 'S', 'H', and 'R' show up a lot. If a scrambled letter appears many times, it might stand for one of these common letters.

Spotting Word Patterns

• Short Words: Look for very short words. In English, a one-letter word can only be "a" or "i" (and sometimes "o"). This is a great starting point!
• Double Letters: See if any letters repeat right next to each other, like "LL" or "SS". This can give you a clue about which letter they represent.
• Apostrophes: If you see an apostrophe, the letters around it might form common contractions like "I'M", "IT'S", or "DON'T".

Other Helpful Clues

• No Letter Substitutes Itself: A key rule in most cryptograms is that a letter will never be replaced by itself. So, if 'A' is in the original message, it won't be 'A' in the scrambled version.
• Starting Clues: Sometimes, the puzzle maker will give you a few letters to start with. This can really help you get going!

By using these tips, you can slowly uncover the secret message, letter by letter, until the whole puzzle is solved!

Want to Learn More?

In Spanish: Criptograma para niños

Images for kids

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  Example cryptogram. When decoded it reads: "Style and structure are the essence of a book; great ideas are hogwash." -Vladimir Nabokov