Help for Newcomers

[smoochie222]

Gypsy: First, look at the staistics column. The most frequnt letters are "e" and "t" in most cryptograms. Watch for words like "experience" and "little" and "success." If the cryptogram is a quotation, think about the person being quoted, and ask yourself what that person would be likely to say. A quote from Shakespeare would have different words in it from a quote from a modern politician or sports figure.

Flutefish says look for word patterns to solve ciphers like short words with double letters in the middle - you know if a 4 letter word has double letters in the middle, the middle letters are prob 'o' or 'e; I also look for 'the', 'that, etc - really common words that can help me get started

Gypsy: words ending with s single letter followed by double letters usually end in "ess," but if the cryptogram a quote from a sports figure, they're likely to be "all."

cknapp329: http://www.ehow.com/how_2120302_solv...paign=yssp_art
this is a pretty good website for beginners

[Laura]

If you can solve the first few words, that might be the key to the rest. For example, I look for the following patterns:

It is
We are
No man
He who
Do not
He has
Those who

Another really good clue is "No one." The first 2 letters ("no") are switched ("on") in the second word.

What I usually look for right away are words like "never" and "there" If "there" doesn't work, it might be "these"

The other thing I look for right away is "it's." Once in a while, but not too often, it can be "he's," "he'd" or "we'd." Look also for "don't," "won't," or "can't." If these don't work, it might be "God's" or "one's." A dead giveaway is "didn't"

Look also for ever and even. If not one of these, it might be eyes, rare or none.

Don't forget that a one-letter word can also be "O." Especially if the author is James Joyce, Keats, Shelley, Frost, or another poet.

[kat]

I usually can also catch words like "which, truth, people, always (same pattern as except)" relatively quickly because of the letter pattern. "Usually" and "really" are pretty easy to spot as well. Hope that helps at all!

[Laura]

I just remembered a few more...

In addition to "never" and "there" look for every. Once in a while, it might instead be again or total.

What looks like "never" might be "state."

Also, look for these word combinations that are not always at the beginning of the quote:

• a man
• does not
• they are
• it isn't

A long word with the same first and third character could be everything, everybody, everyone. "Opportunities" is a give away. Civilization is also a good one.

These are just some of mine. You'll come up with your own, and it might be a good idea to create a list on paper with groups of words that are similar (like modest, honest, borrow, sorrow, follow, common, "you cannot," etc.) Do enough cryptograms and you won't need it anymore.

[Laura]

Kat, those are great. I love usually and also generally.

[kat]

Oh, and "nothing" and "perhaps" are ones I catch occasionally. And "remember" and "tomorrow". It's strange how many patterns you start to see...


I wish I was computer literate to put up the red and blue letters, Laura.
Someone showed me how a long time ago, but I've forgotten.

[smoochie222]

Benny the Frank uses words like canst and doth He ruins my speed every month (*.*)

[Crypt101]

thanks for the helpful hints!!!

[cayot]

If you come cross a four letter word that begins and ends with the same letter chances are its that, but it could also be
dead
says
test
onto
else

[bansaisequoia]

Of course it's not quite as likely to be:

kick
pomp
whew
fief
gong
neon
bulb
teat
alga
orzo
sans
twit
chic
eave

or

hush