Puzzle 1
Starter clue: W = O
PKWWHXPQZPRSACHWARUWSVARLSPSASWKLOAKWWHRAFNCLSQ.
Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
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- M
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- O
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- X
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- Z
Hard Cryptograms Set 63
6 cryptograms to solve with a pencil. Each letter of the quote has been swapped for another letter, and the same swap holds all the way through.
20 pt ciphertext — the size a newspaper puzzle page never gives you. 26 pt ciphertext with wide letter spacing and room to write. Both sizes print on US Letter with the answer key on its own page.
Printing this web page instead? Press Ctrl+P (⌘+P on a Mac). The navigation and buttons drop away, and the answer key prints on its own page — open it below first if you want it included.
The puzzles
Puzzle 2
Starter clue: G = S
QBKLSGGAYLKHSIKGQCJJSHPSJXSWGWAOHNCHQBCGIKGVKTQ.
Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
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Puzzle 3
Starter clue: D = E
DKIDZUDXTDULWODXQGDDYDZCMXDHUYDLWMWODUZGULWQRDL.
Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
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Puzzle 4
Starter clue: V = T
VIZLQJDZVIWVECQSDFJVQCZIQTZRDDQQCPWJNIVFBVIZPWV.
Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
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- H
- I
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Puzzle 5
Starter clue: T = E
RSRGJTMMSIMTQWTIDDEMQKRVUJFTVSFTUQNTRGQSRSGOTGS.
Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
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Puzzle 6
Starter clue: S = E
SOSEFILSBMUSPWTPDMXSMLRLIDCSE'PCITPS,LILSMLCMPINL.
Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
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Solver's cheat sheet
- Most common letters
- E T A O I N S H R D L U
- Most common 1-letter words
- A I
- Most common 2-letter words
- OF TO IN IT IS BE AS AT SO WE HE BY OR ON DO IF ME MY UP AN GO NO US AM
- Most common 3-letter words
- THE AND FOR ARE BUT NOT YOU ALL ANY CAN HER WAS ONE OUR OUT DAY GET HAS HIM HIS HOW MAN NEW NOW OLD SEE TWO WAY WHO BOY DID ITS LET PUT SAY SHE TOO USE
- Common double letters
- LL EE SS OO TT FF RR NN PP CC
- Common word endings
- -ING -ION -ENT -TION -LY -ED -ER -EST
- After an apostrophe
- T (don't) S (it's) RE (we're) VE (I've) LL (we'll) D (I'd)
Want this on its own sheet? Print the letter frequency chart.
Show the answer key (6 solutions)
- “A good paymaster does not hesitate to give good security.”— Italian proverb, 1857, Recorded with English translation in Henry G. Bohn, A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (London, 1857)Cipher key: A=E B=J C=R D=X E=B F=C G=L H=D I=Z J=W K=G L=I M=F N=U O=V P=A Q=Y R=S S=T T=Q U=N V=H W=O X=P Y=K Z=M
- “The mass of men are still and always young in this respect.”— Henry David Thoreau, 1854, WaldenCipher key: A=O B=H C=I D=X E=K F=V G=S H=N I=R J=L K=E L=M M=B N=G O=U P=D Q=T R=Z S=A T=C U=Q V=P W=Y X=W Y=F Z=J
- “Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.”— Oscar Wilde, 1892, Lady Windermere's FanCipher key: A=L B=D C=Y D=E E=U F=J G=M H=G I=P J=W K=X L=S M=O N=Z O=H P=B Q=A R=K S=Q T=C U=I V=F W=T X=N Y=V Z=R
- “The mouse that knows but one hole is soon caught by the cat.”— Spanish proverb, 1857, Recorded with English translation in Henry G. Bohn, A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (London, 1857)Cipher key: A=V B=Y C=N D=S E=K F=B G=J H=P I=H J=U K=D L=M M=Q N=G O=R P=C Q=O R=I S=W T=L U=X V=T W=A X=Z Y=F Z=E
- “It is well to leave off playing when the game is at its best.”— French proverb, 1857, Recorded with English translation in Henry G. Bohn, A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (London, 1857)Cipher key: A=C B=Z C=U D=F E=P F=H G=S H=D I=O J=W K=Y L=J M=L N=M O=B P=X Q=A R=I S=T T=E U=G V=N W=V X=K Y=Q Z=R
- “Every one likes justice in another's house, none in his own.”— Italian proverb, 1857, Recorded with English translation in Henry G. Bohn, A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (London, 1857)Cipher key: A=B B=L C=H D=T E=R F=Y G=M H=G I=O J=P K=Z L=N M=I N=W O=V P=S Q=X R=A S=E T=U U=K V=Q W=J X=C Y=D Z=F