Tips for Solving Decodaquote®

Cryptograms are messages based on letter substitution. To decipher them you only need a pencil and eraser and, like any other detective, a little patience for trial and error as you follow clues. Each puzzle has a different random code.

At the bottom of each puzzle is a clue letter to help you get started. Scan for punctuation, looking for commas, apostrophes, quotation and question marks. These clues, as well as letter and word patterns, help in decoding. Once you think you have a letter, test it by substituting throughout the code. Look for:
Single letter words that represent a or I. The, the most common word, often begins sentences; e the most common letter; th, a frequent combination at the start, middle and end of words.

Two two-letter words with the same first letters may be: it is, if it, as an, or of.

When i is third-to-last letter, try ing first.

A repeated letter in the middle of a four-letter word is almost always ee or oo.

A repeated letter at the ends of a four-letter word indicates that, ease, else, high, says and others, but check that first.

A double letter at the end of a word is usually ss, ll or ee.

People is a popular cryptogram word; look for repeats of first-fourth and second-sixth letters.

Letters following an apostrophe are s, t, d, re, ve, and ll. An n precedes ’t.

It helps to reread what you have and to sound out the words.

Except for Anon an' On, Decodaquote features quotations with the author's name following. Some names supply clues:

William and Kenneth appear the same in code, as do Helen and Peter, David and Roger, Arthur and Sydney, Bob and Lil. Perhaps more helpful are Robert, Richard, George and Russell. Note letter repetitions. Last names often end in son or man.

The mistake many people make is failing to substitute throughout the puzzle.

You, too can be a detective. It's fun.