Cryptograms

Each cryptogram hides a famous quotation behind a simple letter-swap code. Spot the patterns, crack the cipher and reveal the words, with a new random puzzle whenever you like.

How to play Cryptograms

• A famous quotation has been put into a secret code: every letter has been swapped for a different letter, and the same swap is used all the way through. The author's name at the end is coded too.
• Tap a coded letter, then type or tap the real letter you think it stands for. Every copy of that code letter fills in at once.
• Each real letter can only stand for one code letter, and no letter ever stands for itself. Putting a letter somewhere new moves it from its old spot.
• Letters shown in blue at the start are given to help you. Easy gives four, Medium two and Hard none.
• Decode every letter to solve the puzzle. Use Check to mark wrong guesses in red, or Hint to reveal the selected letter.
• Press New puzzle for another random quote, or switch Mode to the daily quote that everyone gets on the same day.

Controls

• Tap or click a letter in the quote to select it, then tap a key on the keypad or type on your keyboard.
• Backspace or Space erases, the arrow keys move between letters, and Enter or Tab jumps to the next blank.

Tips

• Start with one-letter words: they are almost always A or I.
• Look at short words and apostrophes. A three-letter word that appears often is usually THE or AND, and a letter after an apostrophe is often S or T.
• The most common letters in English are E, T, A, O, I and N. A code letter that shows up again and again is a good candidate for E.
• Repeated patterns help too: a coded word like XYZZX has the same letter at the start and end.

FAQ

What is a cryptogram?

A cryptogram is a word puzzle where a short text has been encrypted with a simple substitution cipher: each letter of the alphabet is replaced by another letter. You solve it by working out which letter is which, using word lengths, patterns and common letters as clues.

How do you solve a cryptogram?

Begin with the easy footholds: single-letter words (A or I), common short words such as THE, AND and OF, and letters that appear very often (likely E or T). Fill those in, then use the partly solved words to guess the rest. Each correct letter fills in everywhere at once, so progress snowballs.

Is a cryptoquote the same thing?

Yes. A quote cryptogram, often called a cryptoquote, is a cryptogram whose hidden text is a famous saying followed by the name of the person who said it. Every puzzle here is a quote cryptogram.

Where do the quotes come from?

All quotations are in the public domain: proverbs and sayings from writers, scientists and leaders who lived long ago, such as Benjamin Franklin, Mark Twain, Jane Austen and William Shakespeare.

How is the score worked out?

Solving scores 10 points for every different letter in the quote, plus a level bonus and a speed bonus. Each hint costs 25 points and each check costs 5.