Decipher Some Entertaining Symbol Substitution Cryptograms
Printing out this page will make it easier to solve these cryptograms. Drawing a light vertical pencil line between the words in a symbol cipher makes it easier for you to see the words and letter patterns.
Medium Symbol Cipher 1. Adapted from a story told about the last days of traitor Benedict Arnold (who died in 1801):
Medium Symbol Cipher 1 Hint
Medium Symbol Cipher 1 Answer
Medium Symbol Cipher 2. Be careful to look at the details of each symbol in this cryptogram, so you don’t confuse one letter with another.
Medium Symbol Cipher 2 Hint
Medium Symbol Cipher 2 Answer
Medium Symbol Cipher 3. There is a common pattern word in this cipher, spotting it will help to decipher the puzzle!
Medium Symbol Cipher 3 Hint
Medium Symbol Cipher 3 Answer
Medium Symbol Cipher 1 Hint
The first word ends with R.
Medium Symbol Cipher Hint
The last letter is L.
Medium Symbol Cipher 3 Hint
The last word starts with W.
Cracking Codes & Cryptograms Glossary
cipher
An encryption where each letter of the alphabet is replaced by a different letter, number, or symbol. As opposed to a code, where whole words are replaced by letters, numbers, or symbols.
Cracking Codes & Cryptograms Glossary
ciphertext
The encrypted message.
Cracking Codes & Cryptograms Glossary
keyword
A word which is used as a key to a cipher. The word is often written at the start of the ciphertext alphabet or into the top positions of a Masonic/Pigpen Cipher. The remaining letters of the alphabet make the remainder of the ciphertext alphabet.
Cracking Codes & Cryptograms Glossary
pattern word
A word which has repeating letters in it. This pattern of repeating letters is very helpful when cracking a cryptogram. The most widely seen pattern word is THAT - the letter T appears twice. When you see an encrypted word in the pattern 1- -1 (where the number 1 represents the enciphered letters), it’s most likely to be THAT. Another common pattern word is PEOPLE — if you see an encrypted word in the pattern 12-1-2, PEOPLE is a good guess.
Cracking Codes & Cryptograms Glossary
plaintext
The original message, in plain English.
