Understanding How Cryptoquotes Function

While classic crossword puzzles still appear in most major Sunday newspapers, some now offer a range of challenging brain games like cryptoquotes. Cryptoquotes are word puzzles based on cryptology, the science of secret writing. Though cryptology is primarily used today to protect sensitive data like passwords and PINs, its fascinating history has been featured in spy movies.

Before modern encryption technology, people used simpler methods to send secret information. Cryptograms—messages where letters, numbers, or symbols replace original characters—have been used to convey confidential content since the time of Julius Caesar, and throughout the Revolutionary War and both World Wars. Over time, these cryptograms evolved into popular puzzles, captivating audiences across the centuries, especially word puzzle enthusiasts (and students passing notes in class). The renewed popularity of cryptograms came with Dan Brown's best-selling books, "The Lost Symbol" and "The Da Vinci Code", sparking a resurgence of interest in cryptogram puzzles and their variations, such as cryptoquotes.

Unlike cryptograms, which can encode any message, cryptoquote puzzles feature famous quotes or sayings by notable figures. To decode these, you'll need to use a cipher—a key where one letter is substituted for another. There are many types of ciphers, but classical ciphers are the most popular in cryptoquotes. These can include simple substitution ciphers, where for example, "How Stuff Works" becomes "Iad Twcbb Dahgt," with "B" replacing "F" and "T" standing for "S." Another common type is the transposition cipher, where letters are rearranged, such as encrypting "How Stuff Works" as "Wkros Fstuf Who."

While decoding these ciphers is generally straightforward with a pen and patience, improving your speed requires practice and a bit of strategic thinking. Keep reading for tips on how to crack cryptoquotes more efficiently and boost your decoding time.

Cracking Cryptoquotes

There are several techniques that can help you solve cryptoquotes faster and more accurately. Puzzle creator Denise Sutherland suggests starting with one-, two-, and three-letter words. Begin with one-letter words, as in English, only two words are single-letter: "I" and "a." Since every two-letter word contains a vowel, it’s a good idea to focus on these next to quickly spot or rule out vowels.

Sutherland also advises searching for words with double letters, such as "BKKV," which could be "feel" or "look." Words with apostrophes are often followed by "S," or may be common contractions like "wouldn't" or "don't." Additionally, questions often start with "who," "what," "when," "why," "where," and "how," so if a sentence ends with a question mark, this can help you deduce certain letters right away.

Remember, in a cipher, no letter can represent itself, and the cryptoquote’s hidden message isn’t always the only clue you should use. Pay attention to the attribution of the quote too. Many are credited to "Anonymous" or "Source Unknown." Think of famous individuals who are often quoted, such as the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King, or Mark Twain.

As with most brain games, the more you engage with cryptoquotes, the sharper your skills will become. You might even discover a few techniques of your own along the way. If you're passionate about cracking cryptoquotes and exploring cryptography puzzles, the American Cryptogram Association offers a wealth of resources on various ciphers and puzzle-solving strategies. Their annual conference brings together enthusiasts to celebrate the art of cryptogram puzzles, aiming to elevate them to the level of chess.