Cryptogram Solving Tips: Common Word Patterns
A guide to the most common word patterns in cryptograms. Learn to spot the, and, that, with, and other high-frequency words by their shape.
Common word patterns are the shortcuts pros use to crack cryptograms fast. You do not solve letter by letter. You solve word by word. Spot the shape, fill the word, and the rest of the puzzle opens up.
One-letter words
Only two in English. I and A. If you see a single letter in a cryptogram, try I first. It shows up more in quote-based cryptograms.
Two-letter words
The top two-letter words are of, to, in, it, is, be, as, at, so, we, he, by, or, on, do, if, me, my, up, an, go, no, us, am.
If a coded two-letter word ends in the most common coded letter (probably E), try "be" or "me." If it starts with that letter, try "is" or "it."
Three-letter words
The top is "the." If you see a three-letter cryptogram word where the first and third letters are different and it shows up many times, try "the." That single move often solves 3 letters at once (T, H, E).
Other common three-letter words: and, for, are, but, not, you, all, can, has, our, his, her, was, one, two, out, day, way, get, see, who, how, put.
Words with double letters
Most common doubles: LL, SS, EE, OO, TT, FF, RR. Words with doubles include little, better, follow, off, all, will, well, all, three, see, too, soon, look, book, off.
If you spot a double in a cryptogram, try LL first. Then OO. Then EE.
The -ING ending
Many words end in -ING. Trying, looking, working, running. If you see a coded ending that shows up in many longer words, try -ING. That gives you 3 letters.
The -TION ending
Words like nation, station, motion, action all end in -TION. If you see a 4-letter ending repeat across longer words, try -TION. That gives you 4 letters.
Common starter patterns
Words that start with TH. The, they, this, that, them, then, there, these, those, than, though. If you cracked "the" early, you have TH in hand. Try other TH words next.
Words that start with WH. What, when, where, who, why, while, which. If you spot a coded WH digraph, the W and H are confirmed.
Common ending patterns
-ED. Past tense. Most verb endings. Walked, talked, looked, jumped.
-LY. Adverbs. Quickly, slowly, really, only, hardly.
Spotting an -ED or -LY ending across multiple cryptogram words confirms two letters at once.