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The Cryptogram Press


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Proverb · Set 3

Proverb Cryptograms Set 3

5 cryptograms to solve with a pencil. Each letter of the quote has been swapped for another letter, and the same swap holds all the way through.

20 pt ciphertext — the size a newspaper puzzle page never gives you. 26 pt ciphertext with wide letter spacing and room to write. Both sizes print on US Letter with the answer key on its own page.

Printing this web page instead? Press Ctrl+P (+P on a Mac). The navigation and buttons drop away, and the answer key prints on its own page — open it below first if you want it included.

The puzzles

Puzzle 1

Medium · 50 letters

Starter clue: T = O

LGOTZUFMJJTSTGFBJ,STFQTMD.LGOTZUFMJJTSTGFH,STJTSDJNDH.

Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:

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  • F
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  • O
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Puzzle 2

Medium · 62 letters

Starter clue: T = E

UNTOTGUUVJTUQXKERUEUZTTHEGUHTRUMMTEZGESQ.UNTGTDQRWOTGUUVJTVGRQH.

Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:

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Puzzle 3

Hard · 67 letters

Starter clue: X = L

DRSBNRSDUBKQTAGRWBISOXTD,QTFSHSTHXSOJUXKDWXXQWBKTNRSZQOJUXKDUBKFUXXQ.

Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:

  • A
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  • E
  • F
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Puzzle 4

Medium · 73 letters

Starter clue: V = A

DWUMVSVHVRWKBVHYLQARMMYBWSRQIVYVL;OMVFBVSVHOQRWKBVHYLQARMMYBWSRQIVNWRMOWSM.

Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:

  • A
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  • D
  • E
  • F
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  • I
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Puzzle 5

Medium · 73 letters

Starter clue: I = O

OXEOISKQKSCWXKDJIRJKSGIIBGILGJPXYJRWDXK;OXEOIUIXKRIDSKQLXYSJRKSGIIBGILXPXL.

Decoder — write your answer under each cipher letter:

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
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  • O
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Solver's cheat sheet

Most common letters
E T A O I N S H R D L U
Most common 1-letter words
A I
Most common 2-letter words
OF TO IN IT IS BE AS AT SO WE HE BY OR ON DO IF ME MY UP AN GO NO US AM
Most common 3-letter words
THE AND FOR ARE BUT NOT YOU ALL ANY CAN HER WAS ONE OUR OUT DAY GET HAS HIM HIS HOW MAN NEW NOW OLD SEE TWO WAY WHO BOY DID ITS LET PUT SAY SHE TOO USE
Common double letters
LL EE SS OO TT FF RR NN PP CC
Common word endings
-ING -ION -ENT -TION -LY -ED -ER -EST
After an apostrophe
T (don't) S (it's) RE (we're) VE (I've) LL (we'll) D (I'd)

Want this on its own sheet? Print the letter frequency chart.

Show the answer key (5 solutions)
  1. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”— Proverb, 1900, African proverbCipher key: A=P B=S C=X D=E E=V F=A G=F H=R I=Q J=T K=B L=I M=N N=H O=Y P=J Q=L R=K S=G T=O U=W V=Z W=M X=D Y=C Z=U
  2. “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”— Proverb, 1900, Chinese proverbCipher key: A=K B=J C=V D=C E=A F=Z G=S H=W I=U J=M K=L L=F M=Y N=H O=B P=Q Q=O R=N S=G T=E U=T V=I W=D X=P Y=X Z=R
  3. “When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.”— Proverb, 1900, Chinese proverbCipher key: A=F B=N C=V D=W E=J F=M G=C H=P I=G J=U K=D L=X M=Y N=T O=B P=Q Q=S R=H S=E T=O U=I V=Z W=A X=L Y=K Z=R
  4. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”— Proverb, 1885, English proverbCipher key: A=U B=H C=B D=G E=X F=C G=P H=N I=R J=Q K=S L=Y M=E N=L O=T P=Z Q=O R=F S=M T=J U=V V=A W=I X=K Y=D Z=W
  5. “He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask remains a fool forever.”— Proverb, 1900, Chinese proverbCipher key: A=C B=L C=Q D=T E=W F=Z G=F H=Y I=O J=I K=S L=R M=B N=P O=H P=V Q=K R=N S=A T=X U=D V=G W=U X=E Y=M Z=J