cryptogram

A cryptogram is a type of puzzle in which a plaintext message is transformed by a substitution cipher so that each letter is replaced by another letter, resulting in ciphertext. In standard cryptograms used for puzzles, spaces and punctuation are preserved, and the solver must recover the original text by determining the letter mapping. The typical form uses a monoalphabetic substitution: a fixed one-to-one mapping between the 26 letters of the alphabet.

Variants include puzzles that replace letters with digits or symbols, but still follow a single fixed key. Some cryptograms encode short phrases or quotes; they are commonly found in newspapers, puzzle books, and online communities. While the term cryptogram overlaps with general cryptography, in puzzle contexts it refers to a solvable substitution cipher rather than a secure encryption system.

Solving methods emphasize analysis of language structure and letter patterns. Frequency analysis helps identify common letters, while recognizing digrams and trigrams supports mapping decisions. Observing single-letter words, such as A or I, provides strong starting points. Solvers typically maintain a key or chart showing tentative mappings and update it as more letters are revealed, gradually converting ciphertext back to plaintext.

History and usage: Cryptograms have long been part of recreational cryptography, education, and puzzle culture. They illustrate substitution ciphers and pattern recognition in an accessible form, without requiring advanced mathematics, making them popular in puzzle books, newspapers, and online communities.