Secret code maker

How to play

1. Each phrase is written in code. Every letter has one number or symbol, and the same letter always has the same code.
2. Spaces, digits and punctuation are printed as they are, so word lengths and sentence shape are easy to see.
3. Use the printed letters, if any, as starting points. Write each letter you find into the boxes that share its code.
4. Use the decoder strip under each phrase: write a letter beneath each code, then read the phrase across the boxes.
5. Check your solution against the answer key, which lists each phrase and its letter-to-code table.

Tips

• Start with the most common codes. The letters that appear most often in English, such as E and T, are often a good place to begin.
• Fill in the decoder strip as you go, so every box you write also helps with the rest of the phrase.
• For symbols, draw a small tally next to each shape in the decoder, so you can spot patterns quickly.
• Print the answer key on a separate sheet so a classroom or family can check work later.

Where it comes from

Substitution codes, in which each letter is replaced by another symbol, have been used for private messages and puzzles for a very long time. Printed cryptograms are now a common puzzle format, and the same method works with numbers, shapes or any other set of signs.

Questions