How to Solve Cryptogram Word Puzzles Part 2 - Maintain Your Brain by Solving Word Puzzles

One doctor from a hospital in RI has said working crossword is just as effective as the commercial and formal brain training that has become popular in recent years. Crosswords have also been used in children to improve language and thinking skills and to improve spelling, vocabulary, grammar skills, and even comprehension.

A 21 year seniors study in the U. S. showed seniors who did crossword puzzles four days a week have a lower risk of dementia than those who did crosswords once a week. By doing crosswords, seniors can develop their:
memory
attention
language
problem solving
remembering peoples names
remembering simple tasks

Although the normal games like chess, crossword puzzles and other word games, bingo, etc. help exercise your brain, watching TV does not. The brain apparently is in neutral when watching TV shows. My guess is that this is because it is a passive activity that requires very little effort. An analogy could be made with muscle exercise for couch potatoes. If you don't do the exercise, mental or physical, you really aren't helping you.

If crossword puzzle solvers improve their brain functioning, the same should be true for people who solve other word puzzles requiring using the brain. Personal experience with both has convinced me that cryptograms require even more mental effort than doing crosswords. I enjoy doing both, but consider most cryptograms more challenging. Solving crosswords requires knowledge of words, but solving cryptograms involves not only knowledge of words, but word patterns, sentence structure and patterns, famous people in almost any field, rules of grammar, and loads of patience. Once you get hooked on cryptograms you may find yourself addicted, but unlike other addictions, this addiction pays you back. Your vocabulary as well as general knowledge will increase with every new cryptogram solving session.

Solving Math Problems

Solving math problems is easier when you have the right resources.

But, what are the right resources?

The answer depends on WHO you are, WHAT you are trying to accomplish, and WHY.

Are you looking for specific information which will be used one time; or comprehensive, in-depth understanding which you will use in the future?

For example, if you are a student looking for an immediate answer to a narrowly tailored problem, you need one type of resource. If you are a parent trying to ensure your child has a thorough understanding of the concepts being covered in school, you probably need another type of resource.

OR, if you are simply preparing meal and need to know how to convert measurements from table spoons to millilitres, you need still another kind of resource. If you are trying to calculate the interest payments on a new car loan, you probably need something else.

In addition to these reasons, some people solve math problems for their own enjoyment - and for no other reason. These people like brain teasers, puzzles, and complex problems to solve. It relaxes them. They probably need another type of resource.

The list of possibilities is endless, and so are the answers.

This leads us to another type of question: HOW ACCURATE does the information need to be? Can the final answer be rounded? Is a rule of thumb answer adequate for your needs, or do you need an answer with 10 decimal places?

HOW SPECIFIC does the information need to be? Are you looking for general information, or a specific solution to a particular problem?

HOW MUCH TIME can you devote to reading, listening to, or viewing the answer to your questions? If you cannot spend much time trying to understand the resource you are using, you need something that gets right to the point.

HOW SHOULD THE INFORMATION BE DELIVERED? Is a verbal explanation OK - or do you need a formal written presentation, or a video?

Also ask yourself: WHEN do you need the information you are seeking? Immediately? Within the next week? Within the next 6 months? On a continuous, on-going basis?

WHERE do you want the information? On a piece of paper? In your computer? On video?

Assuming you have already answered these questions in your own mind, what's the next step? Look at the kind of resources that are available. Match them to your needs.

Math resources come in many forms. They are available in textbooks, from Tutors, from school teachers, in videos, in games, in notes you have taken, in calculators, on the internet through a myriad of software links, through practice worksheets, through tests you can give yourself, through manipulatives, through graphing software and equation solvers, math camps, interactive media of all kinds.

Solving Cryptograms

Solving cryptograms is not quite as difficult as you might think. Upon first glance, a cryptogram looks like a senseless arrangement of random letters. But if you know a few things about the English language and learn a some expert tips, you will be solving cryptograms in no time at all.

Cryptogram Basics: In any type of standard cryptogram puzzle, one letter of the alphabet is substituted with another letter. The same substitution is used throughout a single puzzle. If A = Z, it will always equal Z in that puzzle. But you should not assume that Z = A. It probably does not. Every new puzzle uses a new code.

Remember:

The most commonly used letter in the English language is E. All the letters of the alphabet in order from most to least frequent are: E, T, A, O, I, N, S, H, R, D, L, U, C, M, P, F, Y, W, G, B, V, K, J, X, Z, Q.
Usually, the only one-letter words are I or a. (Rarely, o is a word.)
An apostrophe indicates either a contraction (doesn't, they've) or a possessive noun (Fred's, the family's).

With these facts in mind, here are a few tips on solving Cryptograms.

Always work in pencil, at least until you are really confident in your abilities.
Look first at the 1-letter words and the 3-letter words. The 1-letter words are either I or a. The most common 3-letter words are the & and. Other common 3-letter words are not, for, but, are, you, all, can and any. If a 3-letter word follows a comma, it is probably the word and or but. A 3-letter word at the beginning of a sentence is often The.
Contractions or possessives most often end in n't or __'s. If two identical letters follow an apostrophe, they are probably the letter L, as in we'll.

Once you have read through the entire passage, make your best guess at some 1-letter, 3-letter words, and words with apostrophes. Pencil in the substitutions for one or two of those words throughout the rest of the selection.
If the letters you have substituted are correct, you will see some other words begin to emerge. If nothing looks right, erase and start over.

Look at this example:

(Three *** represents breaks between words.)

B M Q B ' P *** B M J *** S Q D *** B M J *** L R R D N J *** L K X A G F J P.

You see two identical 3-letter words. You guess they might be AND. If you replace all the Bs with As, all the Ms with Ns and all the Js with D, you will have:

AN _ A' _ *** AND *** _ _ _ *** AND........You think to yourself, what could that first word be????

Then, since you took my advice and used an eraser, you quickly erase those ideas and start over. Now you assume that BMJ is THE.

Now you write:

TH _ T' _ *** THE *** _ _ _ *** THE.....

which looks much more reasonable. Now you can conclude that Q is A and P is S to spell THAT'S. Then you replace the other Qs and Ps with those letters and you're well on your way.

Of course, this is a very short example, so you may be hard-pressed to solve this entire sentence. But in case you are curious... THAT'S THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES.

Word Puzzle Solving - Five Fast Tips

Any reference-based puzzles like crosswords, the major challenges, even the most experienced puzzle solvers us at the moment. As a writer-standing puzzle, I'd like to share a few tips from the inside.

1. Multiple meaning words

Just a simple word, a variety of meanings. Fair can mean 1) pleasing to the eye or the mind - a pretty girl 2) non-storm - The nice weather 3) impartiality - a judge fair 4) is not dark - a light complexion 5) adequate but not sufficient - a reasonable amount of foodrefrigerate 6) A meeting of the purchases and sales - an antiques fair 7) Carnival - the carnival 8) in a baseball joke foul lines - just a ball, and many others.

So if you have a difficult crossword clue, believe that the answer to a word you already know, but with a meaning that is unusual. Can you guess an answer for this information? Hint: it has 7 letters.

Clue: a long and relatively narrow room, esp. for public use, a fence or ornamental crestingSurroundings are on top of a table, desk, etc., a step made by an animal. (To read the answer ...)

2. Spelling

Check the spelling of difficult words. Suppose that the reference is to humiliate, for example. You decide the answer is embarrassing. But the puzzle requires a letter of response 9, and you start racking your brain to another word. A quick check of the dictionary or spell checker will tell you that the embarrassment is really 9 letters!

3. Consult a referenceBook

If you really stops with words and definitions in a dictionary, crossword dictionary, thesaurus, almanac or any of dozens of online resources. Puzzler Some think this is "fraud", but if you point to the reply button, instead of what's his name? With a reference work in itself is an educational exercise. It is not always easy to know where to look, so take your brain to do the research.

4. Take a break

If a puzzle completely drunk walkingremoved. Move feed on a different, lighter puzzles, dog, or walking. A relaxed brain is often easier to respond to one, the time was for a long time.

5. Keep it

Do not stop! The puzzle to solve the more you lose. You increase your vocabulary and learn the tricks that writers use various puzzles. If you have a particular format that you like puzzles, solve a lot of them. But also try new formats. Research has shownthat brain health is improved when we try new things.

The 7-letter word above tunnel.

© Ann Richmond Fisher, 2008

Solving the puzzle Word - Nearly five points

Each word puzzle on rails, like a crossword puzzle can be big challenges, even the most experienced puzzle solvers us today. As long-time mystery writer, I will share some tips from the inside.

First Multiple meaning words

Just a name, a variety of meanings. Fair can mean 1) pleasing to the eye or mind - a pretty girl 2) non-storm - time 3) impartiality - a judge fair 4) is not dark - a light complexion, 5) is sufficient, but not sufficient - a fair amount of foodin refrigerator 6) A meeting of purchases and sales - an antiques fair 7) Carnival - the county fair 8) a baseball batted foul inside the lines - a fair ball, and many others.

So if you encounter a difficult crossword clue, consider that the answer to a word you already know, but with a meaning that is unusual. Can you guess an answer for this information? Hint: it has 7 letters.

Clue: a long and relatively narrow room, esp. one for public use, a fence or ornamental crestingEnvironment are the top of the table, desk, etc., made a passage of an animal. (Keep reading for the answer ...)

According to Spelling

Double-check the spelling of difficult words. Assuming that the key is to humiliate, for example. You decide the answer is embarrassing. But the puzzle requires a letter of response 9, and so the brain is about to start another word. A quick check of the dictionary or spell checker will tell you that embarrassment has made nine letters!

Consult a third referenceBook

If you really look up words and definitions in a dictionary, crossword dictionary, thesaurus, almanac, or a zillion online resources. Some puzzles that this is "fraud", but if you point to the answer key, rather than you call this? With a reference work in itself is an educational exercise. It is not always easy to know where to look, so it takes brains for research.

Fourth Pause

When you complete a puzzle darkened walkremoved. Move feed on a different, simpler puzzles, dog, or a walk. A relaxed brain is often easier to answer than one that the time has long been tense.

Keep it the fifth

Do not Quit! As to solve more puzzles can be solved. To increase vocabulary and learn the tricks for dealing with writer different puzzle. If you want a specific size puzzle you want to really solve a lot of them. But also try new formats. Research has shownthat brain health is improved, if we try new things.

The word of seven letters above the tunnel.

© Ann Richmond Fisher, 2008

Solving Word Puzzles - Five Fast Tips

Any clue-based word puzzle, such as a crossword, can present big challenges to even the most experienced puzzle-solver among us. As a long-time puzzle writer, I'd like to share a few tips from the inside.

1. Multiple meaning words

Just one simple word can have a myriad of meanings. Fair can mean 1) pleasing to the eye or mind--a fair maiden 2) not stormy--fair weather 3) impartial--a fair judge 4) not dark--a fair complexion 5) sufficient but not ample--a fair amount of food in the fridge 6) a gathering of buys and sellers--an antique fair 7) a carnival--the county fair 8) a batted baseball within the foul lines--a fair ball, and many more.

So when you encounter a difficult crossword clue, consider that the answer may be a word you already know but with a meaning that is uncommon. Can you guess a single answer for these clues? Hint: It has 7 letters.

Clue: a long, relatively narrow room, esp. one for public use; an ornamental railing or cresting surrounding the top of a table, stand, desk, etc.; a passageway made by an animal. (Read on for the answer...)

2. Spelling

Double-check the spelling of tricky words. Suppose the clue is humiliate, for example. You decide the answer is embarrass. But the puzzle requires a 9-letter answer, and so you start racking your brain for a different word. A quick check of the dictionary or spell check will tell you that embarrass does indeed have 9 letters!

3. Consult a reference book

If you get really stuck, look up words and definitions in a dictionary, crossword puzzle dictionary, thesaurus, almanac or any of a zillion online resources. Some puzzlers think this is "cheating," but if you peak at the answer key instead, what do you call that? Using a reference book in itself is an educational exercise. And it's not always easy to know where to look, so it does take brains to do the research.

4. Take a break

When a puzzle completely befuddles you, walk away. Move on to a different, easier puzzle, feed the dog, or go for a walk. A relaxed brain often finds answers more easily than one that has been strained for a long period of time.

5. Keep at it

Don't quit! The more word puzzles you solve the more you can solve. You'll increase your vocabulary and learn the tricks that various puzzle writers employ. If you find a particular puzzle format you really like, solve a lot of them. But also try new formats. Research has shown that brain health is improved when we try new things.

The 7-letter word described above is gallery.

© Ann Richmond Fisher, 2008