Word Pattern Analyzer
Analyze word patterns for solving cryptograms and substitution ciphers.
Common Patterns
What is Word Pattern Analysis?
Word pattern analysis is a technique used to solve cryptograms and substitution ciphers. Each word is converted to a pattern that represents which letters repeat and in what positions, without revealing the actual letters.
For example, "HELLO" becomes "ABCCD" because:
- H → A (first unique letter)
- E → B (second unique letter)
- L → C (third unique letter)
- L → C (same as previous L)
- O → D (fourth unique letter)
How Pattern Matching Works
When solving a cryptogram, you can match encrypted words to possible plaintext words that share the same pattern. For instance, if you see an encrypted word with pattern "ABBA", possible matches include NOON, DEED, TOOT, and other palindrome-like words.
Pattern Analysis for Geocaching
Pattern analysis is invaluable for geocaching puzzles that use:
- Substitution ciphers: Each letter is replaced with another
- Cryptograms: Famous quotes or clues in cipher form
- Patristocrat ciphers: Substitution without word breaks
- Keyword ciphers: Alphabets shifted by a keyword
Solving Strategy
- Find short words: One and two-letter words have few possibilities
- Identify repeated letters: Patterns like "LL" or "EE" are distinctive
- Use common patterns: THE (ABC), THAT (ABCA), AND (ABC)
- Cross-reference: Letters must be consistent across all words
- Use frequency analysis: E, T, A, O are most common in English
Common One-Letter Patterns
In English, single letters are almost always:
- A: The indefinite article
- I: The first-person pronoun
Common Two-Letter Patterns
Words with pattern AB (two different letters):
- OF, TO, IN, IT, IS, AS, AT, SO, BE, ON, OR, AN, IF, MY, BY, DO, GO, NO, UP, US, HE, WE, ME
Words with pattern AA (doubled letter):
- Very rare in English
Common Three-Letter Patterns
| Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
| ABC | THE, AND, FOR, BUT, NOT, YOU, ALL, CAN, HER, WAS |
| ABB | ALL, SEE, TOO, BEE, ADD, ODD, ILL |
| ABA | DID, DAD, MOM, POP, NUN, BIB, PIP |
| AAB | EEL, OOH, AAH |
Numeric Structure
In addition to letter patterns, this tool shows a numeric structure (e.g., 1.2.3.3.4 for HELLO). This can be useful for comparing patterns across different alphabets or when sharing puzzle solutions.
Related Cryptanalysis Tools
- Letter Frequency: Analyze which letters appear most often to identify common letters like E, T, A.
- Caesar Cipher: Try different shift values if the cipher uses rotation.
- Atbash Cipher: Check if the cipher uses reverse alphabet substitution.