How to Write in Your Diary in Secret Code

Reviewed by Seth Hall

Last Updated: September 22, 2024 Fact Checked

Don't like people snooping in your diary? A perfect solution is to write in secret code. Secret codes have been used throughout history, evolving from simple ciphers to complex encryption mechanisms used to keep information secure. Read on to figure out how!

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One of the most common coding methods is to give each letter of the alphabet a number, A=1, B=2. The problem is it is the most common coding method. Reversing this method and starting with Z=1, Y=2, X=3 may be a better solution, but it is still a very flimsy method of coding. Similarly, writing the words from right to left is also a flimsy method because it only takes a few seconds to figure out that it is written backwards. ^{[1]
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For example, if you wanted to mention shoe, you would instead draw a small square, a textbook could be a square. A table could be a square with three straight lines draw above it. This will make an almost unbreakable code, but it also makes writing, and reading, a very lengthy process. By using this method, you can essentially create your own language of squares, chevrons, lines, circles with boxes inside, etc. and only someone with the decoder sheet would be able to tell what you had written. ^{[2]
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The problem with this system is that it can easily confuse the writer. Trying to write a T while thinking of a B is contrary to the way our brains are designed to perform. ^{[3]
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Where should I keep the paper that I have written the codes on if I tend to be very forgetful?

Community Answer

Keep it somewhere really secret. But put sticky notes in places where you go most often that say a particular word or phrase related to the place where you hid your stuff. Try your best to hide the stickies, and don't make the word or phrase too obvious to anyone else.

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What if I mess up while writing in code?

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Write on another sheet of paper, then read it over to make sure everything is correct before transferring the writing to your diary. Or, just use pencil so you can erase if you make a mistake.

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Should I write the entire diary in code?

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It's up to you! If you want your entire diary to stay private, then I would write all of it in code.

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Tips

Don't make it too intricate, or you'll spend much more time trying to figure out your code, and less time writing your thoughts and feelings.

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If you happen to be writing about a person you may have a crush on, using a heart (or any symbol thought of in relation to romance) to describe them could lead to the breaking of your code by prying eyes. Draw a small hammer, or a snowflake to describe them and it will be much harder to piece together what was written.

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While you make up the code, make a corresponding decoding sheet and store it somewhere other than where you store the diary , leaving the two together is much like leaving a key in a lock.

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Warnings

The only way to keep someone from being able to read something you don't want them reading is not to write it in the first place. even the toughest codes can be breached by a person with enough determination and some time.

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