Puzzle column explores statistical deception and wordplay
11 reported
A Guardian puzzle column published on June 22, 2026, presented three puzzles about deception along with their solutions. The first puzzle, titled "Super syllabus," asked readers to devise a scenario where a new syllabus improved every pupil's grade but the median grade dropped. The solution involved new pupils joining the cohort, illustrating how statistics can deceive due to gaps in knowledge. The second puzzle, "Peculiar poll," demonstrated Simpson's Paradox, where two polls each showed a policy more popular among men, but combined data showed it more popular among women. The third puzzle, "Anguish Languish," featured a wordplay language created by US linguist Howard L Chase, where English texts are replaced with similar-sounding nonsense words. Readers submitted examples, with the winner being Edward Barrett for a nursery rhyme translation. The column is written by Kit Yates, author of "You Don't Know What You're M ss ng," available for £22.50 on the Guardian Bookshop.
What’s reported
The column was published on June 22, 2026, in The Guardian.
The first puzzle involved a school cohort with two classes and a median grade dropping from C to D despite every pupil improving.
The solution required new pupils joining the second class and scoring a D or below.
The second puzzle used data from Smith Surveys and Jones Polls, each polling 125 people.
Smith Surveys data: Men support 21/25 (84%), Women support 80/100 (80%).
Jones Polls data: Men support 22/100 (22%), Women support 5/25 (20%).
Combined totals: Men support 43/125 (34%), Women support 85/125 (68%).
This reversal is called Simpson's Paradox.
The third puzzle, "Anguish Languish," was created by US linguist Howard L Chase.
The winning submission was by Edward Barrett for "Myriad Al tell 'em, eats fleas worse wight ass know" (Mary had a little lamb).
The column is written by Kit Yates, author of "You Don't Know What You're M ss ng."
Key figures
Kit Yates, author and puzzle setter
Howard L Chase, US linguist who created Anguish Languish
Edward Barrett, winner of the puzzle competition
Sources: The Guardian
