At first glance, the image seems like just another quirky internet challenge. A skeleton sits thoughtfully, accompanied by a bold claim: “86% of people reading this will not find the mistake in this.” Beneath that, the full English alphabet is listed… or so it seems. But here’s the thing—it dares you to find the mistake, and most people completely overlook it. Think you’re in the sharp 14%? Let’s find out.
Why Most People Get This Wrong
There’s something sneaky about riddles like this. They’re not testing your grammar or your knowledge of the alphabet. Instead, they prey on one simple truth: your brain likes to fill in the blanks automatically.
When we read something quickly—especially something familiar like the alphabet—we tend to skim rather than truly see. We expect it to be correct, and that expectation actually blinds us. That’s why even intelligent, detail-oriented people can fall for this kind of puzzle.
Common traps in this image:
- People assume the error must be in the red word “mistake”
- Some focus on the skeleton, thinking the clue must be visual
- Others go line-by-line and try to overthink grammatical structure
But the trick isn’t in complex logic—it’s in how observant you are with tiny details.
Step-by-Step Breakdown to Solve the Puzzle
Let’s walk through it together, slowly and carefully. That’s the only way to uncover what your brain is skipping over.
Step 1: Read the Sentence Carefully
“86% of people reading this will not find the the mistake in this”
Did you catch that?
“the the” — Yep. That’s the real mistake. Two “the” words in a row.
It’s subtle, right? When reading quickly, your brain automatically filters it out. You see what you expect to see, not what’s actually there. That’s why so many people miss it—even if they read the sentence three or four times.
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Step 2: Ignore the Red Herring
Many people jump straight to the colorful part of the sentence: the word “mistake” written in red. It draws your eye immediately, which is exactly why it’s there. But don’t fall for it—it’s a distraction.
The error isn’t in what the sentence talks about—it’s in the sentence itself.
Step 3: Analyze the Alphabet
Some people shift their focus to the alphabet beneath, thinking maybe there’s a letter missing or out of order.
At a quick glance, the letters appear normal:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N
O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
But if you look again closely, you’ll see that each letter is followed by a comma—except between N and O, where there’s a comma before O and no break between N and O lines. This looks messy, but it’s likely just to throw you off the main clue, which is “the the”.
The punctuation may seem like a mistake, but it’s probably just noise. The real brain-bending challenge is up top.
Step 4: The Real Answer — “the the”
This type of error is actually common in writing. Writers and editors call it a “double article” or “repetition glitch.” It’s easy to miss in both proofreading and casual reading. When someone is rewording a sentence, they might accidentally type “the” twice and not notice.
So, what’s the actual answer to this viral riddle?
The mistake is the repetition: “the the.”
And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
Why These Little Errors Are So Hard to Catch
This riddle works because your brain is wired to auto-correct small mistakes without you realizing it. When reading quickly, especially something familiar, your brain skips what it thinks doesn’t matter—like a repeated word or an out-of-place letter.
It’s like when you miss a typo in your own email but spot it immediately when someone else reads it aloud.
The same concept applies here. This isn’t about knowledge or education—it’s about mental pattern recognition and attention to detail.
Join the Challenge: What Did You See First?
Now that you know the answer, did you catch it on your own? Or did you fall into the 86% like most of us?
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Here’s what we’d love for you to do:
- Comment below if you found the mistake before reading the solution
- Share this riddle with a friend and see how fast they spot it
- Try reading it again tomorrow—your brain might still auto-correct “the the” without noticing!
Final Thoughts: Train Your Brain With More Challenges
These kinds of visual riddles and word puzzles do more than entertain. They sharpen your focus, improve reading accuracy, and challenge your assumptions. In a world where we scroll and skim all day, taking a moment to slow down and really observe can make a big difference in how we process information.
So next time you see a “simple” riddle online, don’t underestimate it. Zoom in. Read twice. Question everything.
And remember—sometimes the biggest mistakes are hiding in plain sight.
