The Puzzle
A handwritten note poses a classic challenge: “What is the next letter: A B C D ?? ” Then it adds an important clue: “It’s NOT E.”
At first glance, most people instantly answer E, because that’s the natural alphabetical continuation. But the riddle removes that option on purpose.
Why the Hint Matters
The message doesn’t ask for the “most logical” continuation—it asks for the next letter under the condition that E is not allowed.
So the puzzle becomes: if you continue the alphabet while skipping E, what comes next?
Correct Answer
The next letter is: F
Simple Logic
- The usual sequence is A, B, C, D, E, F…
- The note says E is not the answer
- So the next valid letter after D, skipping E, is F
Final Takeaway
This riddle works because it exploits autopilot thinking. The brain sees ABCD and rushes to E—but the clue forces a rule change. The correct response is F.
