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One of my peculiar acquaintances introduced me to the world of puzzles, so I've started to dabble in making some of my own.

Here's a single sentence puzzle, where I want you to find a four letter word that is the answer to the puzzle, and a four letter word that is NOT the answer to the puzzle. You will be very sure when you have found either word.

I_ Y__ __AD TH_S RI___, _H_ A_SW_R ISN'T ___N THE A_SWER.

Oh, by the way... there's an L missing somewhere.

Hint for the Not Answer:

The numbers have two uses. One interpretation of the numbers will get you the answer. Another interpretation will give you the not answer!

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    $\begingroup$ well prepared puzzle... $\endgroup$
    – Oray
    Dec 11, 2016 at 11:59

3 Answers 3

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The missing letters, filled in, give

IF YOU READ THIS RIGHT, THE ANSWER ISN'T EVEN THE ANSWER.

The letters added were

FOUREIGHTTENEEVEN

The missing L noted in the puzzle comes in here -

FOUR EIGHT TEN ELEVEN

The answer

is OATH as found by @Deusovi -
it's the 4th, 8th, 10th, and 11th letters of the sentence.

The NOT answer

is THIS as found by @Sherlock9,
because the 4th, 8th, 10th, and 11th words of the sentence tell us THIS ISN'T THE ANSWER.

If you upvote this answer, please make sure to upvote Deusovi and Sherlock9 as well!

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  • $\begingroup$ You've got the first half of the puzzle! Now to find the answer and not-answer :) $\endgroup$
    – TheGreatEscaper
    Dec 10, 2016 at 21:42
  • $\begingroup$ .... which is proving harder than expected :) $\endgroup$
    – Rubio ♦
    Dec 10, 2016 at 21:43
  • $\begingroup$ Stealing not required - I happily give you that clue - mainly because I can't see how it is right. $\endgroup$
    – YowE3K
    Dec 10, 2016 at 22:01
  • $\begingroup$ Well, the last sentence of your edit is right! All information is utilized in the answer and not answer. I think it's quite obvious when you've reached either one, there's still a step or two to go! $\endgroup$
    – TheGreatEscaper
    Dec 10, 2016 at 22:02
  • $\begingroup$ Or 11? Since the not answer? $\endgroup$
    – Sumurai8
    Dec 10, 2016 at 22:12
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The answer could be

OATH

which comes from

the fourth, eighth, tenth, and eleventh letters of IF YOU READ THIS RIGHT...

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    $\begingroup$ That is the answer, yes. But what isn't the answer? $\endgroup$
    – TheGreatEscaper
    Dec 10, 2016 at 22:38
  • $\begingroup$ An idea: reading it right vs. reading it left? $\endgroup$
    – QCD_IS_GOOD
    Dec 11, 2016 at 1:55
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Small contribution towards the not-answer.

Looking at the fourth, eighth, tenth, and eleventh words of the sentence gives us THIS ISN'T THE ANSWER.

So I would guess that the not-answer is

THIS

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    $\begingroup$ Nice! The puzzle is completely solved. :) $\endgroup$
    – TheGreatEscaper
    Dec 11, 2016 at 11:04

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