List insert method

Question

I am trying to create a word guess game whereby I replace correct letter guesses in a hidden word. I can't see to figure out why when I use the insert method my code will not replace the list with the correct letter. Sorry.. fairly new to coding and python.

I have tried a counted loop, converting the user input to a list.

word = 'tuner'
word = list(word)
dash= []

for i in range(len(word)) :
    dash.append('_')
guess = input('Please enter a letter to guess if it is in the word : ')

for i in range(len(word)):
    if word[i]== guess :
        dash.insert(i,guess)      
print (dash)

I expect to see the list printed on the screen.. with the correct guessed letter replacing the dash... however the list appears to be appended with the correct letter and not replacing the dash at the appropriate index. ie... _ _ _ e_ _

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 10 '19 at 12:00

2

insert insert an item to the list, if you want to replace it use dash[i] = guess

answered Jun 10 '19 at 12:00

Fantastic. Works now. Thanks heaps... very much a newbie – Rocco32 Jun 10 '19 at 12:02
1

Please ignore the downvote. There is nothing wrong with this answer – Mad Physicist Jun 10 '19 at 12:04

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 10 '19 at 11:59

1

A simple fix; don't insert a new character to the list, but instead change the existing element(s):

for i in range(len(word)):
    if word[i]== guess :
        dash[i] = guess  # FIXED     
print (dash)

answered Jun 10 '19 at 11:59

ruohola

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Thanks so much. The code is working now – Rocco32 Jun 10 '19 at 12:03
Out of curiosity... why does my original code append the list and not insert the value at the listed index? – Rocco32 Jun 10 '19 at 12:04
@Rocco32 It doesn't append, if you try inputting `t` to your original code, you will see that it gets inserted to the beginning. – ruohola Jun 10 '19 at 12:13

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 10 '19 at 12:07

1

just a few changes to your code :)

for i in range(len(word)):
    if word[i] == guess:
        dash[i] = guess

print(' '.join(dash))

answered Jun 10 '19 at 12:07

kederrac

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List insert method

3 Answers3