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Python Regular Expressions in Python Introduction to Regular Expressions Word Length

Abhishek Gangadhar
Abhishek Gangadhar
9,467 Points
Posted by Abhishek Gangadhar
Abhishek Gangadhar
9,467 Points

Not sure whats wrong with my code

Its say that an empty list is being returned. not sure why...

word_length.py 
import re

# EXAMPLE:
# >>> find_words(4, "dog, cat, baby, balloon, me")
# ['baby', 'balloon']
def find_words(count,string):
  match = re.findall(r"\w{count,}",string)
  return match

1 Answer

Keith Whatling
Keith Whatling
17,759 Points
Keith Whatling
Keith Whatling
17,759 Points

Hi,

Your expression is 100% correct, however you will need to take the variable 'count' and put it in your code.

At the moment count is just a word in the string and not the variable you are passing. Try the following.

re.findall(r'\w{' + str(count) + '}', string)

I would love to know how to use the curly braces with string.format(count), if you find out then please ping me. Maybe we should ask Kenneth to shine some light on that one.

Josh Keenan
Josh Keenan
20,315 Points
Josh Keenan
Josh Keenan
20,315 Points

Tagging Kenneth Love so maybe he can help you guys out :)

Abhishek Gangadhar
Abhishek Gangadhar
9,467 Points
Abhishek Gangadhar
Abhishek Gangadhar
9,467 Points

lol ya silly mistake :) re.findall(r'\w{' + str(count) + ',}', string)

we also need to use the ',' (comma) cause we need all strings with 6 or more letters

Iskander Ismagilov
Iskander Ismagilov
13,298 Points
Iskander Ismagilov
Iskander Ismagilov
13,298 Points 
def find_words(count, string):
  q = '{'
  w = ',}'
  print(re.findall(r'\w{}{}{}'.format(q, count, w), string))