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Python Python Collections (Retired) Lists Redux Disemvoweled

Dylan Merritt
Dylan Merritt
15,682 Points
Posted by Dylan Merritt
Dylan Merritt
15,682 Points

I'm trying to add input to devowel.py so that a user can enter the words they want devowled. Can anyone help me?

Here is the code I'm trying:

input = []
vowels = list('aeiou')
output = []

print('Enter the words that you would like devoweled. Type DONE when finished.')

while True:
    word = input("> ")

    if word == "DONE":
        print('No more vowels!')
        while True:
            for vowel in vowels:
                try:
                    word.remove(vowel)
                except:
                    break
            output.append(word)
    else:
        input.append(word)

print(output)

and here is the error I'm getting:

C:\Users\Dylan\Documents>python devowel.py
Enter the words that you would like devoweled. Type DONE when finished.
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "devowel.py", line 8, in <module>
    word = input("> ")
TypeError: 'list' object is not callable

C:\Users\Dylan\Documents>

I've been using shopping_list.py and devoel.py as guides in building this and I can't figure out why it isn't working. Can anyone help?

3 Answers

Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson
40,533 Points
Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson
40,533 Points

The interpreter thinks you're trying to call your global variable "input" as a function, rather than the built-in function. Rename it and that should fix that.

Don't forget you'll need to iterate over each word the user has input, convert it to a list, and then attempt to remove the vowel (unless you want to use a different method, such as replace).

Dylan Merritt
Dylan Merritt
15,682 Points
Dylan Merritt
Dylan Merritt
15,682 Points

Thank you so much! I think I really understand it all. I'm going to study this carefully.

Dylan Merritt
Dylan Merritt
15,682 Points
Dylan Merritt
Dylan Merritt
15,682 Points

Okay, I changed 'input' to 'words' and that fixed the compiler error. I am now getting stuck here:

C:\Users\Dylan\Documents>python devowel.py
Enter the words that you would like devoweled. Type DONE when finished.
> Dylan
> Riley
> Lauren
> DONE
No more vowels!

I think it has to do with the second piece of advice you gave me. Could you elaborate on the iteration and list conversion?

Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson
40,533 Points
Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson
40,533 Points

You'll want to replace your inner "while True" loop with a loop that goes through each word in your list of user input. Currently you're just using the last word input, which is "DONE".

Dylan Merritt
Dylan Merritt
15,682 Points
Dylan Merritt
Dylan Merritt
15,682 Points

So this is what I have so far. I feel like I'm getting close, but I'm having trouble implementing the user input part.

words = []
vowels = list('aeiou')
output = []

print('Enter the words that you would like devoweled. Type DONE when finished.')


for word_items in words:
    word = list(word_items.lower())

    for vowel in vowels:
        while True:
            try:
                word.remove(vowel)
            except:
                break
    output.append(''.join(word))

print(output)
Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson
40,533 Points
Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson
40,533 Points

The outer "while True" loop you had was fine for catching input. The inner one wasn't needed.

Here's an alternative solution I made for testing that may help you with the structure (You can still use the list methods with the try except blocks if you prefer):

user_input = []
output = []
vowels = list('aeiou')

print('Enter the words that you would like devoweled. Type DONE when finished.')

while True:
    word = input("> ")

    if word == "DONE":
        print('No more vowels!')

        for given in user_input: #Get each word from the list of input
            given = given.lower() #Set input to lowercase to catch capitalized input.
            for vowel in vowels:
                given = given.replace(vowel, "") #str doesn't have the remove method, so we can use replace instead.
            output.append(given)

        break #The user has entered "DONE" and we've removed the vowels, we can exit the while loop.
    else:
        user_input.append(word)

print(output)

This method doesn't retain the original casing, though I don't think the one in the video does either.

Gordon Reeder
Gordon Reeder
2,521 Points
Gordon Reeder
Gordon Reeder
2,521 Points

Your line: word.remove(vowel) is working on the wrong data. I think you ment: words.remove(vowel)

In your else code block you can put a print(user_input) statement to check to see if the user_input list is being built correctly. This would be for debugging only. You would remove the print statement when you get your script working