diff --git a/game.py b/game.py
index 79aed01..593d155 100644
--- a/game.py
+++ b/game.py
@@ -1,10 +1,24 @@
-#importing the time module
+#importing some useful modules
 import time
+import sys
+import os
 
 #welcoming the user
 print ("Hello, Time to play hangman! This is a test")
 print("I hope that it works!")
 
+# define a function for clearing the screen, no peeping!
+def clear_screen():
+    # here, we check if this game is run on a windows system, or other
+    if sys.platform == "win32":
+        # in a windows console, you type "cls" to clear the screen...
+        command = "cls"
+    else:
+        # ... on linux or mac, you type "clear" instead
+        command = "clear"
+    # this will run that command and clear the screen
+    os.system(command)
+
 
 #wait for 1 second
 time.sleep(1)
@@ -19,19 +33,25 @@
 
 
 #creates an variable with an empty value
-guesses = ''
+guesses = []
 
 #determine the number of turns
 turns = 11
 
+# make a counter that starts with zero
+failed = 0
+
+# clear the screen so that the other person can't see the word
+clear_screen()
+
+print("The word is", len(word), "characters long!")
+print("- " * len(word))
+
 # Create a while loop
 
 #check if the turns are more than zero
 while turns > 0:
 
-    # make a counter that starts with zero
-    failed = 0
-
     # for every character in secret_word
     for char in word: