''' Purpose: find the word of the longest length amongst the input
'''

# get the words
reply = input( "Enter a series of words: " )
words = reply.split()

# need to keep track of the longest word seen so far. It's initialization
# should never prevent a word of longest length being missed

longest_word_seen_so_far = '' # The longest word starts off as an empty string
# We replace this variable (accumulator) each time we find a longer word

# consider the words one by one

for word in words :
    nw = len( word ) # Get the length of the word we're currently on (current word)
    nl = len( longest_word_seen_so_far )
    print('word = ', word, 'longest word seen so far = ', longest_word_seen_so_far)
    # Check if the length of the word is longer than the longest_seen_so_far
    if ( nw > nl ): # If the length of the word we're on is longer than the longest word
        longest_word_seen_so_far = word
        # The longest_word_seen_so_far is now the word we're on! (the current word)
    else:
        continue # go to the next value of the loop variable in the loop
        # pass # do nothing
        # break # get out of the loop (pls be careful with this one and
        # like know what you're doing if you use this one plsplspls)
    # You don't need an else: pass
    # check the word out - compare its length to longest so far
    # if current word is longer than the longest word so far, need to update

    ...

# longest word so far must be longest as considered every word as a possibility

# print longest word
...