'''words.py -- a function for retrieving words from an input file

Jeff Ondich, 9/18/07

The getword() function defined in this module returns the next word
available from standard input.  A "word" is defined to be a maximal
contiguous block of letters and apostrophes.  For example, the first
word in this file is "words", not "w" or "wo" or "wor", etc.

Note that this definition of word will allow some pretty weird things
to be considered words.  For example, "abc'x'y'z''" or just a single
apostrophe will be considered legitimate words.  On the other hand,
disallowing apostrophes in words would turn "don't" into a pair of words:
"don" and "t".
'''

import sys

def getword(theFile):
    word = ''
    ch = theFile.read(1)
    while ch:
        if ch.isalpha() or ch == "'":
            word += ch
        elif word:
            break
        ch = theFile.read(1)

    return word