The problem in writing a whole quiz, and deciding how the answers need to be typed can be quite complex.
In basic terms, the space where you write your answer is connected to the answer page which has two properties; either true or false. The field you type the answer in when you press enter looks at the answer sheet and confirms whether or not the two match.
For example:
16 of Mike's eggs were hard-boiled
has several different possibilities in how it can be typed.
eg sixteen or 16
Mikes or Mike's
hard-boiled, hardboiled or hard boiled.
There are 12 different possibilities to how the answer could potentially be.
Now, converting all those posibilites in several answers for just one 'answer' would take about 20-30 minutes of programming, debugging and testing.
Now if the quiz has 30 answers, by trying to fulfill how the person answering the questions may or may not type them could result in 10 hours plus more programming, a huge file which would take ages to download, and still the possibility that the way you type it may or may not be correct!!
This, still, however, can be very frustrating (I know, I write quizzes and try others) but I always try and add a rule ie numbers are always numerical, despite that in a title or whatever it is it may be a written word, and all punctuation is removed, and '&' is written as a word, all hyphenated words will appear as two words ie thank-you wiould be thank you and so on.
Despite the efforts of Mike, Madcat and myself (amongst others on this site) who try and keep to certain rules, not all quizzes are made by us, and people do submit quizzes which we do not have much control over, and without going to the effort of re-writing the quizzes, which could be a long and drawn out process, and most are password protected, which poses a problem to edit them without knowing it! we cannot do much!
I hope this clarifies a few things, dont let it put you off, or asking or making suggestions how we can improve future quizzes, or any ideas you would like to see for future puzzles!!
Also a suggestion if you put an answer in and it doesnt except it, if you click on the box with the answer in and then go up to the top of the screen in the text box where the answer also appears you can just edit what part of the answer you need to, rather than type the whole thing in again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again !!!
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