ArrayList<String> list = new ArrayList<String>(); BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in)); for (int i=0; i<10; i++){ String s = reader.readLine(); list.add(s); } int i=0; while(true){ if (list.get(i).length()<=list.get(i+1).length()){ i++; } else {System.out.println(i+1); break; } }