ArrayList<String> list = new ArrayList<String>(); Scanner sqw = new Scanner(System.in); for(int i=0;i<list.size();i++){ list.add(sqw.nextLine()); } for(int i=0;i<list.size()-1;){ if(list.get(i).length()>list.get(i+1).length()){ i++; } else{ System.out.println(i);break; } } }