its easier and better looking to use a switch statement: switch (count){ case 1: cout << "one" << endl; break; case 2: cout << "two" << endl; break; case 3: cout << "three" << endl; break; case 4: cout << "four" << endl; break; case 5: cout << "five" << endl; break; case 6: cout << "six" << endl; break; case 7: cout << "seven" << endl; break; case 8: cout << "eight" << endl; break; case 9: cout << "nine" << endl; break; default: if (count%2 == 0) cout << "even" << endl; else cout << "odd" << endl;