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This is in the spirit of the What is a Word/Phrase™ series started by JLee with a special brand of Phrase™ and Word™ puzzles.

If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it a Structurally Sound Word™.

Use the following examples below to find the rule.

Examples of a Structurally Sound Word

And, if you want to analyze, here is a CSV version:

Structurally Sound Words™,Not Structurally Sound Words™
DENIED,ALLOWED
DETERMINED,UNDETERMINED
FEEBLEMINDED,STRONG-WILLED
FREETHINKER,FOLLOWER
IDENTIFIED,UNKNOWN
INFIELDER,PITCHER
INFINITE,BOUNDED
MILLIMETER,CENTIMETER
PRETEEN,TEENAGER
REMEMBERED,FORGOTTEN
REPENT,RELAPSE
RETIREMENT,CAREER
THIRTEENTH,FOURTEENTH
LIMITED,EXTRA
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  • $\begingroup$ Umm... how to make images like the one with the words? $\endgroup$
    – EKons
    Aug 30, 2016 at 12:45
  • $\begingroup$ @ΈρικΚωνσταντόπουλος I created one in Excel based on one of JLee's first Phrase™ puzzles. I uploaded what I use now to DropCanvas.com (EXTERNAL LINK! It will rot in 3 days.) $\endgroup$
    – Engineer Toast
    Aug 30, 2016 at 13:30
  • $\begingroup$ Let it rot! [Winter theme: Let it rot, let it rot, all this is now is a tot, let it rot, let it rot, let it rot, 'cause this is now a tot!] $\endgroup$
    – EKons
    Aug 30, 2016 at 13:41

3 Answers 3

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A structurally sound word is one such that

each letter has a full-height vertical component that could be "load-bearing" -- like a stud -- were it a physical thing. Letters that are full height but without a full vertical component, such as 'A', 'C', and 'X' are structurally 'unsound' since they don't have a "load-bearing" component that runs from top to bottom.
Structurally sound letters: BDEFHIKLMNPRT
Structurally unsound letters: ACGJOQSUVWXYZ

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Is a structurally sound word a word that

only contains letters with a component that goes the entire height of the letter? e.g. 'BDEFHIKLMNPRT'

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  • 1
    $\begingroup$ The unsound EXTRA seems to be sound by this definition. $\endgroup$
    – Ninety-Three
    Oct 8, 2015 at 20:23
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It seems to me that a structurally sound word is one that

Contains letters that do not have rounded, unstable "bottoms," that is, the strokes near the bottom of each letter are either flat or are standing on legs. The Not Structurally Sound words contain letters that are rounded and would easily roll over if they were real structures.

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  • 1
    $\begingroup$ this was my initial guess, but due to the Independent/Interdependent I'm not sure this would work? $\endgroup$
    – Cat'r'pillar
    Oct 8, 2015 at 19:26
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    $\begingroup$ That's a pretty good guess and definitely valid given the examples provided. D has some definite flatness at the bottom. Quite frankly, I think I like your answer better than the intended answer. I've added another example that'll negate this answer but I gave you +1. $\endgroup$
    – Engineer Toast
    Oct 8, 2015 at 20:07
  • $\begingroup$ @Cat'r'pillar That one was supposed to be removed because they're actually both valid. $\endgroup$
    – Engineer Toast
    Oct 8, 2015 at 20:09
  • $\begingroup$ What about EXTRA? $\endgroup$
    – Ian MacDonald
    Oct 8, 2015 at 20:14
  • $\begingroup$ I thought this too, but couldn't explain 1. The independent/interdependent case or 2. Why 'A' only appears in not structurally sound words, since it has no round bottom. It must be something else; note that structurally sound words only use the vowels i and e where the opposite can use all 5 vowels. (coincidence that a, o, and u all appear in 'Structurally sound words' and i,e don't?) $\endgroup$
    – NeedAName
    Oct 8, 2015 at 20:16

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