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I have split the alphabet in two sets, as you may see in the picture below, according to a very specific rule. Which was the rule I used?

enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ I guess random is not the correct answer? $\endgroup$ – Valentin Grégoire Dec 23 '14 at 13:44
  • $\begingroup$ I want to edit out the image and replace it with text, but that might ruin the puzzle. Is the font / shape of the letters significant? $\endgroup$ – Doorknob Dec 23 '14 at 14:03
  • $\begingroup$ @Doorknob冰: yes, the font is significant (this is why I used an image). The name of the font (it's Arial, by the way) is not significant, however $\endgroup$ – mau Dec 23 '14 at 14:15
  • $\begingroup$ This doesn't deserve downvotes... Gives +1 $\endgroup$ – warspyking Dec 23 '14 at 19:03
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    $\begingroup$ You still haven't fixed the R. In the font you chose (like most “stodgy” fonts that I could find), it can't be drawn without lifting the pen. $\endgroup$ – Gilles 'SO- stop being evil' Dec 23 '14 at 22:41
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The top set of letters are:

Letters that have no curves but do have "branches" (ie cannot be drawn without lifting a pen off the paper or retracing parts of the letter)

The bottom set are those left over.

This does I think generate the correct sets (I'll be very embarrassed if I am wrong on that) but it feels a bit too complicated to be an elegant answer...

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  • $\begingroup$ I am now suitably embarrassed. ;-) $\endgroup$ – Chris Dec 23 '14 at 13:54
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    $\begingroup$ Maybe I should add "or is the letter Z" to my rule for the top set. ;-) $\endgroup$ – Chris Dec 23 '14 at 13:55
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    $\begingroup$ Z has moved from the top set to the bottom set now. My prescience was obviously working well. I think this is correct now but still inelegant. $\endgroup$ – Chris Dec 23 '14 at 14:26
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    $\begingroup$ The way I draw a Z it belongs in the top set because I cross my Zs. =) $\endgroup$ – corsiKa Dec 23 '14 at 20:08
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AEFHKTXY

The first set of letters cannot be drawn without lifting the pen from the paper and not drawing over what's already written (over the same path like a car on its reverse gear).

BCDGIJLMNOPQRSUVWZ

The second set of letters can be drawn without taking the pen from paper and not moving the pen over what have already written (over the same path like a car on its reverse gear)

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    $\begingroup$ With the exception of z of course $\endgroup$ – red-X Dec 23 '14 at 14:16
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    $\begingroup$ Both Z and Q don't seem to fit by your criteria. $\endgroup$ – Doorknob Dec 23 '14 at 14:17
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    $\begingroup$ @mau - If Z is wrong, maybe Chris's now-deleted answer is actually correct? $\endgroup$ – Rand al'Thor Dec 23 '14 at 14:21
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    $\begingroup$ Pesky Z! It foiled my attempt at answering too!! $\endgroup$ – Chris Dec 23 '14 at 14:21
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    $\begingroup$ @mau According to you, the font does matter. And in your font, Q is written with the little line thing appearing on both sides of the circle thing (wow, it sounds like I'm talking like a second grader now :P). So there's no way to draw the Q without picking up the pencil or going over a previously traced line. $\endgroup$ – Doorknob Dec 23 '14 at 14:26

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