# Strange letter puzzle [duplicate]

What has $$4$$ letters, sometimes $$9$$ letters, always $$6$$ letters and never $$5$$ letters. How?

Hint: $$4$$ letters

Well; for a start:

The word "what" itself has four letters, the word "sometimes" has nine, the word "always" has six letters and the word "never" has five. So...

What has $$4$$ letters, sometimes $$9$$ letters, always $$6$$ letters and never $$5$$ letters. How? $$3$$ letters!
* worth noting that this was entirely @WAF in the comments.

• You got the trick, but how? Jan 1 '19 at 6:54
• Think literally Jan 1 '19 at 6:59
• Maybe just apply the same rule to the bold word as well.
– WAF
Jan 1 '19 at 7:05
• @WAF good thought — why didn't I think of that? If it's correct, I owe you. Jan 1 '19 at 7:34
• Heh. It's all yours! Always happy to collaborate.
– WAF
Jan 2 '19 at 6:12

I kind of second Hugh's answer, but with a slight addition. What's in the question's body isn't really a question. It's a statement. What has 4 letters, sometimes 9 letters, always 6 letters and never 5 letters. It's just a count of the number of letters in each word succeeding the comma. This is like a guide/legend to answer the real question.

The real question

lies in the title ==> But, how is this possible?