One-"Part" Word Game

Basic Rules:

• You may only use 1-syllable words. This includes spoken and written words.
• If you use any word that has more than 1 syllable, you lose.
• The last person still playing wins.
• You only need to play the game if you are communicating with other players while a game is in progress.
• Conflict Resolution Rule: Any questions, conflicts, or unfair gameplay (regarding issues that the Official Rules don't clearly address) can be resolved by a majority vote with all players.  Note that "a majority" means more than half.

That's all you need to know, really. Below are some details of things you can and can't do -- and if you really want to get into the details (as well as check out some variants of the game), check out the ZOMG-I-can't-believe-you're-not-a-lawyer Official Rules.

Special Words:

• Word Fail: Players can claim another player's loss by saying "Word Fail: [multi-syllable word]".
  • Player 1: "This game is more hard than any game I've played."
  • Player 2: "Word Fail: any."
  • Player 1: "This is the most fun game ever."
  • Player 2: "Word Fail: ever."
  • Player 3: "Ha ha, you lose."
• Word Check: Any questionable word can be decided upon by saying "Word Check: [questionable word]". Other players should respond with only "yes" (allowed) or "no" (not allowed). If the word is not allowed, the player does not fail, but no one may ever use that word while playing. If a decision cannot be made, the Word Check should be referenced in a dictionary.
  • Player 1: "Word Check: wasn't?"
  • Player 2: "No."
  • Player 3: "No."
  • Player 1: "Word Check: won't?"
  • Player 2: "Yes."
  • Player 3: "Yes."
  • Player 4: "Yes."
  • Player 1: "Oh crap - my pants are on...uh... -Word Check: fire!?"
  • Player 2: "Yes."
  • Player 3: "Yes!"
  • Player 4: "No."
  • Player 1: "Ah! Then we should look it up in the book of words and what they mean...NOW!!"
• Rules Check/Rules Set: If, after checking the Official Rules, a questionable word, a unique situation, or the rules themselves need to be discussed, you may speak normally by saying "Rules Check". Once you are finished discussing the rules, you can resume the game by saying "Rules Set".
  • Player 1: "Is that... -Word Check: OK?"
  • Player 2: "Hmmm. Rules Check. Well it can be written as 'okay', which would be a multi-syllable word, but I think as long as it's used as an acronym, it's fine."
  • Player 3: "I agree."
  • Player 2: "Good. Everyone ready? Rules Set. OK, now we are back in the game."

Things you're allowed to do:

• If you're talking to someone that is not playing the game (or a group of people, if the whole group is not playing), you can speak normally.
• If you need to talk about something important or to someone important, you can speak normally.
  • If your boss/teacher walks in and asks you a question, you may answer like normal without losing.
  • You can answer the phone normally, but as soon as you realize the caller is another player, you must immediately resume playing the game.
• Nicknames or alternative words are acceptable, as long as other people use them.
  • "Morn" is OK for "morning".
  • "WoW" (pronounced like it's spelled: "wow") is OK for "World of WarCraft".
• Contractions, plural words, and verb tenses are OK as long as they don't make the word more than 1 syllable.
  • "that's" is allowed, but "that'll" is not.
  • "file" and "files" are both allowed, however "box" is allowed while "boxes" is not.
  • "played" is allowed, but "playing" is not.
• Spelling is allowed only after you have made attempts to describe a word using 1-syllable words, or if the word is an acronym.
• Any word that can be split into individual 1-syllable words is allowed as long as the separate words keep the same definition as the original.
  • "all right" describes "alright" appropriately, and, therefore, is allowed.
  • "foot ball" does not describe "football", so it is not allowed.
  • "e mail" does not describe "email" (or "e-mail") because "e" has no definition as a separate word, so it is not allowed.
  • "o clock" does not describe "o'clock" because "o" has no definition as a separate word, and since "o'clock" is a multi-syllable contraction of the words "of the" and "clock", it is not allowed.

Things you're NOT allowed to do:

• You cannot treat all numerals as 1-syllable words. Numbers and numerals should be treated like they are pronounced.
  • "6" (or "six") is allowed, but "7" (or "seven") is not...however, "6+1" (or "six plus one") is acceptable instead.
  • "12" (or "twelve") is allowed, but "36" (or "thirty-six") is not...however, "12*3" (or "12x3", or "twelve times three") is acceptable instead.
  • "zero" is not allowed, but "0" (the whole number after -1 and before 1) can be treated (in speech and in writing) as "O" (the letter after "N" and before "P").
• Using incoherent sounds or unrelated words to say parts of a multi-syllable word is not acceptable.
  • "Reh cree ay shun oll" for "recreational" is not allowed.
  • "Sir come vent" for "circumvent" is not allowed.
• Using multi-syllable words while speaking to objects or other people (that aren't playing) with the intention of another player hearing what you say is not acceptable.
  • Talking normally to a chair when what you have to say is directed at a nearby player.

Things to note:

• Any tongue-tied sounds or typos are subject to the Conflict Resolution Rule.
• "Fire", according to most dictionaries, is 1 syllable.