diff --git a/learn.txt b/learn.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..969ac6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/learn.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+This is a file sent for learning purposes
diff --git a/palindrome.py b/palindrome.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0da546
--- /dev/null
+++ b/palindrome.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import re
+
+print("I am a program that determines if a word or phrase is a palindrome.")
+
+
+initial = input("\nType your word or phrase here: ")
+
+def phrase(initial):
+# save initial input for the output so that sentences dont appear jumbled
+    phrase = initial
+
+    # change all letters to lowercase in string
+    phrase = phrase.lower()
+
+    # ignore all special characters and numbers
+    phrase = re.sub('[0-9]+[\c]','',phrase)
+
+    # remove spaces in string
+    phrase = phrase.replace(' ','')
+    return(phrase)
+
+
+
+
+def forward_equals_backward(phrase):
+    # take the altered string and reverses it
+    b = phrase[::-1]
+    if phrase == '':
+        print("Invalid argument please enter a word or a phrase")
+    elif phrase == b:
+        print("\n{}".format(initial) + " is a palindrome")
+    else:
+        print("\n{}".format(initial) + " is not a palindrome")
+
+forward_equals_backward(initial)