diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b749a1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+the controls are
+
+
+q to quit
+
+e to enter a word
+
+left/right keys to pick a letter
+
+space to put the letter
+
+down key to delete a letter
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 0eb5f51..1d03b80 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 		int8_t* res = worle(word, guesstab[guesses - 1]);
 		if(!res) {
 			printf("\033[%u;%uH", guesses + 2, 1);
-			printf("wrong number of characters?\n");
+			printf("wrong number of characters? (should be %u)\n", l);
 			printf("\033[%u;%uH", guesses + 1, 1);
 			for(uint i = 0; i < strlen(guesstab[guesses - 1]); i++) putchar(' ');
 			printf("\033[%u;%uH", guesses, 1);