Unless your input is an array of strings then use cin>>tempstring otherwise use cin.getline(tempstring, MAXBUFFERSIZE, '\n'); this function takes 3 parameters, and the last one is the delimiter i.e. when to signal the function to return.

okay thanks - that fixed it! hey so if I am entering a number via a statement like: cin >> selection how do I clear cin for the next use. basically, user is going to enter a number (text entry program...for now). and then the next entry is going to be characters - like a name or state. Right now, it seems to take the strike of the return key as the second entry. THanks, G