$accum = ''; for ( $var ) { if ( $_ < 1 ) { last; } else { $accum = 'j'.$accum; } if ( $_ < 2 ) { last; } else { $accum = 'i'.$accum; } if ( $_ < 3 ) { last; } else { $accum = 'h'.$accum; } if ( $_ < 4 ) { last; } else { $accum = 'g'.$accum; } if ( $_ < 5 ) { last; } else { $accum = 'f'.$accum; } if ( $_ < 6 ) { last; } else { $accum = 'e'.$accum; } if ( $_ < 7 ) { last; } else { $accum = 'd'.$accum; } if ( $_ < 8 ) { last; } else { $accum = 'c'.$accum; } if ( $_ < 9 ) { last; } else { $accum = 'b'.$accum; } $accum = 'a'.$accum; }