#include <stream.h>

int main()  {
	char year;

	cout << "please give me the year (4-digit year) =====>  ";
	cin >> year;  

     if (isalpha (year)) {
       cout << "The character " << year << "is \"isalpha\""; }
      else {
       cout << "The character " << year << "is not \"isalpha\""; }
}
################################################################################
cout << "Enter a number and a symbol and another number" << flush;
cin >> num1;
void getfloat(float & num1) {
	char dummy;  // reads from buffer into dummy in order to clear buffer
	while (cin.fail()) {
		cin.clear(); //if don't clear flag ignores all subsequent reads
		cin >> dummy;
// 		if it's a q then you can exit
		cin >> num1;
	}
	return;
}