def _potential_before(i, input_string):
 return (((i - 2) >= 0) and (input_string[i] == input_string[(i - 2)]) and (input_string[(i - 1)] not in seps))

def _potential_before ( i , input_string ) : return ( ( ( i - 2 ) >= 0 ) and ( input_string [ i ] == input_string [ ( i - 2 ) ] ) and ( input_string [ ( i - 1 ) ] not in seps ) )
check if the character at position i can be a potential single char separator considering whats before it .