diff --git a/default.inc b/default.inc
index 2d1cfa9..5e2a496 100755
--- a/default.inc
+++ b/default.inc
@@ -27,6 +27,16 @@ else
 	exit 1
 fi
 
+is_array()
+{   #detect if arg is an array, returns 0 on sucess, 1 otherwise
+    [ -z "$1" ] && return 1
+    if [ -n "$BASH" ]; then
+        declare -p ${1} 2> /dev/null | grep 'declare \-a' >/dev/null && return 0
+    fi
+    return 1
+}
+
+
 declare -A abet
 abet[0]="a"
 abet[1]="b"