public void settle() {
        String temp = toString();
        for (int i = 0; i < width; i++) {
            int colCount = 0;
            String currCol = new String(getCol(i));
            String chunks[] = currCol.split(" ");
            char[] tempChars = new char[height];
            for (int z = 0; z < height; z++) {
                tempChars[z] = '*';
            }
            for (int z = chunks.length - 1; z >= 0; z--) {
                for (int x = chunks[z].length() - 1; x >= 0; x--) {
                    tempChars[colCount] = chunks[z].charAt(x);
                    //for each chunk, adds the chars to the new char array
                    //that will represent the settled column
                    
                    colCount++;
                }
            }
            
            for (int z = 0; z < height; z++) {
                if (tempChars[z] != '*') {
                    board[i][z] = tempChars[z];//sets board column to
                    //the new temp column with eliminated spaces
                }
                else {
                    board[i][z] = ' ';//when at the end of the letter section, 
                    //empty spaces fill in blank tiles above the settled 
                    //columns
                }
            }

        }
        // if the new board != board before settle
        if (!temp.equals(toString())) {
            settle();//represents tiles were shifted
        }//represents tiles weren't shifted
    }