BS: Writing style software

Subject: Writing style software
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 02:07 PM

There's a program that can examine your writing - all your songs, for instance - and tell you what words you use most commonly. A great way of spotting tics that you can't see but that might irritate others.

I know the program exists, but can't track it down. Anyone know?

Subject: RE: BS: Writing style software
From: MMario
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 02:24 PM

three writing assement programs

Subject: RE: BS: Writing style software
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 08:03 PM

Thanks, MMario. I'll take a look at these.

Subject: RE: BS: Writing style software
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 05:38 AM

Hmmmm. I know there must be something out there you can download and sic on a piece of writing...

Subject: RE: BS: Writing style software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 05:21 PM

For a very simple minded count on a single word, you can use your doc program (Word, etc) to replace the word with the same word. Most programs tell you how many replacements were made.

Just be sure to set "match case" in both the find and replace boxes, or you'll change them all to whatever is in the replace box.

If you really want to go "whole hog," save a doc under a new name - to work with. Replace each space with a paragraph break (^p in the search/replace box in Word), then select all (Ctl-A)and "Table - Sort - by paragraphs," which will put all the words in alphabetical order. (Note - if you're short on RAM, sorting very large selections can take quite a while, and it may look like you've locked up. With 128MB and a clean machine, you should be able to sort a couple hundred pages of "one-word" paragraphs.)

Look for the words that repeat most frequently, and highlight the list of one of them, - use Tools - Word Count to get how many times that word occurs (using the "paragraphs" count for the selection).

It's a little more work than a real "analysis" program, but you should be able to get what you're looking for.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Writing style software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 08:47 PM

There was something of a "fad" in literary research a few years back (few on the archaeological time scale I work to) where people did immensely complex analyses of "old" works to solve burning questions like "did one person write all the Shakespeare plays" or "who was Shakespeare" etc. ad. infinitum.

Simple word counts don't tell a whole lot, but repetitive sequences can pretty well pin down "anonymous" authors, if one has a sufficient sample of their work.

As to analysing one's own work to determine whether some degree of repetitiveness or other banality is present, I would think that anyone needing "mechanical" means to detect weaknesses would probably not tend to see the meaning of the results. Conversation with one's peers, or the services of a respected mentor would be more likely to be productive.

Expecting any program, and especially a free-ware one, to contribute much to the quality of one's writing is akin to letting a Cosmopolitan instan quiz decide whether you have a satisfactory sex life.

But... it can be fun to play with.

John