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Python Python Collections (Retired) Dictionaries Word Count

Where is my mistake?

Create a function named word_count() that takes a string. Return a dictionary with each word in the string as the key and the number of times it appears as the value.

word_count.py
# E.g. word_count("I am that I am") gets back a dictionary like:
# {'i': 2, 'am': 2, 'that': 1}
# Lowercase the string to make it easier.
# Using .split() on the sentence will give you a list of words.
# In a for loop of that list, you'll have a word that you can
# check for inclusion in the dict (with "if word in dict"-style syntax).
# Or add it to the dict with something like word_dict[word] = 1.
def word_count(str1):
    str1.lower()
    str1.split()
    for word in str1:
        count=1
        word_dict[word]=count
        count=count+1
    print (word_dict)    

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
230,995 Points

:point_right: There's a few issues here:

  • The split function does not change the original string. You'll need to assign the result to a new array.
  • The lower function also does not change the original string.
  • You'll need to check if the word is already in the dictionary.
  • If the word is already there, you will just raise the count.
  • If the word is not there, you will create a new entry with a count of 1.
  • The function needs to return the result. You won't need to print anything.

I'll bet you can get it now without an explicit spoiler.

Jason Alexandrea
Jason Alexandrea
1,843 Points

When you create a new dictionary key, remember you can assign that keys value to another variable as well... then work off that too..