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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Dictionaries Word Count

Posted by Noah Kilker
Noah Kilker
1,224 Points

Bummer! Try again!

I have run multiple tests on the code I have wrote for this assignment, and have done all of what the question seems to ask. I think that I am misreading the question, as all I can get from the built in error message is "Bummer! Try again". I think i'm doing everything the question asks, correct me if i'm wrong. But seeing as i cant find anything wrong with my code, and the only error message it gives doesn't tell me whats wrong, i have no where else to go but the 'Get Help' button.

wordcount.py 
# E.g. word_count("I do not like it Sam I Am") gets back a dictionary like:
# {'i': 2, 'do': 1, 'it': 1, 'sam': 1, 'like': 1, 'not': 1, 'am': 1}
# Lowercase the string to make it easier.
def word_count(mystring):
    lowered = mystring.lower()
    mystringParts = lowered.split(" ")
    thisdict = {} 
    for s in mystringParts:
        try:
            thisdict.update({s : (thisdict[s] + 1)})
        except KeyError:
            thisdict.update({s : 1})
    del thisdict[""]
    return thisdict

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

You are very close!

  • :point_right: split on WHITESPACE instead of a literal space. Whitespace is the default with no argument.
  • :point_right: remove del statement

Post back if you need more help. Good luck!!!

Noah Kilker
Noah Kilker
1,224 Points

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it, this question really had me stumped. I did what you told me to do, and I think I understand why it works (less code, easier to read/write/understand), but I don't entirely understand why the old version didn't work, because as far as I can tell, the output is the same. There is obviously some difference, but I cant find one. I'd appreciate if you could explain the difference in the output, or the reasoning. If for no other reason than if I need to do something like this in the future and want to have all of the information.

Jennifer Nordell
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Jennifer Nordell
Treehouse Teacher
Jennifer Nordell
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Jennifer Nordell
Treehouse Teacher

Noah Kilker my guess here is that you've tried it, but not with a data set that would give you a different result. The challenge says to split on all white space. But you were splitting on spaces. My guess is that you weren't trying with a data set that included tabs or new line characters. In that case, it wouldn't split on the tabs and new lines with your previous code. But by changing the split() to have no arguments, it now takes into account all whitespace. Not just spaces :smiley:

Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

Given the two test cases below, the difference is clearer. Note that deleting the empty key "" raises an error of that empty string key is not found. 

def word_count(mystring):
    lowered = mystring.lower()
    mystringParts = lowered.split(" ")
    thisdict = {} 
    for s in mystringParts:
        try:
            thisdict.update({s : (thisdict[s] + 1)})
        except KeyError:
            thisdict.update({s : 1})
    #del thisdict[""]
    return thisdict


def word_count2(mystring):
    lowered = mystring.lower()
    mystringParts = lowered.split()
    thisdict = {} 
    for s in mystringParts:
        try:
            thisdict.update({s : (thisdict[s] + 1)})
        except KeyError:
            thisdict.update({s : 1})
    return thisdict


string1 = "I  am  what  I  am  and  that's  all  that  I  am"
string2 = "I\tam\twhat\tI\tam\tand\tthat's\tall\tthat\tI\tam"
print(string1)
print(string2)
print(word_count(string1))
print(word_count(string2))
print(word_count2(string1))
print(word_count2(string2))

Produces:

I  am  what  I  am  and  that's  all  that  I  am
I    am    what    I    am    and    that's    all    that    I    am
{'': 10, "that's": 1, 'i': 3, 'and': 1, 'all': 1, 'what': 1, 'that': 1, 'am': 3}
{"i\tam\twhat\ti\tam\tand\tthat's\tall\tthat\ti\tam": 1}
{"that's": 1, 'i': 3, 'what': 1, 'all': 1, 'and': 1, 'that': 1, 'am': 3}
{"that's": 1, 'i': 3, 'what': 1, 'all': 1, 'and': 1, 'that': 1, 'am': 3}