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

Posted by Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

Python Collections: word_count function

I have tested my code in IDLE (the official Python IDE) and my function worked perfectly, however, in the code challenge all it responds is "Bummer! Hmm... Didn't get expected output".

What could be possibly be wrong?

Any help appreciated.

~Alex

wordcount.py 
# E.g. word_count("I do not like it Sam I Am") gets back a dictionary like:
# {'i': 2, 'do': 2, 'it': 1, 'sam': 1, 'like': 1, 'not': 1, 'am': 1}
# Lowercase the string to make it easier.

def word_count(x):
    words = x.lower().split(" ")
    result = {}
    for word in words:
        if word in result.keys():
            result[word] += 1
        else:
            result[word] = 1
    return result
Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

Kenneth Love Steven Parker Jennifer Nordell Ken Alger

Seth Kroger
Seth Kroger
56,413 Points
Seth Kroger
Seth Kroger
56,413 Points

I decided to try this one out and after banging my head on a couple variations it's getting hung up on split(" ") vs. split(). The challenge will pass if you use the latter, but not the former.

def word_count(string):
    words = string.lower().split()
    result = {}
    for word in words:
        if word not in result:
            result[word] = 0
        result[word] += 1

     return result
Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

Check my post below Ryan S's answer.

It says "I also just figured out that calling the .split() function without using arguments then it will split by any kind of whitespace".

I hope this helps you :)

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

:mailbox_with_mail: I got your message.

It looks like you already were effectively assisted. :smile:

2 Answers

Ryan S
Ryan S
27,276 Points
Ryan S
Ryan S
27,276 Points

Hey Alex,

I found that if you remove the space character in your .split() method, it will pass. It splits on whitespace by default if you don't supply any arguments.

But I don't know why it isn't working in the challenge if you leave it in. I would've guessed that it does the same thing, especially since it is working on your local machine.

Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

Thanks so much! It helped.

I also just figured out that calling the .split() function without using arguments then it will split by any kind of whitespace while calling the .split() function with a argument of a space will only split by spaces.

Thanks again!

Ryan S
Ryan S
27,276 Points
Ryan S
Ryan S
27,276 Points

Oh interesting. That is good to know. Thanks!

Kenneth Love
STAFF
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher
Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher

Yep, the supplied string might contain new lines or other whitespace. In the words of "The Zen of Python":

In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess.

I've updated the error message to be a bit more precise on this, though.