Some Interesting Word and Phrase Frequency Graphs

Classical composers

Peter Lasersohn — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 05:59:28 +0000

Classical composers. smoothing=5

Classical composers seem to have peaked as a topic in the 1940s.

Zombie, werewolf and cyclops

Peter Lasersohn — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 05:50:08 +0000

zombie vs. werewolf vs. cyclops. smoothing=5

Cyclops just can’t keep up.

spirit and soul

Peter Lasersohn — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 05:43:20 +0000

spirit vs. soul. smoothing=10

Spirit and soul become relatively rare all through the 18th century, then return with places traded in the 19th.

happiness vs. sadness

Peter Lasersohn — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 05:11:05 +0000

happiness vs. sadness. smoothing=3

Happiness seems to have been a very popular subject in the first half of the 19th century.

cookie vs. cracker

Peter Lasersohn — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:57:44 +0000

cookie vs. cracker. smoothing=3

Cookies have really taken off in the last 50 years.

yesterday, today, tomorrow

Peter Lasersohn — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:04:34 +0000

yesterday vs. today vs. tomorrow. smoothing=3

Are we living more in the moment than we used to? Less sentimental?

flip flop

Peter Lasersohn — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 05:44:03 +0000

flip vs. flop. smoothing=3

Flip and flop have flip-flopped.

Pronouns

Peter Lasersohn — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 02:20:04 +0000

personal pronouns. smoothing=0

There has been a curious increase in the use of pronouns, just over the last few years. Note that the frequency of the 1st person nominative singular I has actually doubled since 1990.

pie vs. cake

Peter Lasersohn — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 02:02:36 +0000

pie vs. cake. smoothing=3

Cake overtakes pie in 1833.

fun and games

Peter Lasersohn — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:27:17 +0000

fun and games. smoothing=3

Apparently, the turn of the 19th century was not much fun.