: Re: How to use word frequency data? I just found the 'word frequency' tool in Scrivener's text statistics, but so far all I've done with it is read down the list (it occasionally generates amusing

@Heady158

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You have an excellent answer from @DPT for what to do with the results. Just a few tips that are Scrivener specific:

In the Word Frequency window, you can click on Count to sort them into numerical order. This will help to put all those words like 'I', 'it', 'and', 'she', and so on, to the bottom and allow you to start with the less frequently used words.

Still scan these single words. You can spot spelling mistakes here that you may have missed during the edit.

In the latest version of Scrivener (not sure about earlier versions) you can use the Options in Statistics, and under Word Frequency Options, 'Set List of Words to Ignore' and in there you can add the words mentioned above so they never come up in the stats to begin with.

Finally, I agree with @J .G., use the stats to find and replace obscure words. You're trying to create a picture in the reader's mind. Obscure words muddy the image. For a great example of a literary masterpiece that doesn't resort to anything even close to purple prose to create mastery, read The End of The Affair.

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