# Count every ' F ' in the following text: How many are there? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 8, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059 "2009-06-08T02:12:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/21 "2009-06-08T19:46:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I didn’t read the words. I scanned the string for Fs. Ditto. > [@mr.jp](#): > > I got 9 I got 27. I win. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/22 "2009-06-08T19:48:19Z")
Actually, the one in the spoiler box should count too. So 10. Pretty tricky problem. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/23 "2009-06-08T20:31:09Z")
I knew it was going to be some kind of trick thing, ran the mouse cursor over every word to make sure I got them all, and my brain still glossed over every f in ‘of’. Stupid brain…☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/24 "2009-06-08T21:24:01Z")
When I read the thread title, I said to myself “Be sure to count the 'of’s.” Sure enough, that was the trick. I got 5 twice. Missed the last “of”. As a corollary, I like the following: In the United States of of America, the president is is the Commander in in Chief of the the Armed Forces. What’s wrong with that statement? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/25 "2009-06-08T21:29:29Z")
> [@omgzebras](#): > > I knew it was going to be some kind of trick thing, ran the mouse cursor over every word to make sure I got them all, and my brain still glossed over every f in ‘of’. > > Stupid brain…☹ Same. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/26 "2009-06-08T21:55:22Z")
I got 5. I missed scientific. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/27 "2009-06-08T22:01:35Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > I got 5. I missed scientific. :smack: The first time I saw this, I missed the ones in “of”. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/28 "2009-06-08T22:18:53Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > I got 5. I missed scientific. :smack: Me too. Skipped the "of"s the first read through, then immediately went back for them, but got must have been so determined on not skipping them that I never noticed that scientific has an f. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/29 "2009-06-08T22:37:18Z")
I counted everything after the colon and got 6. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/30 "2009-06-08T22:37:31Z")
I got six but I was thinking one of the E’s was mispelled as F and my mind was just missing it ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/31 "2009-06-08T22:41:27Z")
I cheated. When proof-reading, I always start at the last word, and work my way back. It forces me to focus on each word instead of sliding into the reading habit. And, yes, I got 6. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/32 "2009-06-08T22:52:47Z")
Even knowing this required careful review, I missed all three in “of”. So, where does that mean my brain tumor is located? ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/33 "2009-06-09T00:26:11Z")
I got all six, but I’m used to grading spelling tests… ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/34 "2009-06-09T02:49:07Z")
I was looking for this. I saw it a long time ago, and I wanted to show it to my friends, but I couldn’t recall the text. And yes, I got 3. :o ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/35 "2009-06-09T16:53:50Z")
I win. I got zero. There are no Fs with quote marks aound them in the sentence. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/36 "2009-06-09T16:57:11Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Count every ’ F ’ in the following text: > > FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS… > > How many do you count? Click on spoiler box below for the answer. > > How many F’s? … No, there are 6, read it again. Ah, I remember attending my first motivational sales seminar… They all throw this one at you or something similar. It did get me the first time, though. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/37 "2009-06-09T16:58:43Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > I got 5. I missed scientific. :smack: Me too. Double :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/38 "2009-06-09T17:29:09Z")
I got six. I’ve done this type of test before. I always start at the end of the sentence and scan backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/39 "2009-06-09T18:19:41Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > When I read the thread title, I said to myself “Be sure to count the 'of’s.” Sure enough, that was the trick. I got 5 twice. Missed the last “of”. As a corollary, I like the following: > > In the United States of > of America, the president is > is the Commander in > in Chief of the > the Armed Forces. > > What’s wrong with that statement? There’s a whole lotta extra articles, prepositions, and be-verbs? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059/40 "2009-06-09T20:20:50Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > What’s wrong with that statement? He’s actually “commander in chief of the Army and Navy”? –Cliffy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-every-f-in-the-following-text-how-many-are-there/499059.md?page=3)