COUNTW Function (SAS 9.2)

Count Words in a String

proc sort data=sashelp.zipcode(keep=statename)
out=allnames nodupkey;
by statename;
run;
data words;
set allnames;
Words=countw(statename," ");
run;
proc freq data=words;
tables Words;
title1 "Number of Words in U.S. State and Territory Names";
run;

SAS Log

3999   proc sort data=sashelp.zipcode(keep=statename)
4000             out=allnames nodupkey;
4001     by statename;
4002   run;

NOTE: There were 41763 observations read from the data set SASHELP.ZIPCODE.
NOTE: 41707 observations with duplicate key values were deleted.
NOTE: The data set WORK.ALLNAMES has 56 observations and 1 variables.

4003   data words;
4004     set allnames;
4005     Words=countw(statename," ");
4006   run;

NOTE: There were 56 observations read from the data set WORK.ALLNAMES.
NOTE: The data set WORK.WORDS has 56 observations and 2 variables.

4007   proc freq data=words;
4008     tables Words;
4009     title1 "Number of Words in U.S. State and Territory Names";
4010   run;

NOTE: There were 56 observations read from the data set WORK.WORDS.

SAS Listing Output

Number of Words in U.S. State and Territory Names

The FREQ Procedure

Cumulative    Cumulative
Words    Frequency     Percent     Frequency      Percent
----------------------------------------------------------
1          42       75.00            42        75.00
2          12       21.43            54        96.43
3           2        3.57            56       100.00