From left: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.
J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press
Speakers at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week spoke more than 109,000 words over four days. Their choice of words and phrases contrasted with the themes and ideas of last month’s Republican National Convention.
Excluding common everyday language, the most frequently spoken words at the Democratic Convention were:
A similar number of words were spoken at last month’s Republican Convention in Milwaukee, where speakers spun more than 110,000 words over four days. Among the most commonly used phrases were:
Words from famous speakers
Former President Donald J. Trump’s acceptance speech was longer than Vice President Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech, using more than three times as many words.
The circles indicate the number of times the keynote speaker used the following words:
Joseph R.
Biden Jr. Tim
Waltz Kamala
Harris
words
Donald J.
Trump JD
Vance’s words
10
–
2
Democracy
2
–
6
8
11
Free
3
–
7
1
3
Economy, Economy
13
4
2
1
5
work
2
6
15
4
2
work
twenty two
8
8
2
5
tax
twenty one
1
4
–
7
Law
1
4
7
3
2
God
9
5
13
5
9
love
twenty two
14
1
–
–
inflation
14
1
2
8
1
Neighbor, neighborhood
–
–
7
7
8
family
8
10
2
–
5
father
4
1
2
–
13
mother
4
1
1
1
4
abortion
–
–
4
1
2
Medicare
4
–
2
2
2
social security
4
1
twenty three
4
15
Trump
8
16
2
1
3
Biden
2
12
10
9
2
Kamala
–
2
3
10
3
Harris
–
2
5
–
7
Border
twenty one
2
2
–
2
Immigrants, immigrants
5
1
–
–
–
Intrusion
13
1
–
–
–
Illegal immigration
4
1
6
1
2
war
17
3
1
–
2
Ukraine
4
–
2
–
3
Russia
9
–
2
–
2
Putin
–
–
1
–
1
China, Chinese
14
5
–
–
4
Israel
4
–
3
–
3
Gaza
–
–
–
–
1
Hamas
–
–
–
–
2
terrorist
1
–
–
–
2
Iran
8
–
–
–
–
Afghanistan
4
1
Photos by Mandel Ngan/AFP (Biden), Will Oliver/EPA via Shutterstock (Waltz), J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press (Harris), Kenny Holston/The New York Times
Divided words
Many words were used frequently in both conventions, including “America,” “country,” “people,” and “vote.” However, the frequency of other words was less balanced.
Democratic speakers leaned toward the language of freedom and patriotism, using the word “freedom” 227 times more than the Republicans, who used it 67 times. Words like “woman,” “joy,” and “queer” were also used more frequently by Democratic speakers.
Republican speakers mentioned “inflation” seven times more often than Democratic speakers, and the prices of “God” and “grocery” three times more often. Republicans used the words “assassination” or “assassin” 18 times, though the words were only heard once at the Democratic convention, and not in reference to the shooting of Trump in July.
Missing words
Words and phrases that appear in the Democratic National Convention minutes but never in the Republican ones include “abortion,” “Project 2025” and “convicted felon.”
In contrast, words used at the Republican National Convention but not heard in Chicago this week include “indoctrination,” “illegal immigration” and “invasion.”