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The words unique to 1-star and 5-star App Store reviews

by Dave Caolo Sep 13th 2010 at 2:30PM

Here's an interesting bit of data from Marco Arment. He created a script to find the most commonly-used words in 1-star and 5-star App Store reviews. His script scanned the top 100 apps in every category, ignoring duplicates. Here's what he found.

The most frequently-used words in 5-star app reviews were:

  • Awesome
  • Worth
  • Thanks
  • Amazing
  • Simple
  • Perfect
  • Everything
  • Ever
  • Must
  • iPod
  • Before
  • Found
  • Store
  • Never
  • Recommend
  • Done
  • Take
  • Always
  • Touch

An interesting list. As Marco points out, note that "simple" is included. Now consider the minor stir* that Twitter for iPad is generating over its unique UI. it's not because it's "good" or "bad," It's because users must stop and think before performing actions that seemed effortless on other applications. They don't like that.

[Via Daring Fireball]

*While some folks absolutely love the UI of Twitter for iPad (see here and here and here), others found its unique approach confusing (see here and here and here).



Conversely, here are the words that occurred most often in 1-star reviews:
  • Waste
  • Money
  • Crashes
  • Tried
  • Useless
  • Nothing
  • Paid
  • Open
  • Deleted
  • Downloaded
  • Didn't
  • Says
  • Stupid
  • Anything
  • Actually
  • Account
  • Bought
  • Apple
  • Already

Look at items number 1, 2 and 3. They're talking about cost and the user's perceived value for what they spent. LIke Marco says, most users never post a review and those with negative experiences are more likely to do so than satisfied customers. Keep that in mind when looking at these words. Marco offered some additional insight, which we recommend you read.



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Here's an interesting bit of data from Marco Arment. He created a script to find the most commonly-used words in 1-star and 5-star App...
 

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Jeff Harris

Awesome.
It figures.

A once fine word stripped of all meaning and rendered loathesome.

One thing that I find odd are people who rate an app with ONE star, yet rave about it in their review.

September 13 2010 at 7:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JClark

Can someone explain what is so complicated about Twitter for iPad? I can explain the whole interface in the length of a tweet:

Tap tweets and links to open panels. When you're done, slide panels to the right. Source menu on left.

That's it, that's the whole thing. What on Earth is everyone freaking out about?!

September 13 2010 at 5:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ron

Somehow the overwhelming number of reviews that utilize LOL speak and emoji icons have been left off these lists.

September 13 2010 at 5:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark

“it's not because it's "good" or "bad," It's because users must stop and think before performing actions that seemed effortless on other applications. They don't like that.”

That’s an interesting way of framing it. In general, I think TUAW is being far too kind to Twitter for iPad (which, btw, I really want to like).

September 13 2010 at 3:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
XiozTzu

The 10 most frequently used words according to Bender.
* 10. Chump
* 9. Chumpette
* 8. Yours
* 7. Up
* 6. Pimpmobile
* 5. Bite
* 4. My
* 3. Shiny
* 2. Daffodil
* 1. Ass

September 13 2010 at 3:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Grodesh

Unique: I do not think it means what you think it means. Perhaps you meant most used word of 1-star and 5-star reviews? I really doubt the words in these list never appear in 2 to 4-star reviews.

September 13 2010 at 2:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ray

Interestingly, the word we found most often in 5-star reviews is not listed here: love. Perhaps it speaks to the amount of emotional attachment that some people feel to apps they use a lot. Just a guess though.

September 13 2010 at 2:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TheCastro

Sounds like developers need to start an incentive program to get us to write reviews.

September 13 2010 at 2:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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