I don't want people to only be able to spell "asphyxy"

October 6, 2012 10:23 AM

How many jello shot letters of each kind do I need for maximum drunk-yum spelling?

I'm clearly not using the right google search terms. I have a giant pan of jello shots and alphabet cookie cutters. I'd like to figure out the best mix of letters to cut out so people can spell words before eating said shots. A frequency table?
Wheel of fortune has taught me that rstlne are important.
Advice?
Obviously there's a limit to the number of letters I can make total, hence my request for ratios.
Save my stupid alphabet jelly shots [this recipe, should you be intrigued]

posted by atomicstone to Writing & Language (4 answers total)

There are frequency tables, but I'd probably just start with the distribution of letters that comes with Scrabble.
posted by brainmouse at 10:25 AM on October 6, 2012

(here's Wikipedia's frequency tables though)
posted by brainmouse at 10:26 AM on October 6, 2012

I think Scrabble deliberately has too few S's because they're easy to extend words with (and for me personally, way too many I's), so a straight frequency table is more neutral.

If your cutter font is the right kind of shape, maybe you could not bother with letters like W and Z and make a few extra M's and N's to do double duty. I'd be temped to just make a tonne of E's as well and let people nibble off arms if they need more F's or L's.
posted by lucidium at 12:18 PM on October 6, 2012 [3 favorites]

Best answer: I would do some Google Image Searches for "iron-on letter sheets" or similar, because they will not only have decent frequency ratios, but will maximize based on the shape/area of each letter.
posted by Rock Steady at 2:30 PM on October 6, 2012 [3 favorites]