OK, so when I write, I'm forever finding that I've used the same (rare) word twice in close succession in a piece. For example, in my last blog post, I had the word "overabundance" twice in three paragraphs, and eventually had to take out both occurrences.

The more rare a word is, the less it should be used. I like words, and I like to pick just the right one. But once a word sticks in my mind, I may use it too often. Phrases are similar; using the same phrase more than once when you're not using repetition to make a point isn't desirable.

I find it very annoying, because it breaks suspension of disbelief and forces the reader to realize they're reading something rather than experiencing it.

I have been thinking that there really ought to be computer programs to check for word frequency, the way computers can check spelling and the very basics of grammar. All it would have to do is count words, compare them, and then compare that to a word-rarity chart. Rare words used more than once, too close together, would be flagged.

Is there such a thing as a word-frequency analysis program? Other than beta-readers and tricks like waiting a few days and re-reading, or reading out loud, I haven't found a really good way of catching overused words.