fletom · November 28, 2012 21:40 · Nov 28, 2012 · Nov 28, 2012
diff --git a/gistfile1.txt → gistfile1.py b/gistfile1.txt → gistfile1.py
diff --git a/gistfile1.txt b/gistfile1.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+def english_count(count, object = None, plural = None):
+    """
+        Generate an English representation of the count of objects. Plural defaults to object + 's' or object[:-1] + 'ies' for objects ending in 'y'.
+
+        Examples:
+
+        In [2]: english_count(0, 'hat')
+        Out[2]: 'no hats'
+
+        In [4]: english_count(1, 'hat')
+        Out[4]: '1 hat'
+
+        In [5]: english_count(3, 'pastry')
+        Out[5]: '3 pastries'
+
+        In [2]: english_count(4, 'knife', 'knives')
+        Out[2]: '4 knives'
+    """
+
+    text = 'no' if count == 0 else str(count)
+
+    if object is not None:
+        if plural is None:
+            if object[-1] == 'y':
+                plural = object[:-1] + 'ies'
+            else:
+                plural = object + 's'
+
+        text += ' ' + (object if count == 1 else plural)
+
+    return text
+
+def english_list(items, and_or = 'and'):
+    """
+        Generate an English representation of a list of things. Defaults to 'and' but you can also pass 'or' as the second argument.
+
+        Examples:
+
+        In [3]: english_list(string.uppercase)
+        Out[3]: 'A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z'
+
+        In [4]: english_list(['A', 'B'], 'or')
+        Out[4]: 'A or B'
+
+        In [6]: english_list(['A'])
+        Out[6]: 'A'
+
+        In [7]: english_list([])
+        Out[7]: ''
+    """
+
+    items = [str(item) for item in items]
+    if len(items) < 3:
+        # Handles the edgecases of zero, one, and two items ('', 'A', 'A and B' respectively)
+        text = (' ' + and_or + ' ').join(items)
+    else:
+        separator = ', '
+
+        text = separator.join(items[:-1])
+        text += separator + and_or + ' ' + str(items[-1])
+
+    return text