A MATHEMATICAL ANALYZATION OF
"TWELVE CONCEPTS FOR NA SERVICE"
(Or "Do Percentages That Small Really Exist?")
Of approximately 10,000 words in the "Twelve Concepts for NA Service," the following words
appear, in order of frequency:
GROUP(1) 115
BOARD/COMMITTEE 73
RESPONSIBILITY(IES) 52
TRUSTED SERVANT/LEADER 46
MONEY/FUNDS/FINANCIAL RESOURCES 46
AUTHORITY(2) 42
GROUP CONSCIENCE(3) 26
OPEN 9
GOD 8
HUMILITY 5
PRAY 4
LOVING(4) 4
HONEST/LY/Y 4
WILLING/NESS 4
TRUST 3
TRADITIONS 2
STILL SUFFERING ADDICT 2
HIGHER POWER 2
ACCEPTANCE 1
SURRENDER 1
NEWCOMER 1
OPEN-MINDED 1
INCLUSIVE 1
POWER GREATER THAN OURSELVES 0
ULTIMATE AUTHORITY 0
FAITH 0
HOPE 0
LOVE 0
The figure of 10,000 was reached by multiplying number of lines by average number of words in
each line. There may be a discrepancy, but it would favor the low side (i.e., actually more than
10,000).
(1) On some occasions, a group is identified other than the definition given in the Basic Text in the Fourth Tradition.
(2) Other than "ultimate."
(3) On at least 15 occasions, the term "group conscience" is used instead of committee conscience, area conscience, collective conscience, regional conscience, etc.
(4) "Loving" was used only as a prefix to God, on only half the occasions God was mentioned.