Python replace function [replace once]

Question

I need help with a program I\'m making in Python.

Assume I wanted to replace every instance of the word \"steak\" to \"ghost\" (just go wit

Answer 1

How about something like this? Store the original in a split list, then have a translation dict. Keeps your core code short, then just adjust the dict when you need to adjust the translation. Plus, easy to port to a function:

 def translate_line(s, translation_dict):
    line = []
    for i in s.split():
       # To take account for punctuation, strip all non-alnum from the
       # word before looking up the translation.
       i = ''.join(ch for ch in i if ch.isalnum()]
       line.append(translation_dict.get(i, i))
    return ' '.join(line)


 >>> translate_line("The scary ghost ordered an expensive steak", {'steak': 'ghost', 'ghost': 'steak'})
 'The scary steak ordered an expensive ghost'