how vs say

how

adv
  • With overtones of why, for what reason. 

  • Used as a modifier to indicate surprise, delight, or other strong feelings in an exclamation. 

  • To what degree or extent. 

  • By what means. 

  • In what manner 

  • With what meaning or effect. 

  • By what title or what name. 

  • At what price, for what amount (of money). 

  • In what state or condition. 

  • In what form, shape, measure, quantity, etc. 

intj
  • A greeting, used in representations of Native American speech. 

conj
  • That, the fact that. 

  • In any way in which; in whatever way; however. 

  • The manner or way in which. 

  • She told me how her father was a doctor. 

noun
  • A small hill in northern England. (Usage preserved mainly in place names.) 

  • The means by which something is accomplished. 

  • An artificial barrow or tumulus. 

say

adv
  • For example; let us assume. 

  • Pick a color you think they'd like, say, peach. 

noun
  • Tried quality; temper; proof. 

  • A chance to speak; the right or power to influence or make a decision. 

  • Essay; trial; attempt. 

  • Trial by sample; assay; specimen. 

  • A strainer for milk. 

intj
  • Used to gain someone's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion 

verb
  • Suppose, assume; used to mark an example, supposition or hypothesis. 

  • To tell, either verbally or in writing. 

  • To indicate in a written form. 

  • To have a common expression; used in singular passive voice or plural active voice to indicate a rumor or well-known fact. 

  • To recite. 

  • To pronounce. 

  • To try; to assay. 

  • To bet as a wager on an outcome; by extension, used to express belief in an outcome by the speaker. 

  • To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply. 

How often have the words how and say occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )