say vs this

say

adv
  • For example; let us assume. 

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

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

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. 

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. 

this

adv
  • To the degree or extent indicated. 

intj
  • Indicates the speaker's strong approval or agreement with the previous material. 

noun
  • Something being indicated that is here; one of these. 

det
  • The (thing) here (used in indicating something or someone nearby). 

  • A known (thing) (used in first mentioning a person or thing that the speaker does not think is known to the audience). Compare with "a certain ...". 

  • The known (thing) (used in indicating something or someone just mentioned). 

  • The known (thing) (used in indicating something or someone about to be mentioned). 

  • Designates the current or next instance. 

  • Referring to oneself. 

pron
  • The thing, item, etc. being indicated. 

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