Number of words in English passes 1,000,000

Number of Words in the English Language: 1,008,879

Published: February 3rd, 2011

The number of words in the English language is :  1,008,879.   This is the estimate by the Global Language Monitor in early February 2011.

The English Language passed the Million Word threshold on June 10, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. (GMT).  The Millionth Word was the controversial ‘Web 2.0′. Currently there is a new word created every 98 minutes or about 14.7 words per day.

Google Validates GLM’s No. of Words in English Prediction

Though GLM’s analysis was the subject of much controversy at the time, the recent Google/Harvard Study of the Current Number of Words in the English Language is 1,022,000.  The number of words in the English language according to GLM now stands at:  1,008,879.  The difference between the two analyses is .0013%, which is statistically insignificant.

Google’s number, which is based on the counting of  the words in the 15,000,000 English language books it has scanned into the ‘Google Corpus,’ mirrors GLM’s Analysis.  GLM’s number is based upon its algorithmic methodologies, explication of which is available from its site.

Google Validates GLM’s Number

Source: http://www.languagemonitor.com/global-english/number-of-words-in-the-english-language-1008879/