Sara

Back on topic, I find a large vocabulary to be a hindrance. I use the words I do because they say exactly what I want to say. But if my audience doesn't understand the words, I might as well say nothing. I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to say things less precisely but more accessibly.

I think you are right. I was thinking about trying to find (or write) a query that would show the number of words used in my blog. I have a relatively (relative to other people I know) large vocabulary and I know that my it (even right out of college) has never been anywhere near 60,000. If I can find a query I will let you know what I come up with from my blog.

Sara

It's not exactly clear if it's referring actual or active, but, I think if you take yourself as an example, it might help. I've never tried, but, I think if I was to talk all day, to different people, about various things, I'd come nowhere near…oh…even 3,000 I'd say. 3,000 is a lot of different words. 60,000 is a small pocket dictionary.

I found the 60,000 on several websites. Does the Consensus Estimate refer to the actual vocabulary or the active vocabulary? I'm always skeptical about "facts" myself so I did run several searches. However, trying to count a vocabulary has to be pretty difficult.

Your number and mine are hugely different, though.

Sara

In my current job (or carrer), having a good level of vocabulary will definately help. I've also had to replace a few of my 'comfort' words (words I use all the time), as I'm living in a different country at present, and they wouldn't understand all of them.

I must say, what I did find rather interesting, was your 'fact' that the average college educated American has a vocabulary of 60,000. I find that highly unlikely. In fact, I'd go as far to say, impossible. The Concensus Estimate of the average American is around 14,000. I really doubt that college makes an average difference of over 45,000 words.

I was shocked when I started researching this post and saw the stats for how small of a percentage of our vocabularies we use. Then when I thought about it in context of The Great Game it made sense.

Sometimes I reread a post on my blog and just cringe because I have started every other sentence with "However," or something lame like that. =)

Sara

I remember wondering why some fellow member didn't have the balls to tell me I just made a complete ass of myself. I guess they were laughing at my 'great' post so much they didn't get chance.