how many english words today?

Question

How many English words have to be mastered? I don't think every native english speaker knows every word in the news, academic book and etc. So what do u think? what are those words should be learned? I need your help. Thanks

Answer 1

According to prominent linguist Richard Lederer, an average English speaker has a vocabulary of between 10,000-20,000 words. Other figures estimate the average English vocabulary to be as high as 40,000 words. Another said the daily use vocabulary is only about 5,000. This means that we use a small vocabulary in common speech, but know many more words that we only use occasionally or might come across in reading.

I would like to know what Lederer would say after a day in the high school I used to teach in. He'd probably give most of them 5,000 tops. I couldn't begin to tell you what words should be learned. I learned vocabulary by reading. Speaking helps you with grammar and sentence structure more than vocabulary. Reading helps you with everything. Every word I don't know, I look up and write it down.

Textbooks in high school are supposed to be written for readers two years younger than the students, so it won't be so hard for low-level readers. Most newspapers and magazines are written for a 6-8th grade level, unless it is some technical or highly academic publication. I'm talking about USA Today or People Magazine-type publications. Most people don't really think about improving their vocabularies. It's like my view of Algebra, which I last used in 11th grade. Again, my suggestion for a good vocabulary is to read, read, read. If you find it difficult, keep reading until it comes naturally, like driving a car or using a keyboard. Then you'll find you enjoy it and are absorbing more language.

Answer 2

a well rounded in dividual should have a half million words in his/her vocabulary.