Google's average number of keywords per query is up to 4 words per query. Prior to Q4 2007 Google user data indicated an average of 3 keywords per query!

This is the big news but I've posted more details on my blog:
http://www.beussery.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/google-average-number-of-words-per-query-have-increased/

Does that mean users are getting more educated about formulating longer search queries or...?

> 25% of Google’s user queries are
> unique, meaning no other user has used
> the same query previously. (unchanged)

This has kind of been debunked, at least if taken as absolute number/ statement. Google says this is merely a rough estimate, and probably it's also only true for a single month back... see some of the statements from Google & Matt Cutts here:
http://blogoscoped.com/forum/100228.html

>Does that mean users are getting more educated about formulating longer >search queries or...?

He didn't really expand or offer theories to explain.

>This has kind of been debunked, at least if taken as absolute number/ >statement.

You know I thought so too but, that is what was said.

Philipp

Thanks for the feedback, I've added the Blogoscoped link above as well as Matt's quote therein on Blogoscoped. I hope this will help readers better understand how Google defines "unique queries" and better understand the issue.

Thanks again... :)

-beu