When imagining which words or phrases have been used most on TV during 2011, you would be forgiven for thinking “Gaddafi”, “Bin Laden” or “economic crisis” might be contenders for the top spot. You’d be wrong, though. Because in our fabulous celebrity-driven world, there are two phrases that have been much more frequently used than any of those boring “real life” issues.

A new survey by the Global Language Monitor indicates that Charlie Sheen and the nuptials of  Prince William and Kate Middleton have received more media attention than anything else to date this year. The words “royal wedding” and Sheen’s catchphrase “winning”  have been mentioned more than any other phrases on TV in 2011.

Other top TV words for 2011 include “Oprah”, whose talk show ended after 25 years; “Fukushima”, where the Japanese quake, tsunami and nuclear power catastrophe took place; “9/11”; “Obama-vision; “Chicago-style politics”; and, er, “Zombies”.

[Source: Reuters via Money Control]