Paste your essay or type as you go. The page counts words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you write, shows how long the text takes to read, and tells you how far you are from your word limit. Nothing is uploaded.
- Words, characters, sentences and paragraphs update as you type.
- Set a limit in words or characters and watch the bar fill.
- Reading time uses 238 words a minute. Speaking time uses 130. You can change both.
- Your text stays in this browser. It is never sent to us.
Your word counter
Settings
Your text is counted in this browser and saved only on this device. It is never sent to us.
- Characters without spaces
- 0
- Reading time
- 0
- Speaking time
- 0
- Average word length
- 0
- Words per sentence
- 0
- Longest sentence
- 0
Most used words
What you get
- Live counts
- Words, characters with and without spaces, sentences and paragraphs, all while you type.
- Word and character limits
- Pick a limit or type your own. A bar shows how much room is left, and turns orange when you go over.
- Reading and speaking time
- See how long the text takes to read and to say out loud. Change the speeds to match your own pace.
- Most used words
- The words you lean on, with the small ones like "the" left out. Handy for spotting repeats.
- Selection count
- Highlight part of your text to count only that part.
- Keeps your text
- The box saves in your browser, so a closed tab does not lose your draft.
How the counts work
Counters make small choices, and they are the reason two tools can give two answers. These are ours.
| Item | The rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Word | "don’t" and "well-known" are one word each; 1,200 and 3.5 are one number each | 11 words in the sample below |
| Sentence | Ends at . ! or ?, but not at Dr., e.g. or the point in 3.5 | 2 sentences in the sample |
| Paragraph | Each line that has text on it | Press Enter to start a new one |
| Characters | Letters, digits, spaces and symbols, without line breaks | 61 in the sample |
| Characters without spaces | The same, with every space left out | 51 in the sample |
The sample used above is: Dr. Lee paid 3.5 dollars. Don’t stop: it’s a well-known fact!
Word limits students meet
Many applications and assignments set a limit. Here are two you may be writing for, and what each one counts.
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Common App personal essay | 250 to 650 words |
| UCAS personal statement | 4,000 characters, including spaces |
Use the limit buttons under the text box to track either one. Always check the counter on the form itself, because it is the one that decides, and leave a margin of a few words.
How long will it take to read?
Reading time is the word count divided by 238 words a minute, which is the average adult rate for silent reading of English non-fiction in a large review of studies. Speaking time uses 130 words a minute, a common pace for a talk. Change both in the settings if your pace is different.
| Length | Reading | Speaking |
|---|---|---|
| 250 words | 1 min 3 sec | 1 min 55 sec |
| 500 words | 2 min 6 sec | 3 min 51 sec |
| 1,000 words | 4 min 12 sec | 7 min 42 sec |
| 2,000 words | 8 min 24 sec | 15 min 23 sec |
If you are timing a presentation, read it aloud once with a stopwatch and use your own speed in place of 130.
Why your count may differ from Word or Google Docs
Each program decides what a word is. Some count a dash between spaces as a word, and some split a hyphenated word in two. Some treat a number with a comma, like 1,200, as two words. The gap is usually a few words in a short text. If a form has its own counter, trust that one.
Three ways to cut words without losing your point
- Look at the most used words list. A word that appears often may be doing less work than it should.
- Check the longest sentence figure. A sentence of forty words usually splits cleanly into two.
- Read the first sentence of each paragraph. If it does not say what the paragraph is for, rewrite it.
Questions students ask
How does the word counter count words?
A word is a run of letters or digits. An apostrophe or a hyphen inside a run keeps it as one word, so "don’t" and "well-known" are one word each. A number such as 1,200 or 3.5 is one word. Symbols on their own, like an ampersand or a dash between spaces, are not counted.
Why is my count different from Word or Google Docs?
Counters make small choices differently. Some count a dash between spaces as a word, and some split a hyphenated word in two. If you are submitting to a form with its own counter, trust that one and leave a margin of a few words.
Does it count characters with spaces?
It shows both. Characters counts every letter, digit, space and symbol, and leaves out line breaks. Characters without spaces leaves out every space as well.
How is reading time worked out?
Words divided by 238 words a minute, which is the average adult silent reading rate for English non-fiction in a large review of studies. Speaking time uses 130 words a minute. Both are averages, so change them in the info panel if you read or speak faster or slower.
Is my text private?
Yes. The counting happens in your browser. Your text is saved only on your own device so you can come back to it, and it is never sent to us.
Does it work for Chinese, Japanese and Korean?
Each character counts as one word, because those languages do not put spaces between words. Other counters may count differently, so check the rules of the place you are submitting to.
How many pages is 1,000 words?
It depends on the font, size and spacing. As a rough guide, 1,000 words is about two pages single spaced or four double spaced. Use the page count in your word processor for a final check.
