How to count words
- Type into the box or paste your text from a document, email or web page.
- Watch the statistics update instantly: words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and more.
- Use Copy text to copy your edited text, or Clear to start again.
What the word counter measures
Words are runs of letters or numbers. Hyphenated words such as “well-known” and contractions such as “don’t” count as one word, which matches Microsoft Word and Google Docs in most cases. For languages written without spaces, like Chinese, Japanese and Thai, the tool uses your browser’s built-in language rules to find word boundaries.
Characters are counted the way people see them, so an emoji or an accented letter counts as one, even when it is stored as several code units. Sentences are detected using punctuation and language rules, and paragraphs are blocks of text separated by blank lines. Reading time uses an average of 238 words per minute and speaking time 150 words per minute, typical rates for adults reading silently and giving a talk.
Who uses a word counter?
- Students checking essays and assignments against word limits.
- Writers and bloggers planning article length.
- Job seekers keeping cover letters and personal statements concise.
- Speakers estimating how long a speech or presentation will take.
Word counter FAQ
Why is my count different from Word or Google Docs?
Apps treat special cases like URLs, numbers with symbols and dashes slightly differently. Differences are usually a word or two in long texts.
Is my text saved?
No. Everything stays in your browser tab and is cleared when you close it.
Does it count words in other languages?
Yes. Languages with spaces between words are counted directly, and Chinese, Japanese and Thai use your browser’s word segmentation.