Word counter
Paste or type your text to count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs, with reading time, as you write. For essays, coursework and applications with a word limit.
0words
Target reached
- Characters
- 0
- Without spaces
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Reading time
- 0 s
- Speaking time
- 0 s
Words you use most
How it works
Paste or type your essay and this word counter updates as you write: words, characters with and without spaces, sentences and paragraphs, plus how long it takes to read (at about 230 words a minute) and to say out loud (at about 140). Set a word target to see how far you have to go, and check the words you repeat most so you can vary them.
- Paste your text into the box or start typing.
- Enter a word target to get a progress bar and the words left to go.
- Check Words you use most and swap a few repeats for other words.
- Use the speaking time to plan a talk or a presentation.
Tips
- Most essay limits allow about 10% either way, but check your teacher's rules before you rely on that.
- For a speech, 140 words is roughly one minute. A three-minute talk is about 420 words.
- If one word comes up again and again, try a synonym or rewrite the sentence so it is not needed.
- An average sentence of more than about 25 words is hard to follow. Split a few long ones.
FAQ
- How does it count words?
- Any run of letters or digits counts as one word, and words joined by an apostrophe or a hyphen, such as don't or well-known, count once. Punctuation on its own is not counted.
- How is reading time worked out?
- The word count is divided by 230 words per minute, a typical silent reading speed. Speaking time uses 140 words per minute, a steady pace for a talk.
- Which words are left out of Words you use most?
- Short common words such as the, and, of and is, in the language of the page, along with words under three letters and numbers. That leaves the words that really show repetition.
- How many pages is 1,000 words?
- About 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced, on A4 or Letter in a 12-point font: roughly 500 words fit on a single-spaced page. Headings, paragraph breaks and the font change this, so check your own document.
- How long does it take to read or say 1,000 words?
- About 4 minutes to read silently at 230 words a minute, and about 7 minutes to say out loud at 140 words a minute, the same speeds this counter uses.