Word counter

How to use it

1. 1Paste or type your text into the box.
2. 2Counts for words, characters, sentences and paragraphs update instantly.
3. 3Copy your text back out, or clear the box and start again.

Why use this tool

Frequently asked questions

Is my text uploaded to a server?

No. The counter runs entirely inside your browser using JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device, is never stored, and is not visible to us or to anyone else. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it will keep working.

How is a word counted?

Text is split on spaces, tabs and line breaks, and each remaining chunk counts as one word. A hyphenated term such as "e-mail" counts as a single word, while "up to date" counts as three. Numbers and standalone symbols also count as words when they are separated by spaces.

Does it work with Cyrillic, Uzbek and other alphabets?

Yes. The counter is alphabet-independent, so Latin, Cyrillic and mixed-script text are all counted correctly. This matters for Uzbek and Russian text, where some older tools miscount or drop characters entirely.

What is the difference between the two character counts?

One figure includes every character you typed, spaces and line breaks included — this is usually what social networks and SMS limits measure. The other excludes whitespace, which is what many academic and publishing guidelines ask for.

How is reading time estimated?

Reading time assumes roughly 200 words per minute, which is a common average for adults reading on screen. Treat it as a rough guide: dense technical writing reads more slowly, and familiar or informal text reads faster.

How many words fit on an A4 page?

Roughly 250 to 300 words at 12 point with 1.5 line spacing and normal margins, which is how most coursework is set. Single spacing at the same size gives about 500. So "ten pages" and "three thousand words" are usually the same requirement said two ways, and the counter lets you check without opening an editor.

What is a standard page, and why is it 1800 characters?

A standard page is 1800 characters including spaces. Translators, copywriters and typesetters across the CIS bill by it, because pages vary in size and a fixed character count does not. A 1000-character page, usually counted without spaces, is also common. The counter shows both numbers, so the page count is that figure divided by 1800 or by 1000.

Why does Word show a different number?

Usually it differs by a handful of words, and the reason is where a word begins. Word counts anything separated by a space, including a lone dash, and includes footnotes and text boxes when they are selected. A few words of difference in a thousand is normal, and neither number is wrong - they are counting by different rules. If an exact figure is being marked, count in the tool it will be checked with.

How many characters fit in a post or a message?

A Telegram post takes 4096 characters and a photo caption 1024. X (Twitter) allows 280, an Instagram caption 2200, and a single SMS holds 160 Latin characters or 70 in Cyrillic before it is split. All of these count characters including spaces, so read the first of the two character counters.

How long should an essay or a term paper be?

The exact number is in the brief, and only that number counts. As rough bearings: an essay runs 300 to 1000 words, a report 10 to 20 pages, a term paper 25 to 35 pages or roughly 6 to 10 thousand words. If the requirement is in pages, convert it using the ratio above and watch the counter as you write rather than on the last evening.

How do I count words in a Word or PDF file?

Open the file, select all the text and paste it into the box above - whatever pastes is what gets counted. If you have several files, or the text has to come out of a PDF first, there are separate tools for that listed under the counter. Those keep the file on your device too.

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