At a glance
| Input | Text, typed or pasted |
|---|---|
| Counts | Words, characters, characters without spaces, sentences, paragraphs |
| Also | An estimated reading time |
| Updates | As you type; nothing is sent anywhere |
| Where it runs | Entirely in your browser — no file is uploaded to a server |
| Price | Free, with no account and no sign-up |
| Offline | Works with no connection after the first visit |
Where the two counts disagree
Words are separated by whitespace, so a hyphenated compound counts as one and an em-dash between two words without spaces around it makes them one as well. Numbers, initials and URLs each count as a single word. That is the same convention Word and Google Docs use, so the totals line up with whatever your editor says.
Characters are counted twice over: with spaces and without. Which one a limit refers to is worth checking — Twitter counts with, most academic limits count without, and the gap on a 2,000-word essay is around 400 characters.
Reading and speaking time
Reading time assumes 240 words a minute, which is a fair average for adults on ordinary prose. Dense technical writing runs slower, and something read aloud slower still — the speaking estimate uses 140, roughly a measured presentation pace.
Both are estimates from the word count alone. They cannot know that your text is a list of part numbers.
Counting for a limit
Job applications, personal statements and abstracts almost always cap length, and the software that enforces the cap rarely tells you how it counts. Paste the text here first: if you are within limit by both measures, you are safe whichever one they use.
Frequently asked questions
Does it count the same way as Microsoft Word?
Yes for ordinary prose — whitespace-separated words, with hyphenated compounds as one. Very unusual punctuation can differ by a word or two.
With spaces or without?
Both are shown, because limits disagree. Twitter counts with spaces, most academic limits without, and on a long piece the difference runs to hundreds of characters.
How is reading time worked out?
From the word count at 240 words a minute, and 140 for reading aloud. It is an average, not a measurement of your particular text.
Is my text uploaded?
No. It is counted as you type, in the page. Nothing is sent, which matters if the draft is unpublished or confidential.
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