Free Online Word Counter

What this word counter measures

Why word counts can differ between tools

Different programs define a "word" differently, so a small difference from Microsoft Word or Google Docs is normal. For example, this tool counts "3.5" as two words, because the full stop splits the number, and "e.g." as two as well. Abbreviations can also affect the sentence count, since "Dr. Khan arrived." reads as two sentences.

If you have a strict limit for an assignment, application or publisher, use the counter they name and leave a small margin.

Reading and speaking time

The formulas are simple:

• Reading time = words ÷ 238 words per minute (a research-based average for silent reading of non-fiction).
• Speaking time = words ÷ 130 words per minute (a steady presentation pace).

Treat these as estimates. Real pace depends on the reader, the speaker and how difficult the subject is. For a speech, allow extra time for pauses, slides and questions. To fill a 10-minute slot at this pace, aim for about 1,300 words, or slightly fewer if you plan to pause.

Common word and character limits

Many limits are counted in characters, so check the right figure. Platforms and institutions update their rules, so confirm the limit for your specific case.

The Google figures are approximate, since search results are cut off by pixel width rather than an exact character count.

Word counts for common kinds of writing

These ranges are starting points. Your brief, teacher or editor always comes first.

• Professional email: 50–200 words. Put your request near the top.
• Cover letter: 200–400 words, or about three to four short paragraphs. The Cover Letter Generator can give you a first draft.
• Short report: 500–1,500 words, with a short summary first.
• Blog article: as long as the topic truly needs. Google has said that word count is not a ranking factor, so answer the question fully and don't add filler.

Understanding the most-used words table

The table lists up to eight of your most repeated words. It ignores words of one or two letters and common words such as "the" and "and", so the results show your actual subject matter. Density is the number of times a word appears ÷ your total words × 100. If a word appears 10 times in 500 words, its density is 2%.

There is no ideal keyword density to aim for, and stuffing in repeated phrases makes writing worse and can count against a page in search. Use the table as an editing aid instead:

• Find repetition: if an ordinary word dominates the list, replace some uses or rewrite those sentences.
• Check your focus: your main topic should normally appear near the top. If it doesn't, you may have drifted away from it.
• Tailor a resume: a resume's top words should reflect the job you want. The ATS Resume Checker compares your resume with a job advert directly.

Tips for cutting your word count

• Replace wordy phrases: "in order to" becomes "to", and "due to the fact that" becomes "because".
• Remove filler such as "very", "really" and "basically" where the meaning stays the same.
• Use active sentences: "The manager approved the budget" is shorter than "The budget was approved by the manager".
• Delete any sentence that only repeats a previous point.
• Read it aloud, since long or awkward sentences are easier to hear than to see.

Languages other than English

Letters from any alphabet count, so you can use the tool with Urdu, Arabic and many other languages. There are two limits to keep in mind. Vowel marks in Urdu or Arabic may split a word, which raises the count. Languages written without spaces, such as Chinese or Japanese, count each unbroken run as one word, so the character count is more useful for those.

The 238 and 130 words-per-minute speeds are general estimates and may fit other languages less closely than English.