How to use the Word Counter
- Type or paste your text, or open a .txt file.
- Counts update as you type.
- Check reading time and keyword density for articles and essays.
How words are counted
Words are found with the browser's Unicode word segmentation (Intl.Segmenter), the same rules used for double-click selection. That means hyphenated words, contractions like “it's” and text in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and other Indian scripts are counted correctly — not just space-separated chunks.
Reading and speaking time
Reading time assumes 238 words per minute, the average silent reading speed for adults reading non-fiction in English. Speaking time assumes 140 words per minute — a comfortable pace for presentations.
Typical word limits
- Tweet / X post: 280 characters (see the character counter)
- LinkedIn post: 3,000 characters
- Blog post that ranks well: often 1,000–2,000 words, depending on the topic
- Statement of purpose for universities: commonly 500–1,000 words — always check the institution's limit
Frequently asked questions
Why does Microsoft Word give a slightly different count?
Every program has slightly different rules for things like URLs, numbers with separators and dashes. Differences of a few words in a long document are normal.
Is my text stored?
Only in this browser so it survives a refresh. It's never sent to a server. Use Clear to remove it.