Word count in Microsoft Word

Windows

1. Look at the status bar at the bottom of the window. It shows the number of words in the document.
2. To count part of the document, select that text. The status bar shows the words in your selection and in the whole document.
3. Click the word count in the status bar to open the Word Count box. It lists pages, words, characters with and without spaces, paragraphs and lines.

Mac

1. Check the status bar at the bottom of the window.
2. Click the word count to open the Word Count box with characters, paragraphs and lines. Unless you've selected text, it counts the whole document.
3. To count only part of the document, select the text, then choose Tools > Word Count.

Word for the web

Word for the web also counts while you type, at the bottom of the window. If you don't see it, make sure you're in Editing view. To switch the count on or off, go to Review > Word Count and tick or clear Show Word Count.

If the word count isn't showing

• Desktop app: right-click the status bar, then click Word Count so it's ticked.
• Word for the web: switch to Editing view, then turn on Review > Word Count > Show Word Count.

Put the word count inside the document

If a form or cover page needs the count printed on it, Word can insert it as a field:

1. Click where you want the number.
2. Go to Insert > Quick Parts > Field.
3. Choose NumWords and click OK.

The number doesn't update by itself. Right-click it and choose Update Field after editing. To refresh it every time you print, go to File > Options > Display and tick Update fields before printing.

Counting text that isn't in Word

For an email, a web form or a text from your phone, paste it into the counter on this page. It counts words, characters, sentences and paragraphs, and shows reading time. Different tools can count the same text slightly differently around hyphens, numbers and symbols, so leave a little room under a strict limit.