Type or paste your text and the counter shows words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs, and how long it takes to read or say out loud. It updates as you type and works for essays, personal statements, posts and scripts.
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How to use the word counter
- Type in the box or paste your text.
- Read the counts underneath. They update straight away.
- Use Characters for limits set in characters (such as UCAS personal statements) and Words for essays and scholarship applications.
How the counts work
- Words: groups of letters or numbers, with hyphenated words and contractions such as “don’t” counted as one.
- Characters: every letter, space and punctuation mark. Emoji count as one character.
- Sentences: text ending in . ! or ?, including Arabic and Urdu question marks.
- Paragraphs: blocks separated by a blank line.
- Reading time: words ÷ 238, a typical adult silent reading speed. Speaking time: words ÷ 150, a comfortable presenting pace.
Different tools count slightly differently, for example with dashes or URLs. If an application has a strict limit, leave a small margin.
Common word and character limits
| Where | Typical limit |
|---|---|
| Meta description | about 155 characters |
| X (Twitter) post | 280 characters (standard accounts) |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters |
| Scholarship essays | often 500 to 1,000 words; check each scheme |
| Blog post that ranks for a competitive topic | no fixed rule; long enough to answer the question fully |
Platform limits change, so check the current rules for anything you submit.
Frequently asked questions
Does the word counter count hyphenated words as one?
Yes. “Well-known” counts as one word, which matches how most word processors count.
Does it work in Urdu, Arabic or Hindi?
Yes. It counts words in any language that puts spaces between words.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 minutes 12 seconds at 238 words a minute, or about 6 minutes 40 seconds to say aloud at 150 words a minute.
Is my text saved anywhere?
No. Everything happens in your browser and nothing is sent or stored.
Sources
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