The fastest way to find your word count

Word count is the total number of words in a document. In Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and most other writing programs, you can see it when ready without counting by hand. The location changes slightly depending on which program you use, but the feature is built in and takes seconds to find.

In Microsoft Word on Windows or Mac, press Ctrl+Shift+G (Windows) or Fn+Shift+G (Mac). A box will pop up showing your word count, character count, and paragraph count all at once. You can also go to the Review tab at the top and click Word Count on the right side of the ribbon.

In Google Docs, click Tools in the menu bar, then select Word count. A small window appears with the total. You can leave this window open while you write and it will update automatically as you type.

Key Takeaways

  • Word count is the total number of words in your document, and every major writing program has a built-in tool to show it when ready.
  • In Microsoft Word, press Ctrl+Shift+G on Windows or Fn+Shift+G on Mac to open the word count box when ready.
  • In Google Docs, go to Tools and select Word count to see the total in a window that updates as you type.
  • Different programs count words slightly differently — contractions like "don't" count as one word, and hyphenated words usually count as one word as well.

Where to find word count in Microsoft Word

The quickest route is the keyboard shortcut. On a Windows computer, hold Ctrl, Shift, and G at the same time. On a Mac, hold Fn, Shift, and G. The Word Count dialog box opens when ready and shows you the total words, characters (with and without spaces), paragraphs, and lines.

If you prefer using the menu, click the Review tab at the top of the screen. On the right side of the ribbon, you will see a button labeled Word Count. Click it and the same dialog box appears. Some versions of Word also show a word count at the bottom of the screen in the status bar — look at the very bottom left corner of your window.

If you want to see the word count while you work without opening a dialog box each time, you can turn on the status bar display. Go to File, then Options, then Display, and check the box next to Show word count in status bar. After that, the count updates automatically at the bottom left as you type.

Where to find word count in Google Docs

Open your document in Google Docs and click Tools in the menu bar at the top. A dropdown menu appears. Select Word count — it is usually near the bottom of the list. A small window pops up showing the total words, pages, characters (with and without spaces), and paragraphs.

Unlike Microsoft Word, Google Docs lets you keep the word count window open while you write. The numbers update in real time as you type, so you can watch your progress toward a target. This is useful if you are writing an essay with a specific word limit or a social media post with character restrictions.

If you close the word count window and want to check again, just repeat the same steps — Tools, then Word count. There is no keyboard shortcut in Google Docs, but the menu route is fast enough for most people.

Word count in other common programs

Apple Pages (on Mac or iPad) shows word count at the bottom of the window by default. Look at the very bottom center of your screen — you will see the word count displayed there. If you do not see it, click View in the menu bar and make sure Show word count is checked.

In LibreOffice Writer (a free alternative to Microsoft Word), go to Tools in the menu bar and select Word Count. The dialog box that opens is similar to Word's and shows the same information. You can also press Ctrl+Shift+G on Windows, which works the same way as in Microsoft Word.

Most online writing platforms — including Medium, Substack, and WordPress — display word count automatically at the top or bottom of the editor. You do not need to open a menu or press a shortcut. If you are writing in a plain text editor like Notepad, it usually does not have a word count feature built in, so you would need to copy your text into Word or Google Docs to check.

What counts as a word

Most programs count a word as any sequence of characters separated by a space. This means contractions like "don't" and "it's" count as one word each, not two. Hyphenated words like "mother-in-law" usually count as one word as well, though some programs count them as two or three depending on how they are programmed.

Numbers count as words if they stand alone — "2024" is one word. Punctuation marks do not count as words. Abbreviations like "Dr." or "etc." count as one word each. If you have a specific requirement — like whether contractions should count differently — check the instructions for your assignment or publication, because different organizations sometimes have different rules.

The word count shown in your program is almost always accurate for standard purposes. If you are submitting work to a publisher or teacher with strict word count requirements, use the same program they recommend, because different software can produce slightly different counts due to how they handle hyphenated words, numbers, and other edge cases.

Why word count matters

Word count is used to measure the length of written work. Schools assign essays with word count minimums or maximums — "write a 500-word essay" means your finished work should be around 500 words. Publishers and magazines often have word count requirements for articles. Social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn have character limits, which are related to but different from word count.

Knowing your word count also helps you understand how long something will take to read. Most people read between 200 and 300 words per minute, so a 1,000-word article takes roughly 3 to 5 minutes to read. This is useful information if you are writing for a blog, newsletter, or publication where reading time matters to your audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does word count include the title and headings?

Yes, the word count tool counts every word in your document, including the title, headings, and any text in footnotes or endnotes. If your assignment requires a specific word count and you want to exclude the title, you can select only the body text, copy it, and paste it into a new document to check that count separately.

What is the difference between word count and character count?

Word count is the number of words. Character count is the number of individual letters, numbers, and symbols, usually shown two ways — with spaces and without spaces. Character count matters for things like social media posts with character limits, while word count matters for essays and articles.

Can I check word count on my phone?

Google Docs works on phones and tablets and has the same word count feature — go to Tools and select Word count. Microsoft Word's mobile app also has word count, though it may be in a different menu location depending on your device. Most other writing apps have word count built in as well.

Why does my word count keep changing?

If you are editing your document, the word count changes as you add or delete text. If the count seems to jump unexpectedly, you may have accidentally pasted extra text, or your program may have reformatted something. Close and reopen the word count window to make sure you are seeing the current total.

Is there a word count limit I should know about?

Most programs can handle documents with hundreds of thousands of words without problems. Google Docs and Microsoft Word both work fine with very long documents. The only limit you are likely to hit is a requirement from a school, publisher, or platform — check your assignment or submission guidelines for any specific word count target.