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Burrows Tools

Word Counter

Drop your text in and get a live word count, plus characters, sentences, paragraphs, and an estimated reading time. It is the tool to reach for when an assignment has a 1,500-word minimum, an editor asked you to cut 200 words, or you want to know how long a page will take someone to read. Words are counted the way a person would count them: any run of characters separated by whitespace, so hyphenated words count once and stray double spaces do not inflate the total. Everything is computed in your browser as you type, so long documents stay private and there is no upload step, no account, and no waiting. For strict character limits such as SMS or meta descriptions, use the character counter instead.

Words
0
Characters
0with spaces
Sentences
0
Paragraphs
0

0 words · 0 min read at 200 words per minute

How to use the word counter

  1. Paste your draft into the text box, or start typing.
  2. Watch the word, character, sentence, and paragraph counts update live.
  3. Check the reading time estimate if you are writing for an audience rather than a word limit.
  4. Edit in place until you hit your target, then copy the text back out.

Frequently asked questions

How is a word defined?
A word is any sequence of non-whitespace characters. 'Well-known' counts as one word, 'e.g.' counts as one, and numbers such as '2026' count as one. This matches how word processors and most style guides count.
Does the count match Microsoft Word or Google Docs?
For ordinary prose it matches. Differences only show up around unusual content such as long strings of symbols, footnote markers, or text pasted with non-breaking spaces.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time uses 200 words per minute, a common average for adults reading on screen. Technical material is usually slower and light material faster, so treat it as an estimate.
Is there a size limit on the text I can paste?
There is no limit set by the tool. Counting happens locally, so the practical ceiling is your device's memory — full-length book manuscripts count without trouble.

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