Where to find word count in the program you're using

Word count lives in different places depending on which program you're writing in. In Microsoft Word, go to the Review tab at the top and click "Word Count" — a box will pop up showing your total words, characters, paragraphs, and pages. In Google Docs, click Tools in the menu bar, then select "Word count" from the dropdown. In Apple Pages, click Tools in the menu bar and choose "Word Count". Each program shows the same basic information but stores it in a slightly different menu location.

If you're writing in a web browser or a less common program, the word count feature may not exist at all — some note-taking apps and simple text editors don't include it. In those cases, you can copy your text, paste it into Google Docs (which is free and requires no account setup), and check the count there.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft Word's word count is on the Review tab; Google Docs and Apple Pages both have it under the Tools menu.
  • Word count boxes show words, characters, paragraphs, and pages — you can usually choose which numbers matter for your purpose.
  • If your writing program has no word count feature, you can paste the text into Google Docs to count it for free.
  • Some programs count differently — Microsoft Word excludes headers and footers by default, while Google Docs includes them.

What the word count box actually tells you

When you open a word count window, you'll see several numbers. Words is the main one — it counts every word separated by a space. Characters usually means letters and numbers only, though some programs offer "characters with spaces" as a separate count. Paragraphs counts each time you press Enter. Pages estimates how many pages your text would fill at standard formatting (usually 12-point font, 1-inch margins).

For most purposes, you only need the word count number. If you're writing an essay with a 2,000-word limit, that's the one to watch. Character count matters mainly for social media posts or text messages where space is tight. Page count is useful if you're printing something or need to know roughly how long it will take to read aloud.

How to keep track of word count while you write

You don't have to open the word count box every time you want to check your progress. Microsoft Word can display a live word count at the bottom of your window — right-click the status bar (the gray area at the very bottom) and check the "Word Count" option. Now the number updates as you type.

Google Docs doesn't have a live counter in the same way, but you can open the word count box (Tools > Word count) and leave it open while you write. The number refreshes automatically. Some writers prefer this because it keeps them from obsessing over the count, while others like seeing the number climb as they work.

Differences between programs and what they count

Not all word counters work exactly the same way. Microsoft Word excludes text in headers, footers, and footnotes from the main count unless you specifically ask it to include them — open Word Count and check the box labeled "Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes" if you need those numbers included. Google Docs counts everything by default, including headers and footers.

Hyphenated words are another place programs differ. Microsoft Word counts "mother-in-law" as three words, while some other programs count it as one. If you're writing for a publication with strict word limits, ask them which program they use to verify your count, or use the same program they do.

When word count doesn't match between programs

If you copy text from one program to another, the word count may change slightly. This usually happens because of how each program handles line breaks, extra spaces, or formatting marks. The difference is rarely more than a few words. If you're submitting writing to a publication or school, use the program they specify — if they don't specify, Microsoft Word is the safest choice because it's the most common.

If you're seeing a big difference (more than 10 words), check for hidden formatting. In Microsoft Word, click the paragraph mark button (¶) on the Home tab to show all formatting marks — sometimes extra spaces or line breaks are hiding in your text and inflating the count. In Google Docs, the same button is in the toolbar and looks like a pilcrow (¶).

Word count for specific sections or selections

You don't always need to count your entire document. In Microsoft Word, highlight the text you want to count, then open Word Count — the box will show you the count for just that selection at the top, with the full document count below it. In Google Docs, highlight your text and open Tools > Word count, and it will show the selection count first.

This is useful if you're writing a document with multiple sections and each section has its own word limit — an essay with a 500-word introduction and a 1,500-word body, for example. You can check each part separately without having to do math.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does word count include numbers and punctuation?

Word count counts only words — numbers and punctuation don't count toward the total. A number like "2024" is one word. Contractions like "don't" count as one word. If you need to know how many individual characters you've typed, check the "characters" number instead.

Why does my word count keep changing?

Word count changes as you type because you're adding words. If it's jumping around unexpectedly, you may have auto-correct or auto-format turned on — these features sometimes add or remove words without you noticing. In Microsoft Word, go to File > Options > Proofing to see what's enabled.

Can I set a word count goal in Google Docs or Word?

Google Docs doesn't have a built-in goal feature, but Microsoft Word does. In Word, go to Review > Word Count and check "Show statistics" — this lets you set a target word count and see your progress toward it. Some writers use external tools or browser extensions for goal tracking if their program doesn't offer it.

What counts as a word for word count purposes?

A word is any sequence of characters separated by a space. Hyphenated words vary by program — Microsoft Word counts "mother-in-law" as three words, while some programs count it as one. If the distinction matters for your purpose, test it in the program you're using.