Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences, and reading time in real time.
Paste or type your text to count words instantly, along with characters, sentences, paragraphs, and estimated reading time. Everything updates live as you edit.
All counting happens locally in your browser — nothing you type is uploaded or stored.
Start typing to see keyword density, common phrases, and a readability estimate.
Private by design. Your text is processed entirely in your browser — it is never uploaded, logged, or stored on a server.
How words are counted
A word is a run of letters or numbers separated by spaces or punctuation. VerbCount uses the browser's Intl.Segmenter where available, which correctly handles contractions like "don't", hyphenated words like "well-known", and languages such as Chinese and Japanese that don't separate words with spaces.
When Intl.Segmenter isn't available, we fall back to a Unicode-aware regular expression so results stay consistent across browsers.
Why word count matters
Word counts drive essays, articles, and assignments with strict limits. Editors brief writers by word count, SEO teams target depth ranges, and academic submissions are often capped to the word. A reliable counter prevents last-minute trimming and rejected submissions.
Examples
| Example | Input | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Simple sentence | The quick brown fox. | 4 words |
| Contraction | I can't wait. | 3 words |
| Hyphenated | A well-known author. | 3 words |
Frequently asked questions
Does the word counter store my text?
No. All processing runs in your browser. Your text is never sent to a server, logged, or stored.
How are hyphenated words counted?
Hyphenated words like "well-known" count as a single word, matching how most word processors behave.
Is there a length limit?
There's no hard limit. Very large documents are processed in the background so the editor stays responsive.
How is reading time estimated?
Reading time uses an average silent reading speed of about 238 words per minute. You can think of it as a guide rather than an exact figure.