Count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time instantly.
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Word count, character count, sentence count, paragraph count, and reading time all update in real time as you type.
Use word count for essays or articles, character count for tweets or meta descriptions, and reading time for blog posts.
Very accurate. Words are counted by splitting on whitespace, matching what Microsoft Word and Google Docs report. Hyphenated words like "well-known" count as one word.
Both are shown: characters with spaces and characters without spaces. Use "with spaces" for Twitter/X character limits and "without spaces" when platforms specify characters excluding spaces.
Reading time is calculated at 200 words per minute — the average adult comprehension reading speed. Technical, academic, or highly detailed content may take 25–50% longer to read.
Yes. Use the character count (with spaces) to keep meta descriptions under 160 characters — Google's recommended limit. Aim for 150–160 characters to use the full space without truncation in search results.
Twitter/X allows 280 characters per post. Paste your tweet text here and check the character count (with spaces) to ensure it fits before you post.
Most college essays (like the Common App) allow 250–650 words. Paste your draft here to get an exact word count and stay within the required range.
Yes. The counter splits on whitespace, so it accurately counts words in French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and any other space-separated language.
Different writing has different optimal lengths. Aim for these ranges based on your purpose — both length and density matter for engagement:
1,500–2,500 words for SEO-targeted posts. Google's top-ranking pages average ~1,900 words. Shorter posts (under 800 words) rarely rank for competitive keywords.
500–800 words is standard for breaking news. Long-form features run 2,000–5,000 words. Headlines: 50–70 characters for desktop, 30–40 for mobile.
1,300–2,000 characters perform best in feed algorithms. Pure word count: 200–300 words. Use 3-line opening before the "see more" cut-off (~210 characters).
280 characters max. Threads of 5–7 tweets get the best engagement. First tweet should hook in 200 characters or less.
30–50 characters opens best on mobile (where most email is read now). Front-load the most important word.
50–125 words. Response rates drop sharply after 200 words. One ask per email.
150–300 words. Above-fold should answer "what is it" in under 50 words. Detailed specs and use cases below.
1–2 lines each, 20–40 words. Lead with action verb + measurable outcome. Total resume: 1 page if under 10 years experience, 2 pages otherwise.
Common App: 250–650 words. Supplemental essays: 100–400 typically. Always hit at least 90% of the limit — under-utilizing the space signals lack of effort.
150–160 characters. Front-load the keyword. Include a call-to-action. Anything longer gets truncated in search results.
The counter also calculates reading and speaking time based on standard averages — but actual times vary by content type and audience:
Reading time uses 238 words per minute (the average for adults reading non-fiction silently). Technical content reads slower (~180 wpm), light fiction faster (~280 wpm), and skimming can reach 500+ wpm. Use the estimate as a baseline and adjust ±25% based on your audience.
Speaking time uses 130 words per minute — conversational pace for presentations. Public speakers like TED talkers average 150 wpm. Audiobook narrators slow to 150–160 wpm. Auctioneers and podcasters on 1.5x speed approach 200+. For a polished keynote, plan for 120 wpm with deliberate pauses.
For a 5-minute speech, target 650–700 words. For a 30-minute conference talk, around 4,000 words plus time for Q&A. For a 5-minute YouTube video script, around 800 words.
"I think," "very," "really," "just," "actually," "in order to" — search for these and delete or replace. Cutting weasel words alone can shave 10–15% off any draft.
"Due to the fact that" → "because." "At this point in time" → "now." "In the event that" → "if." Replace long phrases with single words throughout.
If you're 200 words short, add a concrete example for each abstract claim. Examples are more persuasive than rephrasing the same point three ways.
Identify the 2-3 most likely reader objections and address them directly. This adds substantive length while strengthening the argument.