Word Counter & Content Analyzer
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type — then go a step further with sentence and paragraph length analysis, lexical variety and reading time. Everything happens in your browser.
How to use the Word Counter & Content Analyzer
Type or paste
Counts update instantly.
Check the limit you're working to
Briefs, guest post guidelines, forms and social posts often specify words or characters.
Look at structure
Long sentences and long paragraphs are listed so you can find them quickly.
Copy the summary
Use Copy results to paste the figures into a brief or report.
What it checks
- Counts
- Words (including hyphenated words and contractions as one), characters with and without spaces, sentences and paragraphs.
- Time
- Reading time at about 238 words per minute and speaking time at about 140.
- Sentence length
- Average words per sentence, the longest sentence and how many exceed 25 words.
- Paragraph length
- Average and longest paragraph, and paragraphs over about 150 words.
- Variety
- Unique words and lexical variety (unique ÷ total) — a rough signal of repetition.
- Other
- Average word length and the number of lines, useful for scripts and lists.
Interpreting the results
The three large figures — words, characters and reading time — cover most needs. The structure section below them is where the analysis lives: sentences over 25 words and paragraphs over about 150 words are counted and shown, because they're the usual reason a text feels heavy online.
Lexical variety naturally falls as texts get longer, so compare it only between texts of similar length. Reading and speaking times are averages; technical text takes longer to read than the figure suggests.
Detected marks facts read directly from what you provided. Guidance marks general recommendations based on those facts — rules of thumb, not guarantees or search engine requirements.
Practical guidance
Word count is a constraint, not a quality signal. A 600-word answer that's clear and complete is better than a padded 2,000-word article. Use the counter to stay inside a brief, and the structure checks to make the text easier to read — split the longest sentences, break up the longest paragraphs, and check the result again.
Example: a guest post brief asks for 1,000–1,200 words with short paragraphs. The draft is 1,146 words — within range — but four paragraphs run over 180 words. Splitting them takes two minutes and makes the editor's decision easier. If you're writing content that will host a link, our guest posting page explains what publishers look for, and contextual backlinks explained covers how the surrounding text gives a link its meaning.
For deeper checks, use the Readability Checker for grade-level scores and the Content Length Analyzer to compare length and section balance against your own targets.
Limitations
- Word boundaries are defined by letters and numbers. URLs, symbols and code may be counted differently from a word processor.
- Sentence detection uses punctuation followed by a capital letter or number; abbreviations like “e.g.” can occasionally cause an extra split.
- Reading and speaking times are general averages, not measurements of your audience.
Frequently asked questions
Does it count hyphenated words as one?
Yes. “Long-term” counts as one word, as do contractions like “it's”.
Why might my count differ from a word processor?
Tools treat numbers, URLs, dashes and symbols slightly differently. Differences are usually small.
How is reading time calculated?
Word count divided by about 238 words per minute, a commonly cited average for silent reading of non-fiction.
Is my text saved?
No. It stays in your browser and disappears when you leave the page.
Related tools
- Readability Checker
Six readability formulas plus the hardest sentences and complex-word share. - Content Length Analyzer
Main-content word count, section lengths and comparison with your own targets. - Keyword Frequency Analyzer
Full frequency table of words and 1–4 word phrases, filterable and exportable. - Keyword Density Checker
Measure how often chosen keywords appear, their density and where they first occur.
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