How to use this tool
Paste or type text. Unicode letters and numbers form words; an apostrophe inside a word is retained. Hyphen-separated parts count separately. Characters count Unicode code points, so a combined emoji may count as several characters. Paragraphs are blocks separated by a blank line. Sentence counts are estimates based on punctuation, and reading time is words divided by words per minute.
Try these values
“A small, useful tool.” contains four words. At 200 words per minute, 500 words take about 2 minutes 30 seconds to read. Names, abbreviations and punctuation can make sentence estimates imperfect.
Decide which count your task requires
A word limit and a character limit are not interchangeable. Social platforms may count links, combined emoji or formatting differently from plain Unicode code points. This counter gives a transparent plain-text estimate rather than claiming to reproduce every platform’s publishing rules. For an assignment or submission with a strict limit, compare the final text with the counter used by the receiving system.
Treat reading time as a rough guide
The default speed is two hundred words per minute. Dense instructions, unfamiliar terms and material read aloud usually need more time than a short familiar article. Change the speed to suit the reader, then leave room for pauses and illustrations. Text stays in the browser for counting; you do not need to upload a document or provide an email address to use it.
Common questions
Is my text uploaded?
No. Text analysis runs in your browser and the text is not sent to the application server.
Does it work for every language?
Character counts work for Unicode text. Word and sentence boundaries are estimates, especially for languages without spaces.
Is reading time exact?
No. Adjust the reading speed for your audience and allow extra time for technical material.
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