How to Check Word Count in Google Docs and Word
Blog / WORD COUNTS
Most writing apps have a built-in word count. Here is where to find it.
Google Docs
Go to Tools → Word count, or press Ctrl+Shift+C (Cmd+Shift+C on Mac). Tick 'Display word count while typing' to keep it on screen.
Microsoft Word
The word count shows in the status bar at the bottom. Click it, or go to Review → Word Count, for characters and paragraphs.
Apple Pages
Click View → Show Word Count.
Why counts can differ
Apps treat hyphenated words, numbers, URLs and footnotes differently, so totals may vary slightly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I count words in only part of a document?
Yes. Select the text first; Docs and Word show the count for the selection.