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Free Word Counter for Essays and Dissertations
Attach your file or paste your text to count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs. Add your word limit to see how close you are, including the usual 10% allowance.
Count my words
Nothing you enter leaves your device
OptionCounts the main body only. Leaves out the cover page, contents and references.
Add a word limit to see how close you are.
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words
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characters, no spaces
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sentences
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reading time
Speaking time: 0 min, at a steady presentation pace.
Counts may differ slightly from Word because of how hyphens, numbers and symbols are treated. Follow your university's rule on what counts.
What this counter measures
It counts a word as any group of characters separated by spaces that contains a letter or number. Hyphenated words count as one. It also gives characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs, reading time and speaking time.
- Reading time uses about 225 words a minute.
- Speaking time uses about 130 words a minute, a steady pace for a presentation.
What counts towards your word limit
The rules differ between universities, so always check your handbook. As a rough guide:
- In-text citations usually count.
- Headings usually count.
- Footnotes sometimes count.
- The reference list, tables, figures and appendices usually do not.
- The abstract varies by course.
The 10% rule
Many UK departments allow you to go about 10% over the limit without penalty, and take marks off beyond that. Some are stricter, and a few also penalise work that is far under the limit. If you are over, cut description before you cut analysis, because description earns the fewest marks.
Your text stays private
The counter runs in your browser. Nothing you paste or attach is uploaded, sent to us or stored. When you close the page, it is gone.
Need more than a tool?
A word counter shows how long your work is, not how good it is. If you are stuck on structure or referencing, our coursework and assignment help can give feedback on your own draft. To turn words into pages, use our word count to pages calculator.
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Trusted sources and further reading
These independent sources are worth a look alongside this page. TutorSuite is not affiliated with them, and the links are here for further reading only.
- Academic Phrasebank, University of Manchester (opens in a new tab). A bank of phrases for academic writing, sorted by the part of an essay.
- Cite Them Right (opens in a new tab). A referencing guide that many UK universities base their Harvard style on. Check which version yours uses.
Word counter — your questions
Does the word count include my reference list?
At most UK universities, no. In-text citations usually count. Tick "Stop counting at my reference list" and the counter stops at a line that says References or Bibliography. Check your handbook for the exact rule.
How accurate is this word counter?
It is very close to Microsoft Word, but it can differ by a few words because of hyphens, numbers and symbols. Most universities accept the count from Word, so use the same document to confirm before you submit.
Is 10% over the word limit allowed?
Many departments allow it, but it is not a universal rule. Check your assignment brief or handbook, because some penalise any excess.
Is my text saved anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is sent to us or stored.
Get a price in about ten seconds
No account, no email, no obligation. Tell us the word count and the deadline and the calculator does the rest.