Quick Guide On How To Check Word Count In Google Docs In Just 30 Seconds

Word count is an excellent way to measure the length of your document. And Google Docs can display the word and character count for your entire document or a selected portion of it as per your requirement. However, do you know how to check it?

According to the report of EarthWeb, Google Docs has around 25 million users worldwide. And if you are using Google Docs for an essay or a job application and you have a word limit, then you need to make sure that your document remains under a specific word count.

So, you need to know how to check word count in Google Docs. And whether you require this for your current writing project or one in the future, knowing how to check the word count within the Google Docs file that you are working on can be really helpful for you and can save you a lot of time. 

In this article, we have shared how to check word count in Google Docs quickly and easily. Also, here we have covered why there is a difference between word counts on Google Docs and Microsoft Word. 

So, let’s get started. 

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What Does Google Docs Word Count Includes And Excludes

Google Docs word count doesn’t count content in headers, footers, and footnotes and it also doesn’t count symbols as words, such as the “<” or “>” signs. 

However, sometimes you will find that for a particular paragraph, Google Docs word count displays different results in word count or character count from a manual check.

That is because Google Docs includes some words found in URLs, such as if we consider https://mrvyasidea.com/is-macbook-better-than-windows.html, which is a URL of another article on this website, Google Docs counts this link as 6 words.

So, if you have a document or content which has various long links displayed in full, then you should remember that the word count in Google Docs might be higher than a manual word count would indicate.

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Step By Step Process To Check Word Count In Google Docs: Make It Simple!

Google Docs can display the word count in a web browser on your desktop and in the Google Docs app for Android and iOS devices. And to view the word count, you need to follow these steps. 

1. Checking Word Count In Google Docs On Desktop

First, you need to go to docs.google.com in your browser and make sure that you are logged in also. Then, just open the document where you want to check the word count or you can also create a new document.

Now, you need to click on Tools, and then click on Word count in the drop-down menu that appears.

And if you want to exit the Word count pop-up box, you can click OK or Cancel. Also, this Word count tool will show you a page and character count.

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2. Checking Word Count In Google Docs On Mobile

On your mobile device, first, open the Google Docs app and then click on the document which you want to edit or you can also create a new document by pressing the + button at the bottom right of the screen.

And when the document is open, just tap on the three dots on the top right of your screen. And then click on Word count.

You can also see a character count on your mobile, however, if you want to see a page count, you must open your document on a desktop. 

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How You Can Count The Words While You Are Typing In Google Docs

If you want to count the words while you are typing, Google Docs also has that feature. You just need to go to Tools and then click on the Word count.

Now, select the Display word count while typing the checkbox near the bottom left corner of the pop-up box.

After that, a small box will appear in the lower-left corner of your document window which will show you a running count of your words.

You can click the triangle icon to the right of the word count to view the page, word, and character counts from the pop-up box.

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Other Ways To Check Word Count In Google Docs, Websites, & Microsoft Word

There are also other browser extensions and add-ons which you can use to check word count in Google Docs. And if you use Microsoft Word, then you should know how to check your word count in Microsoft word. Here is how to do this:

1. Check Word Count On Microsoft Word

The easiest way to check your word count on Microsoft Word is by looking at the bottom of your screen.

In general, you can see your current word count in a small box in the bottom-left corner of your Microsoft Word window, which is right next to the page count. 

If you could not find it here, then right-click the bar at the bottom of your screen and ensure that the Word Count is checked off. 

And you can click on this count to see more detailed information, where you can also find the character, paragraph, and line counts in your document.

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2. Check Word Count On Google Docs 

Word Counter Max is an add-on available from the Google Workspace Marketplace and it helps you to set a target word count for your writing. Also, you can specify those types of words that you want to be excluded from the word count. 

And it is a Google Docs add-on, not a browser extension. However, it still doesn’t appear to work on Firefox, but it works properly on Chrome and Edge.

You can also use Reverse Word Count which is a Chrome extension that helps you to set a target word count while writing.

And there is another Chrome extension you can use, which is Wordcounter and it also displays a running word count. 

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3. Check Word Count On Different Websites

It can be very difficult to know how many words you have on your website or on a particular page.

Because when you are completely focused on publishing great content for your website, it is not easy to keep track of everything you have written. 

So, you can use the Weglot Website Word Count Tool. It can easily analyze all your website’s pages and count how many words you have on them. 

You just need to go to the Website Word Count page, enter your website URL, and then press enter. After that, you can find each separate URL with its total number of words.

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What Are The Differences Between Word Counts On Microsoft Word And Google Docs

If you copy your content from Google Docs and paste it into another writing tool such as Microsoft Word, then you will notice that each displays a different word count for the same amount of text. Because each writing tool uses its own formula to count words on their platform. 

However, it has been found that word counts in Google Docs are generally higher than in Microsoft Word. Here are some reasons why these differences happen. 

• In Google Docs, words with symbols and no spaces between them are generally counted as two words, not one, such as “and/or” is counted as two words. 
• Also, URLs are counted as multiple words because each period counts as a space in Google Docs, such as “https://mrvyasidea.com/google-reverse-image-search.html” which is counted as six words. 
• And Emails are also counted as more than one word, such as “[email protected]” which is counted as three words in Google Docs. 

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How To Estimate Reading Time Based On Word Count

If you are able to check the word count, then you can also estimate reading time. Because, in general, an average adult will read about 250 words per minute.

Thus, a standard 1,000-word article or document might take around four minutes to read. However, reading speed may vary depending on the document you are reading.

So, it might take longer to read complex and technical text that is filled with many unfamiliar terms than it would take to read a standard and simple article. 

Also, different people read at different speeds, so you need to adjust your estimate to 200 words per minute for complex content or less experienced readers. Also, you can adjust it to 300 words per minute for simple content and more proficient readers.

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Wrap Up On How To Check Word Count In Google Docs

You can definitely check word count on Google Docs with your mobile device, however, you can’t keep it on your screen while you are typing. And on the desktop, word count can easily be kept on the page at all times by selecting a checkbox. 

So, if you want to keep the word count displayed on your screen when you are typing, you will have to use the desktop version of Google Docs. 

Because that option is not currently available on the mobile app for iOS or Android devices. Also, word count is a really important tool to use when you are choosing your audience. 

We really hope that our detailed and informative article has helped you to find out how to check word count in Google Docs. And if you have any questions or doubts regarding this topic, please leave a message in the comments below. 

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FAQ: How To Check Word Count In Google Docs

As different people use different methods to check word count, they have lots of different questions about this topic. Here we have given answers to some of the most commonly asked questions in the FAQ section of this article.