What this counts
As you type, the tool counts words, characters with and without spaces, sentences and paragraphs. A word is any run of characters between spaces. A sentence ends at a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark. A paragraph is a block of text separated from the next by a blank line.
How the times are worked out
Reading time assumes about 230 words a minute, a common pace for adults reading online. Speaking time assumes about 130 words a minute, which is a comfortable speech pace. These are estimates. A technical article or a slow, careful speech will take longer.
The character limit chips
Under the totals you will see how many characters you have left for common places: an X post, a LinkedIn post, an Instagram caption, a text message and a search result description. These limits change from time to time, so check the platform if an exact figure matters to you. An emoji counts as one character here, but some platforms count it as two.
Good to know
- Your text stays in your browser. It is not saved or sent anywhere, and it disappears when you close the tab.
- Hyphenated words count as one word. Numbers count as words.
Questions people ask
Is my text saved or uploaded?
No. The counting happens in your browser as you type. Nothing is stored or sent, and the text is gone when you close the tab.
How is reading time calculated?
By dividing the word count by 230 words a minute and rounding to the nearest minute, with a minimum of one minute for any text.
Do spaces count as characters?
The Characters figure includes spaces. The Without spaces figure leaves them out, which some forms and assignments ask for.
Why does a platform show a different count?
Platforms count a few things differently, such as emoji, links and line breaks. Use this as a close guide and trust the platform's own counter for the final check.