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SERP TimesSERP Times

    Type at least two letters to search news and guides.

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    Free tool · Writing

    Word & Character Counter

    Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs, and see reading time and the most-used terms as you type.

    Runs in your browser: nothing you type is uploaded.

    Words
    0
    Characters
    0
    No spaces
    0
    Sentences
    0
    Paragraphs
    0
    Reading time
    0 sec
    Speaking time
    0 sec
    Avg. sentence
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    Top keywords

    Your most-used words appear here once you add some text. Common words like “the” and “and” are left out.

    How to use it

    1. 1

      Paste or type your text into the box. Nothing is uploaded: the counting happens in your browser.

    2. 2

      Read the counts for words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type.

    3. 3

      Check reading and speaking time to judge whether the length suits the format, such as a two-minute news update.

    4. 4

      Look at the top keywords to see which terms dominate, and whether that matches the topic you meant to cover.

    Why it matters

    Length limits are everywhere in SEO and marketing work: meta descriptions, ad copy, social posts, product descriptions and briefs that ask for a set number of words. A live count saves you pasting text into a word processor just to check it.

    Word count isn't a ranking factor. Google has said it doesn't reward pages for being long, and padding makes an article harder to read. Use the count to plan and edit: if a brief asks for 1,200 words but the topic is covered well in 700, the honest fix is better examples, not filler.

    Reading time uses 238 words per minute and speaking time 183, the averages for non-fiction in Marc Brysbaert's 2019 review of 190 reading studies. Real readers vary, so treat both as estimates.

    Frequently asked questions

    How does the tool count words?

    It splits text into words the way your browser does when you double-click to select one. Numbers count as words, a hyphenated term like step-by-step counts as three, contractions like don't count as one, and punctuation never counts.

    Is my text uploaded anywhere?

    No. The counting runs in your browser and the text never leaves your device. Close the tab and it's gone.

    Does the character count include spaces?

    The tool shows both figures. Meta descriptions, social posts and most form limits count spaces, so use the “with spaces” number unless a platform says otherwise.

    How long should a blog post be?

    As long as it takes to answer the question well. Google doesn't use word count as a ranking factor. Look at what the pages ranking for your keyword cover, then cover it better, rather than matching their length.

    How is reading time calculated?

    Words divided by 238 words per minute, the average silent reading speed for non-fiction in Brysbaert's 2019 review. Speaking time uses 183 words per minute, the average for reading aloud.

    Why is my count different from Word or Google Docs?

    Tools disagree on edge cases such as hyphenated words, URLs and numbers with separators. The difference is usually a few words per thousand.

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