How to Check Word Count in Word
To check the word count in Microsoft Word, look at the status bar at the bottom left of the window, or press Ctrl+Shift+G (Mac: ⌘ Cmd+Shift+G) to open the Word Count dialog. You can also go to Review > Word Count. Select text first to count only that part.
Below: step-by-step instructions for Windows, Mac, Word for the web, iPad, iPhone and Android, what to do when the word count is not showing, character counts, counting a specific word, and an auto-updating {NUMWORDS} field.
Wondering why Word counts "state-of-the-art" as one word? See what Word counts as one word, tested in Word.
Quick Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
1. How to Check Word Count in Microsoft Word for Windows
In Microsoft Word for Windows (including Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016), you have three built-in ways to inspect word count:
Method A: The Live Status Bar
By default, Microsoft Word displays a continuous, real-time count in the bottom-left corner of the window (e.g. 1,840 words).
Clicking this status bar number immediately opens the full Word Count modal dialog displaying pages, characters with and without spaces, paragraphs, and lines.
Method B: The Official Keyboard Shortcut
Press Ctrl + Shift + G. This opens the statistics window instantly without touching your mouse.
Method C: The Review Tab Ribbon
Click the Review tab on Word’s top ribbon menu. In the Proofing group (far left), click the Word Count icon.
No word count in the status bar? See word count not showing in Word.
2. How to Check Word Count in Microsoft Word for Mac
On macOS, Microsoft Word provides the same granular statistics, with macOS-specific hotkeys:
Method A: Mac Keyboard Shortcut
In modern Microsoft 365 for Mac, press ⌘ Cmd + Shift + G. In older releases (such as Office for Mac 2011/2016), press ⌘ Cmd + Shift + C.
Method B: The macOS Menu Bar
Click Tools in the Apple menu bar at the top of your Mac screen, then choose Word Count... from the dropdown list.
Method C: Mac Status Bar
Look at the bottom edge of the document window. Click the word count readout to trigger the full dialog box.
3. How to Check Word Count in Word for the Web (Office Online)
When working in Microsoft 365 through a web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari):
- Verify Editing Mode: Ensure the top right dropdown is set to Editing rather than Viewing or Reviewing.
- Check the Bottom Status Bar: The live word count is displayed directly on the status bar in the lower-left corner of the browser window.
- Use the Review Tab: Click the Review tab on the simplified ribbon, then click Word Count.
4. How to Count Words on iPad, iPhone & Android (Microsoft Word Mobile)
The Microsoft Word mobile and tablet apps place formatting and proofing tools in slightly different menus depending on screen size:
iPad & iPhone (iPadOS & iOS)
- On iPad: Tap the Review tab on the top ribbon and tap the Word Count icon. If the ribbon is hidden, tap the downward chevron (
⌵) in the top-right corner to expand it. - On iPhone: Tap the Edit icon (letter "A" with a pencil) > tap Home > switch to Review > scroll down and tap Word Count.
Android Phones & Tablets
- Tap the Edit icon (pencil icon) at the top.
- Tap the upward chevron (
^) in the bottom right corner. - Tap Home and switch the tab to Review.
- Scroll down and select Word Count.
5. Word Count Not Showing in Word? How to Fix It
If the live word count has disappeared from the bottom of the Word window, one of these is usually the cause:
The Word Count item is switched off
Right-click anywhere on the gray status bar at the bottom of the window. In the Customize Status Bar menu, click Word Count so it has a check mark. The live counter reappears immediately.
The whole status bar is hidden
Focus mode and full-screen reading views hide the status bar. Press Esc or switch back to View > Print Layout. You can always open the counts with Ctrl+Shift+G (Mac: ⌘ Cmd+Shift+G).
Word for the web is in Viewing mode
In the browser version, switch the mode dropdown at the top right from Viewing to Editing, then check the status bar or Review > Word Count again.
An inserted NUMWORDS field shows an old number
Word fields do not update as you type. Right-click the number and choose Update Field, or see how to refresh the field.
6. How to Check Character Count in Word
Word does not show characters in the status bar by default, but the Word Count dialog always lists them:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+G on Windows or ⌘ Cmd+Shift+G on Mac, or click the word count in the status bar.
- Read Characters (no spaces) and Characters (with spaces). Most application and submission forms mean characters with spaces.
- To count characters in one passage only, highlight it first. The dialog then shows the selection's counts.
7. Counting Highlighted Selections & Non-Contiguous Paragraphs
One of Word’s most powerful features is the ability to count specific chapters, sections, or even disparate paragraphs scattered across the document without counting the intervening text:
Highlight any sentence, paragraph, or page. The bottom-left status bar instantly updates to display the selection count alongside the document total:
Clicking this status readout opens the dialog showing characters and lines specifically for your selection.
Need to count 3 disconnected paragraphs without including the tables or quotes between them?
- Highlight the first paragraph.
- Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ Cmd (Mac).
- Highlight paragraph 2, 3, etc.
Word calculates the collective sum of all highlighted blocks simultaneously.
8. How to Count a Specific Word in Word (Keyword Occurrences)
Need to know how many times a particular keyword, character name, legal term, or phrase appears in your Word document? You can count specific word occurrences using two built-in methods:
- Press Ctrl + F (Mac: ⌘ Cmd + F) to open the Navigation Pane on the left.
- Type your target word into the search bar.
- Word immediately displays the exact number of matches:
To prevent Word from counting substrings (e.g. searching "cat" shouldn't match "catch" or "certificate"):
- Press Ctrl + H and switch to the Find tab.
- Click More >> and check Find whole words only.
- Click Find In > Main Document. Word highlights all instances and confirms: "Word found 14 items matching this criterion."
9. How to Insert an Auto-Updating Word Count Inside Your Document
When submitting academic theses, freelance articles, or legal documents, you may need the total word count printed directly on the cover page or header. Microsoft Word allows you to insert a dynamic field code that updates automatically:
Method 1: The Quick Parts Ribbon Menu
- Click your cursor on the document page where you want the number to appear (e.g. "Word Count: [insert here]").
- Go to the Insert tab on Word’s top ribbon.
- In the Text section, click Quick Parts > Field... (On Mac: Insert > Field...).
- In the Categories dropdown, select Document Information.
- Under Field names, click NumWords, choose your preferred number format, and click OK.
Method 2: The Direct Field Code Shortcut
Power users can insert this in two seconds using keyboard shortcuts:
2. Inside the braces, type: NUMWORDS
3. Press F9 to calculate and display the live number.
Word fields do not recalculate on every single keystroke to save battery and performance. To update your embedded word count:
- Right-click the number and select Update Field.
- Or select the whole document (Ctrl+A) and tap F9.
- Automatic update: Word automatically refreshes all fields whenever you click File > Print or export to PDF.
10. Footnotes, Endnotes, Tables & Text Boxes: When to Include vs. Exclude
One of the most common causes of word count discrepancies in academic, scientific, and legal submissions is footnote and structure inclusion:
Open the Word Count dialog (Ctrl+Shift+G on Windows or Cmd+Shift+G on Mac). At the bottom of the window, locate the checkbox:
When checked, all footnote annotations, bibliographical references, and text inside graphic shapes are factored into the total. When unchecked, only body text is calculated.
11. How to Unlock Hidden Readability & Grade Level Statistics in Word
Microsoft Word includes a built-in readability calculator that measures Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, but Microsoft turns it off by default. Here is how to enable it:
- Click File > Options (On Mac: Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar).
- Click Proofing in the left sidebar.
- Under the section labeled When correcting spelling and grammar in Word, check Check grammar with spelling.
- Check the box for Show readability statistics, then click OK.
- Press F7 on your keyboard (or go to Review > Editor). Once Word completes the grammar review, a comprehensive Readability Statistics box will pop up.
12. Why Word's Count Differs From Other Counters
Word follows its own rules for what counts as one word, so simple online counters and Google Docs often give a different total. In short:
- Hyphenated compounds and contractions count as one word.
- Em and en dashes split words, even without spaces.
- Slash compounds, numbers, currencies, URLs, and email addresses count as one word.
- Each Chinese or Japanese character counts as one word.
13. How Word Counts Revisions & Track Changes
When Track Changes is active, Word’s live status bar counts words based on your current display mode:
- Simple Markup / All Markup: Word counts the text as if all suggested additions are accepted, while struck-through deleted words are typically excluded from the live counter.
- Original: Displays word count before any editorial revisions were introduced.
- Tip for Editors: Before submitting a manuscript or formal brief, go to Review > Tracking > All Markup, or accept/reject all changes to get the definitive final count.
14. Feature Comparison: Word vs. Google Docs vs. Word Word Count
| Capability | Microsoft Word | Google Docs | Word Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Shortcut (Win) | Ctrl + Shift + G | Ctrl + Shift + C | None needed (counts as you type) |
| Live On-Screen Counter | Yes (Status Bar) | Yes (Toggleable) | Yes (live counts) |
| Non-Contiguous Selection | Yes (Ctrl/Cmd click) | No (Single block only) | No (paste each part, or count many files at once) |
| Footnote Toggle | Yes (Checkbox) | No (Always body only) | Yes (in the citations tool) |
| In-Document Field Code | Yes ({NUMWORDS}) | No | N/A (Web Counter) |
| Readability Statistics | Yes (Hidden in Proofing) | No native score | No |
| Works Without Software | Requires MS 365 or Word | Requires Google Account | Free, no sign-in |
15. Word Count in OneNote and WordPad
Neither app has a word count. In OneNote (Windows, Mac, web or mobile), click in the page, press Ctrl+A (Mac: Cmd+A) to select its text (press it again if only one text box is selected), copy it, and paste it into Word or the online word counter. WordPad was removed from Windows 11 in version 24H2; open its .rtf or .docx files in Word, or paste the text into the counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the keyboard shortcut to check word count in Word on Windows?
Press Ctrl + Shift + G. This opens the Word Count dialog showing pages, words, characters with and without spaces, paragraphs, and lines.
What is the keyboard shortcut for Word on Mac?
On Microsoft Word for Mac, press Cmd + Shift + G in Microsoft 365, or Cmd + Shift + C on older Office for Mac versions.
Why is word count not showing in my Word status bar?
Right-click anywhere on the gray status bar at the bottom of the Word window and check "Word Count" in the Customize Status Bar menu. If the whole status bar is hidden, leave Focus mode or full-screen reading view, or press Ctrl + Shift + G (Cmd + Shift + G on Mac) to open the counts directly.
How do I check character count in Word?
Press Ctrl + Shift + G (Cmd + Shift + G on Mac) or click the word count in the status bar. The Word Count dialog lists Characters (no spaces) and Characters (with spaces). Highlight a passage first to count only that passage.
How do I count how many times a specific word appears in Microsoft Word?
Press Ctrl + F (Cmd + F on Mac) to open the Navigation Pane and type the word. Word shows the number of matches under the search box. To match whole words only, open Advanced Find with Ctrl + H, click More, and check "Find whole words only".
How do I check word count on Microsoft Word for iPad or iPhone?
On iPad, tap the Review tab on the ribbon and tap Word Count. On iPhone, tap the edit icon, switch the menu from Home to Review, and tap Word Count. Highlight a passage first to count only that passage.
How do I put an automatic word count on my title page or cover sheet?
Go to Insert > Quick Parts > Field, choose Document Information, and click NumWords. You can also press Ctrl + F9 (Cmd + F9 on Mac), type NUMWORDS inside the braces, and press F9. Right-click the number and choose Update Field to refresh it.
How do I count words in multiple disconnected paragraphs?
Highlight the first paragraph, then hold Ctrl on Windows or Cmd on Mac and highlight the other paragraphs. The status bar shows the combined count of all highlighted text.
Does Microsoft Word count footnotes, endnotes, and text boxes?
Only when "Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes" is checked in the Word Count dialog (Ctrl + Shift + G, or Cmd + Shift + G on Mac). Check or uncheck it to match the rules of your word limit.
Why does Word count differ from Google Docs or online counters?
Microsoft Word counts hyphenated words, contractions, slash compounds such as either/or, and full URLs as single words, while em dashes split words in two. Other software may split slashes or hyphens differently.
Can I check a Word document without Microsoft Office installed?
Yes. Drop any .docx or .doc file into Word Word Count. It counts words, characters, and pages in your browser without uploading the file. For many files at once, use the batch word counter.
Does OneNote have a word count?
No. OneNote has no word count on Windows, Mac, the web or mobile. Select the text on the page (press Ctrl+A, or Cmd+A on Mac, twice to select every text box), copy it, and paste it into Word or the Word Word Count online counter to see the count.
Need to Count a Word Document Right Now?
Drop any .docx or .doc file into Word Word Count. You'll get Word-compatible word, character and page counts in seconds. The file is read in your browser and never uploaded.