Count the whole document on a computer
- Open the document in Google Docs.
- Choose Tools → Word count from the top menu.
- Read the words, characters, characters without spaces, and pages in the dialog, then close it.
For a short document, enable “Display word count while typing” in the same dialog. A small count appears at the bottom left; select it to see the other totals or hide it.
Count only a paragraph or selected text
Highlight the passage first, then open Tools → Word count. Docs reports the selected section rather than the entire document. This is useful when a prompt sets a limit for the body but excludes a title, references, or another section—select only the text that the instructions say to count.
What Google Docs includes by default
Google’s help page says the count applies to the document except for headers, footers, and footnotes, unless you select a section. If your required count includes one of those areas, select the relevant text and check it separately.
The live count is convenient while drafting; the dialog is better when you need the character totals or want to count a specific selection.
Check text copied from Google Docs
If you only need a quick count for a passage, copy it and paste it into UsefulVerse’s word counter. Words, characters, lines, sentences, paragraphs, and estimated reading time update in your browser. The text is not uploaded, and the Google Doc is not changed.