How to Do a Word Count in Microsoft Word
Sometimes it is vital to know the number of words in a document, especially where the word limit is pre-defined. It could be when you are submitting some online forms or writing answers. Knowing the word count is also necessary when you’re writing an article, a book, or an essay for a school project.
Fortunately, Microsoft Word allows you to do a word count easily on any document. Let’s explore how to do that on Windows, macOS, an Android phone, and an iPhone.
How to Do a Word Count in Microsoft Word on Windows
There are three ways it’s possible to do a word count in a Word document on Windows.
1. Word Count on the Status Bar
Begin by opening the Word app or any Word document on your Windows PC.
If you’re working on a new blank document, start typing. Word automatically counts the number of words after each space you give—and displays the word count on the status bar at the bottom of the document. Just check the status bar for the word count.
If you have opened a document you had worked on earlier, the number of words will show in the status bar. If no word count is visible on the status bar, right-click the status bar and clickWord Countin theCustomize Status Barmenu.
it’s possible to also count the number of words in a portion of the text in the document. Select the text and check the status bar—it will display the word count in the following way: 23 of 87 words, as you can see in the screenshot below.
you could even count the words of separate portions of text together. To do that, select the first text portion in the document, then pressCtrland continue selecting the other portions of text. The combined word count of the different text portions will display on the status bar.
To know the number of document pages, paragraphs, characters, and lines along with the words, click the word count displayed on the status bar. TheWord Countbox will pop up with all the information.
If you have text boxes in your document, the word count will also include the number of words in the text boxes.
2. Word Count via the Review Tab
Another way to get to the Word Count box is via the Review tab on the Word ribbon.
The option to include footnotes, textboxes, and endnotes while counting words will be turned on by default in the Word Count box. If you want to turn it off, untick the box next to the option.
3. Word Count via the Quick Access Toolbar
If you prefer using Word’s Quick Access Toolbar, you can include the Word Count option in it.
Right-click theWord Countoption in theProofingsection on the ribbon. SelectAdd to Quick Access Toolbar.
The Word Count icon with thelines and 123will now appear on top of the ribbon before the down-arrow menu ofCustomize Quick Access Toolbar.
So now, you’re able to open the Word Count box and do the word count by clicking on thisWord Counticon on top of the ribbon—no need to first click the Review tab and then the Word Count icon.
If it’s needed, you’re able to also insert the number of words that are in your document on the document itself.
First, click the place in the document where you want to add the word count. Then in theInserttab, in theTextsection, clickQuick Parts>Field.
In theField nameslist, clickNumWords, and then clickOK.
The number of words will appear on the document. As you could see in the screenshot below, 91 words is showing.
Yes, it’s easy to do a word count in Microsoft Word. However,if the Word app fails to open in Windows, you can explore these few fixes.
How to Do a Word Count in Microsoft Word on macOS
The Microsoft Word app is no different on macOS than on Windows. There is another way to do word count, as you will read below.
1. Word Count From the Tools Menu
Launch theWordapp from your Dock on your MacBook. Then open a document from theRecentdocuments list. To count the words in the open document, click onToolson the top bar. Then in theTools menu, click onWord Count.
TheWord Countbox will open with the count of the pages, words, characters, lines, and paragraphs.
To know the number of words in a portion of the text, make your text selection, and view the word count from theWord Countoption in theTools menu.
2. Word Count From the Status Bar
You can view the number of words in a document in the status bar on the lower-left part of the document. You’ll always find this word count displayed, and it will increase or decrease as you type more or delete text.
Moreover, you can also view the number of characters, lines, paragraphs, and other information in your Word for Mac, by clicking the word count in the status bar to open the Word Count box.
Moreover, you can alsoview the word count in Apple Pages on your Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
How to Do a Word Count in the Word App on Mobile
It’s quite simple to do a word count in the Microsoft Word app on your mobile. Let’s see how.
To know the number of words for a specific portion of text, tap and press the word from where you want to make the selection. The selection markers will appear, so just drag the second marker to the end of your selection. Now repeat the steps above.
TheWord Countsection will open, displaying the number of words in the selected text.
Work Better Knowing the Word Count in Microsoft Word
Indeed, many times knowing the number of words, pages, lines, and paragraphs in a Word document is vital for the work you’re doing. And now you know how to do that. If you find that the word count is not showing in Microsoft Word, read on to explore the ways to fix that.
Are you not seeing the word count in Microsoft Word? Here’s how to fix it and some alternatives.
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