How to Check Word Count in Word (Step-by-Step)

Whether you're writing an essay, a report, or a novel, knowing your word count is essential. Microsoft Word makes it easy to track your progress with built-in word counting features. In this comprehensive guide, we'll show you every method to check word count in Word, from quick glances to detailed statistics. Plus, discover how Wordee's free word counter can give you even more powerful text analysis.

Why Counting Words Matters

Word count isn't just a number—it's a crucial metric for many writing scenarios:

• Academic writing: Essays, research papers, and dissertations often have strict word limits
• Professional documents: Reports, proposals, and articles may require specific lengths
• SEO content: Blog posts and web pages need optimal word counts for search rankings
• Publishing: Books and articles must meet publisher requirements
• Social media: Posts have character and word limits across platforms

Understanding your word count helps you meet requirements, pace your writing, and ensure your content is neither too short nor too long for your audience.

Counting Words on Desktop Word

Microsoft Word for Windows and Mac offers multiple ways to check your word count. Here are all the methods available:

Method 1: Check the Status Bar (Quickest)

The fastest way to see your word count is to look at the status bar at the bottom of the Word window:

1. Open your document in Microsoft Word
2. Look at the bottom-left corner of the window
3. You'll see "X Words" displayed (e.g., "1,234 Words")
4. This count updates automatically as you type

Screenshot placeholder: Word status bar showing live word count

Method 2: Use the Review Tab

For more detailed statistics, use the Word Count dialog:

1. Click the Review tab in the ribbon
2. Click Word Count in the Proofing group
3. A dialog box appears showing:
   • Pages
   • Words
   • Characters (no spaces)
   • Characters (with spaces)
   • Paragraphs
   • Lines
4. Check "Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes" if needed

Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut

Use these shortcuts to quickly open the Word Count dialog:

• Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + G
• Mac: Press Cmd + Shift + G

Method 4: Count Selected Text Only

Need to count words in a specific section? Here's how:

1. Select the text you want to count by clicking and dragging
2. Look at the status bar—it will show "X of Y Words"
3. Or use Review → Word Count to see detailed stats for selected text

Counting Words on Mobile Word App

The Microsoft Word mobile app for iOS and Android also includes word count functionality:

On iPhone/iPad:

1. Open your document in the Word app
2. Tap the three-dot menu (...) in the top-right corner
3. Scroll down and tap Word Count
4. View your word count, character count, and page count

On Android:

1. Open your document in the Word app
2. Tap the three-dot menu (...) at the top
3. Select Word Count from the menu
4. The word count dialog displays your statistics

Screenshot placeholder: Word mobile app word count feature

Using Wordee Word Counter for Advanced Analysis

While Word provides basic word counting, Wordee offers a more comprehensive suite of text analysis tools:

• Real-time counting: See words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs instantly
• Reading time: Know exactly how long your content takes to read
• Keyword density: Optimize your content for SEO
• Readability scores: Ensure your writing matches your audience
• No installation: Works directly in your browser

Simply visit our free word counter and paste your text. You'll get instant, detailed statistics that go beyond what Word offers, including our character counter tool for precise character tracking.

Tips & Shortcuts for Efficient Word Counting

Make word counting faster with these pro tips:

• Enable live count: Right-click the status bar and ensure "Word Count" is checked
• Quick selection: Triple-click to select a paragraph, then check the status bar
• Multiple sections: Hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and select multiple text areas to count them together
• Exclude headers/footers: By default, Word excludes these—check the dialog option to include them
• Track progress: Note your word count before and after editing sessions to measure productivity

Common Issues and Fixes

Encountering problems with word count in Word? Here are solutions to common issues:

Word count not showing in status bar

Right-click anywhere on the status bar and click "Word Count" to enable it. Make sure there's a checkmark next to it.

Count seems incorrect

Word may not be counting text in certain elements. Open Review → Word Count and check "Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes" to ensure everything is counted.

Different counts in different applications

Applications count words differently. Hyphenated words, numbers, and special characters may be treated differently. For a standardized count, use Wordee's word counter.

Word count updates slowly

In very large documents, Word may update the count with a slight delay. This is normal—wait a moment after typing for the count to refresh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Checking word count in Microsoft Word is straightforward once you know where to look. Whether you prefer the quick status bar glance, the detailed Word Count dialog, or keyboard shortcuts, Word gives you the tools to track your writing progress.

For more advanced text analysis—including reading time, keyword density, and readability scores—try Wordee's free word counter. It's fast, free, and gives you insights that Word alone can't provide.