How to Check Word Count on Google Docs [Easy Guide]

Do you want to learn how to check word count on Google Docs? As writers, we often need to keep track of the number of words in our documents to ensure that we are meeting the required length or staying within a certain limit. Fortunately, Google Docs offers a convenient way to check the word count of your document.

To learn how to check the word count on Google Docs, click on the “Tools” menu, select “Word Count,” and a box will display the word count, number of pages, and characters (with or without spaces) for the entire document or a specific selection of text.

To learn how to check word count on Google Docs on both desktop and mobile, read on.

How to Check the Word Count in Google Docs on a Desktop

Related: How to Check for Plagiarism in Google Docs

There are three methods you can use to check the word count on Google Docs. (1) using the “Word Count” option from the “Tools” menu, (2) displaying the word count in the document, and (3) using a keyboard shortcut for word count.

Let’s take a look at each method closely.

Method 1: Using the Menu Bar

To check the word count in Google Docs using the menu bar, follow these steps:

1. First, open your Google Docs document in your web browser.
2. Next, click on the “Tools” option in the top menu bar.
3. Then, from the drop-down menu, select “Word count.”

4. Upon clicking, a small window will display the number of characters, words, pages, and characters excluding spaces in your document.

Method 2: Display Word Count While Typing

This method allows you to see the word count of your document as you type. When this option is turned on, the word count is displayed at the bottom left corner of the screen and updates as you add or delete text.

To enable “Display Word Count While Typing,” simply follow the steps below:

1. Head over to the “Tools” menu at the top of your document, and then select “Word Count.”

2. Upon clicking “Word Count,” the dialog box will appear. Tick the checkbox next to “Display word count while typing,” then click “OK.” After that, the word count will appear at the bottom left corner of the screen.

Here’s what it looks like:

By using “Display Word Count While Typing,” you can easily monitor your progress toward your target word count and make adjustments as needed.

Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut for Word Count Google Docs

Alternatively, you can quickly check the word count of your document by using a keyboard shortcut. This method saves time and effort, especially if you need to do it frequently.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Press “Ctrl + Shift + C” (Windows) or “Command + Shift + C” (Mac)
2. Then, a “Word count” box will appear, showing the number of pages, words, characters, and characters excluding spaces in your document.

3. If you want to close the “Word count” box, simply click “OK” or press the Esc key.

That’s it! Now you know how to check the word count in Google Docs on a desktop.

When checking word count, remember that the count will apply to everything by default, including headers, titles, and captions. So, if you’re looking to count words in just a portion of the document, highlight that section with your cursor before the following the same steps to get the word count.

How to Check the Word Count in Google Docs on Mobile

Checking the word count in Google Docs on a mobile device is just as easy as doing it on a desktop, but with some differences due to the smaller screen size and different interface.

Here’s how to check the word count in Google Docs using mobile devices:

1. To get started, launch Google Docs on your mobile device.
2. Next, open the document you want to check the word count for.
3. Next, tap the three-dot (…) icon in the top right side of your screen to open up your options menu.

4. Then, select “Word count.”

5. Upon tapping the “Word count” button, the dialog box will appear, showing you the number of words and characters (with and without spaces) in the document.

6. To close the “Word count” dialog box, simply tap anywhere on the screen.

If you only want to check the word count of a particular section in the document, here’s what you can do:

1. Use your finger to highlight the portion of text you want to check the word count for.

2. Next, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the screen.

3. In the menu that appears, select “Word count.”

4. Upon tapping, the “Word count” dialog box will appear, showing you the number of words, pages, and characters (with and without spaces) in the selected text.

5. When you’re done, tap anywhere on the screen to close the “Word count” dialog box.

Final Thoughts

And that’s how to check word count on Google Docs! Whether you’re writing an academic paper, a business report, or a creative piece, being able to quickly check the word count can save you time and help you stay on track with your writing goals. So next time you’re working on a document in Google Docs, don’t forget to use this helpful tool to ensure you hit your word count targets!

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