Word Counter
Count words with four engines side by side — baseline, Word simulation, Google Docs simulation, WordPress — see why apps report different numbers.
glyphcount baseline — em dashes and hyphens do not split a word; CJK counts one per character.
Why four engines?
Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and WordPress define "a word" differently, and their counts genuinely disagree on real text. This page shows all four side by side instead of silently picking one.
Where the counts diverge
| Input | Baseline | Word | Docs | WP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| or—not | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| teacher–author | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| cat/dog | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 3.14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Full rules and worked examples: the counting methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Does Microsoft Word count words the same way as Google Docs?
No. Word counts a token like "teacher–author" (en dash) as two words, while Google Docs counts it as one. Google Docs splits on em dashes and slashes — Docs counts "cat/dog" as two words, Word as one. On a 1,000-word article the two can disagree by 10–30 words.
Which word count should I report to my editor?
Report the count from the app your editor uses to check. If you do not know, the glyphcount baseline is the conservative middle: it splits on em dashes like Docs but not on slashes like Word.
Is my text uploaded to a server?
No. All counting runs locally in your browser. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and every counter keeps working.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time uses the baseline word count at 200 words per minute, the rate most adult readers sustain for English prose. A 1,000-word piece reads in about 5 minutes.