How to See Word Count on Google Docs

Finding the Word Count on Google Docs

Google Docs is a popular cloud-based word processing application that allows users to create and edit documents online. Whether you’re a student, professional writer, or just someone who likes to write, knowing the word count of your document is essential. Fortunately, Google Docs makes it easy to find the word count of your document.

To find the word count on Google Docs, follow these steps:

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Click on “Tools” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Click on “Word count” in the drop-down menu.
4. The word count will appear in a pop-up window, including the total number of words, pages, and characters.

It’s important to note that Google Docs calculates the word count based on the number of words in your text, not the number of pages. So, if you add or delete text, the word count will automatically update. Knowing the word count of your document can help you stay on track with your writing goals and make sure you’re meeting the requirements of any writing assignment.

Customizing Word Count Preferences

Google Docs also allows you to customize your word count preferences to meet your specific needs. You can change the settings to count specific types of text, such as footnotes or text boxes, or exclude certain sections of your document, such as headers or footers.

To customize your word count preferences on Google Docs, follow these steps:

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Click on “Tools” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Click on “Word count” in the drop-down menu.
4. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner of the pop-up window.
5. Select the options you want to include or exclude in your word count.
6. Click “OK” to save your changes.

By customizing your word count preferences, you can get a more accurate count of the words in your document, which can be especially helpful if you need to meet a specific word count requirement.

Tracking Word Count in Real-Time

If you’re someone who likes to keep track of your word count as you write, Google Docs offers a real-time word count feature that displays the number of words you’ve written as you type. This can help you stay focused and motivated as you work towards your writing goals.

To enable real-time word count on Google Docs, follow these steps:

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Click on “Tools” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Click on “Word count” in the drop-down menu.
4. Check the box next to “Display word count while typing.”

Once you’ve enabled real-time word count, you’ll see the word count at the bottom of the screen as you type. This feature can be especially useful if you’re trying to reach a specific word count goal or if you need to keep track of your progress as you work on a longer writing project.

Using Shortcuts to See Word Count

In addition to using the menu bar to find your word count on Google Docs, there are also several keyboard shortcuts you can use to quickly access this information.

Here are some of the most commonly used shortcuts for finding the word count on Google Docs:

1. To display the word count window: press “Ctrl+Shift+C” on a Windows computer, or “Command+Shift+C” on a Mac.
2. To display the word count in the status bar: click “Ctrl+Shift+C” on a Windows computer, or “Command+Shift+C” on a Mac.

Using shortcuts can save you time and make it easier to access the word count information you need, especially if you’re working on a lengthy document.

Word Count Add-Ons for Google Docs

If you need more advanced word count features than what’s available in Google Docs, there are several add-ons you can use to enhance your experience.

Here are some of the most popular word count add-ons for Google Docs:

1. Word Count Tool: This add-on allows you to count the number of words, characters, and paragraphs in your document, as well as set word count targets and receive notifications when you’ve reached them.
2. Easy Word Count: This add-on provides a simple way to count the number of words in your document, and also includes a feature to exclude certain words or phrases from the count.
3. ProWritingAid: This add-on offers a comprehensive writing analysis that includes word count, readability, grammar, and more.

To install an add-on for Google Docs, follow these steps:

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Click on “Add-ons” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Select “Get add-ons” from the drop-down menu.
4. Browse through the add-ons and select the one you want to install.
5. Click “Install” and follow the prompts to complete the installation process.

By using word count add-ons, you can take your writing to the next level and ensure that your documents meet the highest standards of quality and professionalism.