Paste your essay to see the word count instantly. Common essay requirements: undergraduate essays 1,500–3,000 words, dissertations 8,000–15,000 words, college application essays 500–650 words. All processing runs in your browser.
How it works
The counting runs entirely in JavaScript in your browser tab. As you type or paste text, the counts update synchronously with no network request.
Processing runs in your browser
Your text is held only in browser memory. Closing the tab removes it entirely.
Frequently asked questions
- Do most universities count words with or without citations?
- Policies vary. Most UK universities exclude bibliography and footnotes from the word count but include in-text citations (e.g. 'Smith, 2022'). Always check your institution's specific guidelines.
- How do word processors and this tool differ in word count?
- The difference is usually 0–2 words. This tool splits on whitespace; Microsoft Word and Google Docs use similar but slightly different tokenisation rules. Hyphenated words are typically counted as one word in both.
- What is a typical word count for a college application essay?
- The Common App personal statement is 250–650 words. Most supplemental essays are 150–350 words. Going even slightly over the maximum (using a tool like this to check precisely) can result in automatic disqualification.
- Is my essay text uploaded anywhere?
- All counting runs locally in your browser using JavaScript. Our servers are not involved at any point.