Count words in an essay or writing draft

How this is calculated

The tool uses the browser's word segmentation with an English locale when available. It counts segments identified as words, including number segments, rather than treating every run of punctuation as a word. Contractions such as don't stay together in supported segmentation. A hyphen can separate word segments. Text in languages that don't put spaces between every word can also produce meaningful segments in supported browsers. These choices explain why splitting a paragraph only at spaces isn't always enough. Older browsers fall back to simpler letter and number matching. Counts can differ between tools because their rules, language dictionaries, and browser versions aren't identical.

Verdict

For an assignment, decide whether headings, quotations, notes, and references belong in the word count before pasting them. Count just the relevant passage with Selected text if the instructions exclude other sections. Set a positive whole number in Writing limit and choose Words. The limit follows your current scope, so switch back to Full text when checking the entire submission. Use the destination's count as the final check if it enforces its own rules. A counter measures length. It doesn't decide whether the argument is complete or whether a shorter sentence says what you mean.