How to Use Word Count in Microsoft Word?

Are you looking to make the most of your written work? Microsoft Word is a powerful tool that can help you do just that. Word count is a key feature of the software that can be used to make sure your written content is just the right length, ensuring your work is clear, concise, and comprehensive. In this article, we’ll explore how to use word count in Microsoft Word to maximize the impact of your writing. Let’s get started!

How to Count Words in Microsoft Word

Word count can be an important part of a document. Whether you’re writing a book, an article, a blog post or any other type of content, it’s important to know the exact word count. Fortunately, Microsoft Word has a built-in feature that allows you to quickly and easily count the words in your document. This tutorial will show you how to use the word count feature in Microsoft Word.

Open the Word Count Tool

The first step is to open the word count tool. To do this, click on the “Review” tab at the top of the window. Then, click on the “Word Count” button in the “Proofing” section. This will open the word count window, which will show the total number of words in the document.

View Word Count Details

If you want to view more detailed information about the word count, such as the number of pages or the average number of words per page, click on the “Details” button in the word count window. This will open a new window that will show the exact word count, as well as the number of pages, characters, lines and paragraphs in the document.

Change Word Counting Options

By default, Microsoft Word counts all words in the document, including words in footnotes, endnotes, text boxes, and other elements. If you want to exclude these elements from the word count, click on the “Options” button in the word count window. This will open a new window where you can choose which elements to include or exclude from the word count.

View Word Count in Status Bar

If you don’t want to open the word count window each time you need to view the word count, you can enable the word count to be displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the window. To do this, click on the “File” tab at the top of the window. Then, click on the “Options” button. This will open a new window where you can select the “Show Word Count in Status Bar” option.

Update Word Count Automatically

By default, Microsoft Word will only update the word count when you open the word count window. If you want the word count to be updated automatically as you type, you can enable the “Update Word Count Automatically” option in the “Word Count” window. This will cause the word count to be updated automatically each time you make a change to the document.

Exclude Text from Word Count

If you want to exclude certain text from the word count, you can select the text and then click on the “Exclude” button in the word count window. This will cause the selected text to be excluded from the word count. To include the text again, simply click on the “Include” button.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Word Count in Microsoft Word?

Word Count in Microsoft Word is a feature that allows you to quickly and easily check the number of words and characters in a document. You can use this feature to ensure that you stay within the required word count for an assignment, article, or other writing task. Word Count also provides other useful information, such as the number of pages, paragraphs, and lines in your document.

How Do I Use Word Count in Microsoft Word?

Using Word Count in Microsoft Word is easy. First, open the document you want to check. Then, go to the “Review” tab and click the “Word Count” button. This will open a dialog box that displays the number of words, characters, pages, paragraphs, and lines in your document. You can also view the number of words in the status bar at the bottom of the window.

What Other Information Does Word Count Provide?

In addition to the basic word count, Word Count also provides more detailed information about your document. This includes the average number of words per sentence, the number of words per page, and the number of characters per page. This can be useful for ensuring that your document meets the required word count without being overly long.

Are There Any Other Uses for Word Count?

Word Count can be used for more than just checking word counts. For example, you can use it to quickly check the readability of your document by looking at the average number of words per sentence. You can also use it to get an estimate of how long it will take to read your document, by looking at the number of words per page.

Is Word Count in Other Versions of Microsoft Word?

Word Count is available in all versions of Microsoft Word, including the desktop versions and the online versions. The feature works the same in all versions, so you can use it regardless of which version of Word you are using.

Can I Exclude Certain Parts of My Document From the Word Count?

Yes, you can exclude certain parts of your document from the word count by using the “Exclude Text” option in the Word Count dialog box. This can be useful if you want to exclude long quotations, footnotes, or other sections of your document from the word count.

Insert a Word Count function into Your MS Word Document

Microsoft Word’s word count feature is an invaluable tool for any writer. It can help you track the progress of your work and ensure that you are meeting your word count goals. Whether you are writing a blog post, an essay, or a book, this feature can help you keep your writing on track and on target. So, embrace Microsoft Word’s word count feature and make it part of your writing routine. That way, you can take control of your word count goals and ensure that your writing projects stay on track.