Keyboard Shortcut
On Windows desktop Word, press Ctrl + Shift + G to open the Word Count statistics dialog.
Microsoft Word Guide
Word Count Shortcut in Microsoft Word
Learn the fastest ways to check word count in Microsoft Word, including the Windows shortcut, status bar, Review tab, and selected-text count.
Quick Answer
On Microsoft Word for Windows, try Ctrl + Shift + G to open the Word Count dialog.
You can also look at the status bar at the bottom of Word to see your live word count while typing.
For another method, open the Review tab and choose Word Count.
Open Free Word CounterWhat Is the Word Count Shortcut in Microsoft Word?
On Microsoft Word for Windows, the commonly used keyboard shortcut for opening the Word Count dialog is:
Ctrl + Shift + G
Press the three keys together while your Word document is open.
The Word Count dialog can show more than just the number of words in your document. Depending on your Word version, it can also display document statistics such as characters, paragraphs, lines, and pages.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work in your version of Microsoft Word, use the Review tab or click the word count shown in the status bar.
3 Ways to Check Word Count in Microsoft Word
Use whichever method is fastest for your workflow.
Status Bar
Look at the bottom of the Word window to see the current word total while you type.
Review Tab
Open the Review tab in the Word ribbon and choose Word Count to view detailed statistics.
How to See Word Count While Typing in Word
Microsoft Word normally counts the words in your document while you type.
Look at the status bar near the bottom of the Word window. You should see the current word total there.
This is often the fastest method because you do not need to open another menu every time you want to check your document length.
Need More Statistics?
Click the word count shown in the status bar.
Word can then open the detailed Word Count dialog, where you can review additional document statistics.
What Does Microsoft Word Count?
The Word Count dialog provides several useful statistics about your document.
Words
Shows the total number of words in the document or in the text you currently selected.
Characters
Word can provide character statistics in addition to the main word total.
Paragraphs
The detailed statistics can show how many paragraphs are present in your document.
Lines
Word can also report the number of lines in your document.
Pages
Page information can be displayed alongside other document statistics.
Selected Text
Highlight part of your document to check only that section instead of the entire file.
How to Count Words in Only Part of a Word Document
You do not need to count the entire document every time.
Step 1: Select the Text
Highlight the paragraph, section, or passage you want to measure.
Step 2: Check the Status Bar
Word can show the count for your selected text along with the total count for the complete document.
Step 3: Open Word Count for More Details
Click the count in the status bar or open the Word Count command to view more statistics about the selected text.
This is especially useful when different parts of an essay, article, assignment, or report have separate word limits.
How to Check Word Count from the Review Tab
If you prefer using Word's ribbon instead of a keyboard shortcut, use these steps.
1. Open Your Document
Open the Microsoft Word document whose length you want to check.
2. Open Review
Select the Review tab from the ribbon at the top of Microsoft Word.
3. Choose Word Count
Select Word Count to open the detailed statistics for the document.
How to Check Word Count in Word for the Web
Word for the web can also count words while you type.
When the word-count display is enabled, you can see the count while editing your document in the browser.
You can also use:
Review → Word Count
Word for the web provides an option to show or hide the word-count display.
If you do not see word-count information while working, make sure the document is open in Editing view.
Microsoft Word vs. an Online Word Counter
Both options are useful, but they fit different workflows.
Microsoft Word
Convenient when your document is already being written and formatted inside Microsoft Word.
Online Word Counter
Useful when you want to quickly paste text and check its length without opening or creating a Word document.
Extra Statistics
Our online tool also displays sentences, paragraphs, characters, characters without spaces, reading time, and a customizable word limit.
Need a Quick Word Count Without Microsoft Word?
If your text is in an email, website, note-taking app, application form, or another editor, you can paste it directly into our free word counter.
The tool displays words, characters, characters without spaces, sentences, paragraphs, and estimated reading time instantly.
The counting happens directly in your browser.
Try the Free Word CounterWhen Word Count Is Useful
Word-count limits are common across school, professional writing, and online applications.
Essays
Check whether a school or university essay is within the required word range.
Reports
Track report length while writing and editing professional or academic documents.
Applications
Monitor personal statements and application responses with strict maximum word limits.
Microsoft Word Count FAQs
Quick answers about shortcuts and word-count features in Microsoft Word.
What is the shortcut for word count in Microsoft Word?
On Windows desktop versions of Microsoft Word, Ctrl + Shift + G is commonly used to open the Word Count dialog. If it does not work in your version, use Review → Word Count.
Where is word count in Microsoft Word?
Word normally displays the current word count in the status bar at the bottom of the document window.
Can I see word count while typing?
Yes. Microsoft Word counts words while you type and can display the current total in the status bar.
Can Microsoft Word count only selected text?
Yes. Select the text you want to measure and Word can show the word count for that selection.
Does Word show character count?
Yes. Open the detailed Word Count statistics to view character information in addition to the word total.
Does Word count paragraphs and lines?
Yes. The Word Count statistics can include paragraph and line counts.
Can Word for the web show word count?
Yes. Word for the web counts words while you type, and its word-count display can be controlled from Review → Word Count.
Do I need Microsoft Word just to count words?
No. You can paste text into an online word counter when you only need quick text statistics without opening a Word document.
Word Count on a Mac
In Word for Mac, click the word total in the status bar to open document statistics. To measure a passage, select it, then choose Tools > Word Count.
Windows shortcuts do not necessarily apply to macOS or Word for the web. Keyboard layouts and customized shortcuts can also change which command runs.
Microsoft Sources and Shortcut Troubleshooting
Microsoft's word count instructions cover the status bar, selected text, Mac, and web versions. Its keyboard shortcut reference describes US keyboard layouts and using ribbon access keys.
The Ctrl + Shift + G shortcut is also described in Microsoft-hosted community guidance for desktop Word. If it has been reassigned or does not work in your version, use the status bar or Review > Word Count.