If you’re writing for a job application, school assignment, or SEO content, knowing the character count in Word is essential. Whether you need to track total characters with or without spaces, Microsoft Word makes it quick and simple.
In this article, you’ll learn how to use Word’s built-in character counter, plus some shortcuts and tips to speed up your writing process.
Why the Word Character Count Matters
The word character count is a useful feature for many reasons:
- 📝 Meeting essay or assignment limits
- 💼 Writing resumes and cover letters
- 📢 Creating ads or social media posts
- 🧾 Formatting official documents
- 🌐 Optimizing for SEO and metadata
Whether you’re preparing an academic paper or an online article, staying within a set character limit can be critical.
How to Count Characters in Word (Windows & Mac)
Here’s how you can access the character count in Word in just a few clicks:
✅ Steps:
- Open your Word document
- Go to the Review tab in the top menu
- Click on Word Count
- A box will appear showing detailed statistics
- You’ll see Characters (with spaces) and Characters (no spaces)
📌 If you only want to count a section of the text, highlight it first before clicking “Word Count”.
How to Count Characters in Word Using a Shortcut
You can access the character count faster with a keyboard shortcut:
- Windows: Press
Ctrl + Shift + G - Mac: Press
Command + Shift + G
🎯 This opens the statistics window directly, saving you time and clicks.
How to Show Live Character Count While Typing
While Word doesn’t display a live counter by default, you can keep the Word Count window open:
- Open Word Count
- Check the box “Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes” (optional)
- Leave the window open — it updates automatically as you type
💡 Ideal for real-time monitoring when you’re writing to a strict limit.
Character Count in Word Online
If you’re using Word in a browser:
- Open your document in Word Online
- Go to the Review tab
- Click Word Count
- It will show the character count including spaces
🧠 Note: Word Online only displays characters with spaces. For more details, switch to the desktop version.
Tips for Accurate Character Counting
- 🖋️ Always check if the limit includes spaces
- 📋 Use selection to check specific sections
- 📄 Watch for hidden text, footnotes, or headers
- 🧼 Clear formatting to avoid unexpected counts
For accurate reports or strict submissions, double-check the numbers before you hit send.
FAQs: Character Count in Word
How do I see the character count in Word?
Click Review > Word Count, or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + G on Windows.
Can I count characters for just part of the text?
Yes. Highlight the section first, then open Word Count to see stats for only that selection.
What’s the difference between character count with and without spaces?
With spaces includes all characters, including blank spaces. Without excludes them.
Does Word count characters in footnotes and headers?
Only if you check the Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes option.
Is there a live character count feature in Word?
No default live counter, but you can leave the Word Count window open to monitor changes as you type.
Can I see the character count in Word Online?
Yes, but only the total with spaces is shown. Advanced options require the desktop version.
Conclusion: Use Character Count in Word Like a Pro
Now that you know how to use the character count in Word, you can stay on top of text limits and structure your writing more efficiently. Whether you’re working on a thesis, job application, or SEO meta description, Word gives you all the tools you need.
Start using these tips today and take full control of your content’s length and formatting!
Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.
https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/
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