How to Check Word Count of Highlighted Text in Google Docs

Want to know how many words you’ve typed up in your Google Doc? Well, you’re in luck! Checking the word count of highlighted text in Google Docs is super easy and quick. With just a few clicks, you can see how many words you’ve typed without counting them one by one. Let’s dive right in!

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Check Word Count of Highlighted Text in Google Docs

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s get a clear picture of what we’re about to do. We’re going to highlight the text we want to count, and then we’ll find out how many words are in that selection. Simple, right?

Step 1: Open your Google Doc

First things first, open the document you want to check the word count for.

Opening your Google Doc is as simple as clicking on it from your Google Drive or recent documents. Make sure you’re logged into the correct Google account if you have more than one.

Step 2: Highlight the text

Next, click and drag your cursor over the text you want to count.

Highlighting the text is like using a highlighter on paper – but without the neon colors. You can also hold down the shift key and use the arrow keys to select the text if you prefer.

Step 3: Right-click the highlighted text

After you’ve highlighted your text, right-click on it to bring up a menu.

If you’re on a Mac, you might need to hold down the ‘control’ key and click instead of right-clicking. Either way, a little menu should pop up on your screen.

Step 4: Click on “Word count”

In the menu that appeared, you should see an option that says “Word count.” Give that a click.

This is like asking a friend to count the words for you, but way faster. Google Docs will do the counting and give you the results in a flash.

Step 5: View the word count for the highlighted text

A small window will pop up, showing you the word count for the text you’ve selected.

The window will show you not only the word count but also the character count, with and without spaces. It’s like a mini report on your text selection.

After completing these steps, you’ll have a clear count of how many words your selected text contains. This can be super handy for meeting word count requirements for essays, articles, or even tweets if you’re drafting them in Google Docs first.

Tips for Checking Word Count of Highlighted Text in Google Docs

• Make sure you’ve highlighted only the text you want to count. Accidentally including extra words will mess up your count!
• If you want to check the word count of your entire document, you don’t need to highlight anything – just go to “Tools” and then “Word count.”
• Remember that different formatting, like bullet points or numbered lists, can affect how Google Docs counts words.
• If you’re using Google Docs on a mobile device, the process might be slightly different, so keep that in mind.
• Don’t forget that you can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+C (or Command+Shift+C on a Mac) to open the word count window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the word count feature count words in footnotes?

Yes, Google Docs includes words in footnotes in the total word count. However, if you only highlight text in the main body of the document, it will not count the words in the footnotes.

Can I see the word count as I type?

Yes, there’s an option to display the word count while you type. Go to “Tools,” click on “Word count,” and check the box that says “Display word count while typing.”

Does the word count feature include text in headers and footers?

Just like with footnotes, words in headers and footers are included in the total word count but not in the highlighted text count unless you specifically highlight them.

Can I use the word count feature on the Google Docs mobile app?

Yes, you can! The process might vary slightly, but you should be able to find a “Word count” option in the menu of the mobile app as well.

Can the word count feature count characters as well?

Absolutely! When you check the word count, you’ll also see the character count, both with and without spaces.

Summary

1. Open your Google Doc.
2. Highlight the text.
3. Right-click the highlighted text.
4. Click on “Word count.”
5. View the word count for the highlighted text.

Conclusion

Mastering the word count feature in Google Docs is a piece of cake once you know how. Whether you’re trying to hit a specific word count for a project or just curious about how much you’ve written, this tool is incredibly handy. Remember, understanding how to check word count of highlighted text in Google Docs is just one of the many features that can help streamline your writing process and make your life a little bit easier. So next time you’re knee-deep in writing, give it a whirl and watch as Google Docs does the heavy lifting for you. Happy writing!