How to Count Words in Google Docs, Word, and PDFs
Every writing app can count words, but the count is not always where you expect, and it does not always include the same things. A PDF is harder again, because it is a display format rather than an editable document. Knowing the route in each app saves you from copying the whole document into a website just to check a limit.
The Word Counter is the quickest check for a passage you have already copied. For a document that is still being edited, the app’s own counter is usually more convenient.
Quick answer
In Google Docs, use Tools > Word count or Ctrl+Shift+C. In Word, the count is on the Review tab or the status bar. In a PDF, the count depends on whether the text is selectable; if it is, copy it into a counter. If it is a scan, run OCR first. Check whether the count includes footnotes, headers, and text boxes, because the apps differ.
Google Docs
Open the document and use Tools > Word count, or press Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows and Cmd+Shift+C on a Mac. The dialog shows pages, words, and characters. Tick “Display word count while typing” to keep a small counter in the corner. That is useful during a timed exam or a strict assignment.
Google Docs counts the main body, including headings and inline citations. It may not include text in headers, footers, or footnotes in the same way as the body. If your limit includes those, check them separately or ask whether they count.
Microsoft Word
The word count is on the Review tab, in the Proofing group. It is also in the status bar at the bottom of the window; click the number to open the dialog. The dialog can include text boxes, footnotes, and endnotes if you tick the option. That matters for a limit that excludes notes, or one that includes them.
Word’s status bar count is for the whole document by default. If you select a passage, the status bar shows the count for the selection instead. That is the fastest way to check one section without opening a dialog.
PDFs
If the PDF has selectable text, open it, select all, copy, and paste into the Word Counter. Check the paste for line breaks and hyphenated words that were split across lines; those can inflate the count. If the PDF is a scan, the text is an image and cannot be selected. Run OCR first, then check the result against the page.
Some PDF readers show a word count in their properties or statistics panel. Treat that number as a rough guide. It may count page numbers, headers, and repeated footers as text. For an academic limit, the body text is what matters, and a PDF is a poor place to measure it.
What the number includes
Word counts usually include headings, table text, and inline citations. They may exclude references, appendices, and captions, depending on the app and the setting. The only way to know is to test: copy a known section, count it, and compare. If the numbers differ, the difference tells you what is being included.
For a strict limit, count the text in the same form you will submit. If the final file is a PDF, export it and check the selectable text rather than the Word source. For the difference between word and character limits, read Word Count vs Character Count. For the general method, see How Many Words Is a 5-Minute Speech?.
Common questions
Does Google Docs count footnotes in the word count?
The main word count covers the document body, including headings and inline text. Footnotes and text in some other elements may not be included in the same total. If your limit includes notes, copy them into a separate count or check the setting in your submission instructions.
How do I count words in a scanned PDF?
A scanned PDF contains images, not selectable text, so a normal copy will not work. Run OCR to turn the pages into text, then paste the result into a word counter. Check the OCR output against the page, because recognition errors can add or remove words.
Should references count towards the word limit?
It depends on the brief. A common convention excludes the reference list, tables, and appendices, but many departments count in-text citations. Read the instructions or ask the course lead. If the rule is unclear, submit within the limit even with the references included, which is the safer choice.