Paragraph count
The number of paragraphs in your text. Paragraphs are split on blank lines. If there are no blank lines, each non-empty line is counted as its own paragraph.
Paragraph and Sentence Counter
Count the paragraphs, sentences, words, and characters in your text as you type. See the average number of sentences per paragraph and words per sentence, plus a breakdown for each paragraph. Everything runs in your browser, so your text stays on your device.
0 words
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Paragraphs
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Characters
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Avg. sentences per paragraph0
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About counting paragraphs and sentences
What does a paragraph and sentence counter do?
Paragraph and sentence counter calculates how many paragraphs and sentences you have in the input text, along with the word and character totals, and it updates live as you type or paste. It also works out the average number of sentences per paragraph and words per sentence, so you can see at a glance whether your writing is balanced or whether some paragraphs are doing too much work.
Why use our counter
- ·Free. No signup, no paywall, no limits.
- ·Runs in your browser. Nothing gets uploaded, your text stays with you.
- ·Live counts. Every number updates as you type, with no button to press.
- ·Per-paragraph view. See the counts for each paragraph on its own, not just a single total.
- ·Averages. Spot paragraphs that run long and sentences that could be split up.
How paragraphs and sentences are counted
Sentence count
The number of sentences, found by looking for full stops, question marks, and exclamation marks. Groups like '...' or '?!' count as one ending, and a line with no full stop still counts as one sentence.
Word count
The total number of words, split on spaces and line breaks. This is the count most essays, articles, and posts are measured by.
Character count
The total number of characters, including spaces. A second count with spaces removed is shown as well, which is useful for fields with a strict character limit.
Averages
The average number of sentences per paragraph and words per sentence. These help you spot paragraphs that run long or sentences that could be split up.
Breakdown by paragraph
A table showing the sentence, word, and character count for each paragraph on its own, so you can see how your text is balanced from top to bottom.
How long should a paragraph or sentence be?
There is no single rule, but these common guidelines help you read the counts above:
| Writing | Typical guideline |
|---|---|
| School essays | 3 to 5 sentences per paragraph, with one main idea each |
| Web pages and emails | 2 to 4 sentences per paragraph, since long blocks are hard to read on a phone |
| Sentence length | An average of 15 to 20 words reads easily. The UK government's writing guide suggests keeping sentences under 25 words |
If the average words per sentence is well above 20, look in the paragraph breakdown for the longest paragraph and try splitting a sentence or two.
When the sentence count can be off
Sentences are found by their ending punctuation followed by a space, so a few things can throw the count:
- ·Abbreviations.
Dr. Smith arrived. He sat down.counts as 3 sentences, because the full stop after Dr is followed by a space. The same goes for e.g., U.S., and similar short forms. - ·Numbers are safe. A decimal like 3.50 has no space after the dot, so it does not split a sentence.
- ·Lists and headings. A line with no full stop at the end, like a heading or a bullet point, still counts as one sentence.
When to count paragraphs and sentences
Counting the parts of your writing helps whenever length or structure matters. Here are the most common reasons people use this counter:
- ·Essays and assignments. Meet a paragraph or sentence requirement and check that your paragraphs are a reasonable length.
- ·Clearer writing. Find long sentences and dense paragraphs so you can break them up and make the text easier to read.
- ·Language learning. Practice writing a set number of sentences per paragraph and see your progress.
- ·SEO and content. Keep paragraphs short and readable for the web, where big walls of text drive readers away.
- ·Editing and proofreading. Get a quick feel for the shape of a draft before you start rewriting.
Frequently asked questions
- How does the tool count paragraphs?
- It splits your text on blank lines, so each block separated by an empty line is one paragraph. If your text has no blank lines, each non-empty line is treated as its own paragraph instead.
- How does it count sentences?
- It looks for full stops, question marks, and exclamation marks that end a sentence. A run of punctuation like '...' or '?!' counts as a single ending. If a paragraph has words but no ending punctuation, it still counts as one sentence.
- Why is a sentence count sometimes off?
- Abbreviations like 'Dr.' or 'e.g.' and decimal numbers like '3.5' contain full stops that are not sentence endings, so they can push the count up. The result is very close for normal writing, but treat it as a close estimate rather than a perfect number.
- Does it count as I type?
- Yes. Every count updates live while you type or paste, so you never need to press a button. Clear the box with the trash icon to start over.
- Is the paragraph and sentence counter free?
- Yes, it is completely free with no signup, no limits, and no watermarks. Use it as often as you like.
- Is my text safe and private?
- Your text never leaves your browser. All counting runs locally on your device, so nothing is uploaded to a server. Once the page has loaded you can even use it offline.