Sentence Counter
Count sentences, paragraphs, and more in your text with a single click.
Frequently Asked Questions
About this calculator
Count the sentences, words and paragraphs in any text, and see the average sentence length. Short sentences make writing easier to read, and this tells you quickly if yours are too long.
Sentences are counted by the full stops, question marks and exclamation marks that end them, so abbreviations such as 'Dr.' or 'e.g.' can add a count. For a rough editing check it is reliable.
How to use it
- Paste your text.
- Read the sentence, word and paragraph counts.
- Divide words by sentences for the average sentence length.
Method
Sentences are counted at terminal punctuation: . ? !. Average sentence length is words ÷ sentences. Plain-English guidance suggests an average of about 15 to 20 words.
Worked example
Hi there. How are you? Fine!
| Sentences | 3 |
| Words | 6 |
| Average length | 2 words |
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Tips and common mistakes
- Aim for an average of 15 to 20 words a sentence in web writing.
- Break any sentence over 30 words into two.
- Vary sentence length for rhythm.
- Abbreviations and decimals may add extra counts.
- Read aloud: if you run out of breath, split the sentence.
Frequently asked questions
How does the tool count sentences?
By counting terminal punctuation marks: full stops, question marks and exclamation marks.
What is a good average sentence length?
About 15 to 20 words for general readers.
Does it count incomplete sentences?
A fragment without terminal punctuation is not counted.
Why count sentences?
To check readability and meet length requirements.
Do abbreviations affect it?
They can, because they contain full stops.
Is it free?
Yes.