Tools
Sentence counter
Count the sentences in your text to keep an eye on pace and readability.
About this tool
Knowing how many sentences a text has helps you manage its pace. Very long sentences are tiring and harder to follow, especially on the web and on phones; an average of 15 to 20 words per sentence usually reads comfortably. This tool counts sentences and shows the average length, which is handy when editing blog posts, plain-English documents, sales emails or school essays.
Paste your text into the box. The number of sentences is highlighted at the top, with the average words per sentence underneath. If the average is high, look for sentences that string together clauses with commas and “which” and split them; the figure updates as you edit. The other figures (words, characters, paragraphs and reading times) stay visible, and “Copy stats” copies them all.
A sentence ends with a full stop, question mark, exclamation mark or ellipsis followed by a space; decimals and web addresses do not break a sentence. A heading or line with no final full stop counts as a sentence if it sits in its own paragraph. Abbreviations with a full stop (Mr., e.g.) may add the odd extra sentence. Everything runs in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
How many words should a sentence have?
There is no fixed rule, but plain-English guides suggest an average of 15 to 20 words and avoiding sentences over 30. Mixing short and long sentences gives better rhythm.
Why do I get more sentences than I expected?
Usually because of abbreviations with a full stop followed by a space, such as “Dr.” or “approx.”, or headings without a full stop in their own paragraph, which also count.
Does it work with other languages?
Yes. Sentences are detected from punctuation, which works the same way in English, Spanish, Basque and most European languages.
Can I see which sentences are too long?
The tool gives the count and the average rather than marking individual sentences. If the average is above about 20 words, read the text looking for sentences with several commas.