Word and character counter for competition entries
Check a short answer, caption or artist statement while you edit. Set your own limit or try the common presets.
Your text is processed in this browser and is not sent to an AI service.
When every word has a job
Use the first draft to say what you mean, then remove repetition. Specific details usually earn their space more readily than openings such as “I would like to say that”. Keep the part that answers the brief, not just the phrase you enjoyed writing most.
For a 25-word answer, work towards the limit rather than trying to squeeze a much longer paragraph into it. Read the finished line aloud and check that it still sounds like you. Our guide to writing a competition statement includes a practical editing example.
Counting methods can differ
This counter treats hyphenated words and contractions as one word. It counts words containing letters or numbers; punctuation on its own is not a word. Character counts include punctuation, with separate figures including and excluding whitespace. Joined emoji are counted as one visible character in browsers that support that feature.
The organiser may use different software, include your title in the limit or count certain symbols differently. If the rules specify a method, use that method for the final check. Your text is not automatically saved.