How to use the sentence counter
- 1 Type or paste your text into the box.
- 2 Read the totals: sentences, words, average words per sentence, longest sentence and sentences over 25 words.
- 3 Read the short verdict on your average sentence length.
- 4 Scroll the list to find highlighted long sentences and shorten them.
Writing clearer sentences
Aim for an average of fifteen to twenty words and split anything over twenty-five. Look at paragraph balance with the Paragraph Counter, and estimate how long the text takes to read with the Reading Time Calculator.
- Split long sentences at and, but or which.
- Mix short and medium sentences for rhythm.
- Add full stops to list items for an accurate count.
Features
Sentence statistics
Count, average length and longest sentence.
Every sentence listed
Each one shown with its word count.
Readability hint
A plain-English verdict on your average sentence length.
When to use it
Clear writing
Find long sentences in reports and emails and split them. For paragraph lengths, use the Paragraph Counter.
Essays with limits
Check sentence counts for tasks that ask for a set number of sentences.
Teaching writing
Show students how sentence length affects readability.
Web content
Shorter sentences suit mobile readers. Check the full text with the Word Counter and Reading Time Calculator.
Related Text tasks
Frequently asked questions
How are sentences detected?
A sentence ends with a full stop, question mark, exclamation mark or ellipsis followed by a space. Common abbreviations such as Mr., Dr., e.g. and i.e. are not treated as sentence ends.
What is a good average sentence length?
For most readers, an average of fifteen to twenty words is comfortable. Plain English guides suggest keeping most sentences under twenty-five words.
Why are some sentences highlighted?
Sentences longer than twenty-five words are marked, because they are harder to follow. Not every long sentence is wrong, but they are worth a second look.
Why is the count slightly different from my word processor?
Tools differ in how they treat abbreviations, numbers, lists and headings. Headings without a full stop may join the next sentence, for example.
Does a list count as sentences?
List items without full stops may be counted as one long sentence. Add full stops or count the list separately for accuracy.
Can I check text in other languages?
Yes, for languages that use full stops, question marks and exclamation marks. Languages with other sentence marks may count differently.
How do I shorten a long sentence?
Split it where you use and, but or which, remove filler words, and move extra details into a new sentence.
Why does sentence length matter for readability?
Long sentences ask readers to hold many ideas at once. Readability scores, such as Flesch Reading Ease, rise when sentences are shorter, which is why plain English guides recommend an average below twenty words.
Can I use it for essays with a sentence limit?
Yes. Paste your answer and read the total. The numbered list makes it easy to see which sentences to merge or remove to meet the limit.
Is my text kept private?
Yes. The counting runs in your browser, and your text is never uploaded.
How this tool works. These text tools run entirely in your browser with plain JavaScript, so the text you paste never leaves your device and results update as you type. Each tool is tested with real text such as copied PDFs, emails, code, lists, emojis and non-English scripts before it goes live.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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