I. Introduction
Writing is an essential skill to have in every aspect of life, whether it’s for work, school, personal projects or just personal enrichment. If you are writing for any reason, having the ability to track the word count of your document is vital to stay on track and meet your writing goals. This is where Google Docs comes in handy, as it offers a range of features that make document creation and editing, including word count tracking, very simple. In this article, we will guide you on how to check the word count on Google Docs, compare different methods to do so, and explore hidden tricks to improve productivity.
II. Step-by-Step Guide on How to Check Word Count on Google Docs
Google Docs’ word count feature is simple to use and can be accessed in various ways.
Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Open your document in Google Docs.
- Go to the ‘Tools’ menu at the top of the page.
- Click on ‘Word Count’, and a box will appear displaying the number of words in your document.
The above method is the most straightforward way to see your document’s word count. However, it might not always be the most efficient method for you.
To save time, you can use the keyboard shortcut ‘Ctrl + Shift + C’ on Windows or ‘Command + Shift + C’ on Mac to open the word count box. Furthermore, if you select a part of your document, the word count box will show the number of words in the selected area only.
Additionally, you can use different add-ons to find word count, such as ‘Doc Tools’ or ‘EasyBib’. These add-ons offer more advanced features than the built-in word count option.
III. Comparing Different Ways to See Word Count on Google Docs
Google Docs provides users with various methods to check word count. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.
The first and most straightforward method is to use the built-in word count feature. This method is simple to use and takes only a few clicks. However, it may not be the most efficient method for those who check and adjust their word count frequently.
The second method, which utilizes the keyboard shortcut, is faster than the first method. Users who frequently check their word count will benefit from using the keyboard shortcut. However, users who are not familiar with keyboard shortcuts might find this method hard to use or remember.
Finally, add-ons offer the most features but are not native to Google Docs. This means that users will have to install them beforehand. Add-ons can also add unnecessary complexity to the document, making it hard to use on other platforms.
The best method for you depends on your preferences and needs. If you need a simple and straightforward way to check word count, the built-in feature will suffice. If you require more features, you can install add-ons. But if you need a fast and efficient way to check your word count, the keyboard shortcut option is the way to go.
IV. How to Deal with Word Count Not Showing on Google Docs
Word count not showing can be frustrating and may affect productivity. However, there are ways to fix this issue.
The first reason why word count might not be showing is that the document is in ‘Print Layout View’. This view hides word count. Switch the view to ‘Normal’ or ‘Compact’ to show word count.
The second reason is that the word count box is closed. This can be fixed by opening the box using the methods stated in section II.
The third reason is that the document is corrupted. In this case, making a copy of the document and pasting its text into a new document might fix the issue.
The final reason is that the document is password-protected. A password-protected document does not show word count unless unlocked.
V. How to Track Your Writing Progress Using the Word Count Feature on Google Docs
Tracking writing progress has many advantages, including staying on track with word count goals and improving productivity. Google Docs has a built-in feature that allows you to track your writing progress effectively.
Here is how to set up a document tracker on Google Docs:
- Open an empty document.
- Click on ‘Insert’ in the toolbar.
- Select ‘Drawing’ from the dropdown menu.
- Draw a table with two columns and ten to twenty rows.
- Click ‘Save and Close’ and place the table where you want it to be in the document.
- In the left column, write your initial word count for that session, and in the right column, indicate the word count that you want to reach by the end of the writing session.
- Check your progress regularly and adjust your writing session accordingly.
Using this tracker, you can see your progress, stay on track, and celebrate milestones, which can improve productivity and motivation.
VI. Unleashing the Full Potential of Google Docs: Exploring the Word Count Feature and its Hidden Tricks
Google Docs has some less known but helpful features to enhance the word count feature’s potential:
- Increase/decrease text font size: Changing the font size can impact your document’s word count, making it helpful to use this feature to adjust your word count issues.
- ‘Ctrl + Shift + L’: This shortcut activates the built-in outline feature. It consists of the title, subtitle, and headings in your document and displays their word count. This feature saves your time by knowing the word count for sections and identifying which sections have too many or too few words. you can adjust the content quickly and easily.
- ‘Wordclouds’: With third-party add-ons like ‘MonkeyLearn’ or ‘TagCrowd’, you can create a visual representation of the words you’ve used most frequently in your document. This can be helpful as you might require your writing to emphasize on particular words or themes.
VII. Conclusion
All in all, Google Docs is a powerful tool that can help improve writing productivity and creativity. This article explored how to check word count on Google Docs in multiple ways, compare the effectiveness of each approach, and provided tips and tricks to make tracking word count more efficient. Additionally, we explored helpful hidden features of the word count feature, such as outline feature, font size change, wordclouds, add-ons, and more.
Hopefully, this article has equipped you with everything you need to track your writing progress, troubleshoot any word count issues, and maximize Google Docs to become more productive and achieve your writing goals.