Sentence counter
Count the sentences and words in any text and see the average words per sentence — a quick readability signal. It is useful for writers, students and editors trimming long-winded prose, since shorter average sentences usually read more easily.
How it works
Sentences are detected by terminal punctuation — a period, exclamation mark, question mark or ellipsis — that ends a run of text. Each such run with at least one non-space character counts as one sentence. Words are counted as runs of non-whitespace characters, and the average is words divided by sentences, rounded to one decimal place.
average words per sentence = total words ÷ total sentences
Example
Take the text: “Hello there. How are you today? I am well!”
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sentences | 3 |
| Words | 8 |
| Average words per sentence | 2.7 |
Because detection relies on punctuation, abbreviations like Dr. or e.g. can occasionally be miscounted, so treat the result as a close estimate. Paste your text and the figures update instantly — everything is processed locally in your browser with no uploads.
What average sentence length tells you
Average words per sentence is one of the inputs to established readability formulas like Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, and SMOG. While those formulas weight syllables and polysyllabic words differently, sentence length alone is a useful quick check:
- Under 14 words — short, punchy, easy to skim. Good for news, app copy, instructions.
- 15–20 words — standard for general audience writing, web articles, and business emails.
- 21–30 words — acceptable for formal or academic writing where precision matters.
- Over 30 words — reader attention drops off. Each sentence carries too many ideas.
Most readability guides suggest mixing lengths: occasional short sentences add emphasis and let readers breathe, while moderately long sentences develop complex ideas. A flat average of 25 words across every sentence — regardless of variation — often reads more tiring than a range of 8 to 30 words with a similar mean.
Common edits to reduce average sentence length
If your average sentence length is higher than your target, the most effective edits are:
- Split on conjunctions — find sentences joined by “and,” “but,” or “so” where each clause is a complete thought. Cut the conjunction and start a new sentence.
- Convert relative clauses — “the report, which was written last week, shows…” becomes “the report shows… It was written last week.”
- Remove hedging chains — phrases like “it is worth noting that,” “it is important to remember that,” and “in order to” typically add length without adding meaning.
- Move parenthetical context — detail that needs a long parenthetical is often better placed in a following sentence.
Paste your revised text and recheck the average until it lands in your target range.