How to Check Word Count on Google Sheets: A Step-by-Step Guide

Checking the word count on Google Sheets is a helpful skill for anyone working with text data in their spreadsheets. Whether you’re a student tracking the length of an essay or a professional analyzing customer feedback, knowing how to find the word count can save you time and effort. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to easily accomplish this task.

Step by Step Tutorial: Checking Word Count on Google Sheets

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we’re aiming to achieve. By following this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use a simple formula to count the number of words in a cell or range of cells in Google Sheets.

Step 1: Select the cell or range of cells

Select the cell or range of cells where you want to count the words.

When you select the cell or range, make sure it contains the text for which you want to count the words. If you select a cell with a number, the word count will be zero.

Step 2: Enter the formula

Type the formula =LEN(TRIM(text))-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(text, " ", ""))+1 into the formula bar, replacing text with the cell reference.

This formula works by calculating the length of the text, then subtracting the length of the text without spaces, and adding 1. This gives you the total number of words, assuming words are separated by a single space.

Step 3: Press Enter

After typing the formula, press Enter to execute it.

Once you press Enter, the cell where you entered the formula will display the word count for the selected text. If you’ve selected a range, you might need to drag the fill handle to apply the formula to the entire range.

After completing these steps, you should have the word count displayed in your Google Sheets. This simple formula can be a powerful tool when working with large amounts of text data.

Tips for Checking Word Count on Google Sheets

• Ensure that you’re counting words in a text format cell; numbers won’t have a word count.
• If your text has double spaces or special characters, the word count might be off.
• Use the fill handle to drag the formula across multiple cells to count words in a range.
• The formula is case insensitive, meaning it doesn’t differentiate between uppercase and lowercase letters.
• To count words in multiple cells at once, use the SUM function along with the word count formula.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my text has punctuation?

The basic word count formula doesn’t account for punctuation. Words followed by punctuation will still be counted as words.

Can I count words across multiple columns?

Yes, you can count words across multiple columns by using a combination of the word count formula and a function like CONCATENATE to merge text from different cells.

What if my text has line breaks?

The formula counts line breaks as spaces, so the word count will include words separated by line breaks.

Can I use this formula to count characters instead?

Absolutely! Just use the LEN function on its own to count the number of characters in a cell.

Is there a way to count the words in the entire sheet?

Counting words in the entire sheet requires a more complex formula or script and might not be feasible with a simple formula.

Summary

1. Select the cell or range of cells.
2. Enter the formula.
3. Press Enter.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to check word count on Google Sheets, you’ve unlocked a new level of productivity when dealing with text data. Whether you’re summarizing customer reviews, writing articles, or keeping track of word counts for academic purposes, this simple yet effective formula will streamline your workflow. Remember, the key to success with any new skill is practice, so don’t be afraid to experiment with the formula and adjust it to fit your specific needs. Happy counting, and may your Google Sheets endeavors be ever efficient and fruitful!