Sentence Counter
Count the sentences in your text and see how long they run — average length, longest and shortest — as you type.
Start typing or paste your text — the counts update live.
Longest sentence
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Shortest sentence
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About this tool
Sentence length quietly controls how readable your writing feels. Essays, articles and speeches all drag when every sentence runs 30 words; they feel choppy when every sentence is five. This counter shows your sentence count and average sentence length, and surfaces your longest and shortest sentences so you can spot the ones worth splitting or joining.
Sentences are detected by ending punctuation (. ! ? …), including closing quotes and brackets. Web addresses, email addresses and version numbers (2.0.1) never create false sentences, abbreviations like Dr. and Mt. are handled — including when one ends the sentence — and Japanese sentence punctuation (。！？) is recognised. The tool runs in your browser, so drafts are never uploaded.
How to use it
- Paste your text into the box.
- Check the sentence count and average words per sentence.
- Review the longest sentence — if it is far above the average, it is usually the first one to split.
Frequently asked questions
How are sentences counted?
A sentence is counted each time ending punctuation (. ! ? or …) closes a statement. Dots inside web addresses, emails, decimals and version numbers are ignored, and common abbreviations (Dr., Mr., Mt., U.S.A. and similar) are recognised — whether they sit mid-sentence or close it. Any automated counter is still approximate on deliberately fragmented or highly stylised text.
What is a good average sentence length?
For general readers, 15–20 words per sentence is a comfortable average. Academic writing often runs longer; marketing copy usually shorter. Variety matters more than any single target.
Does it work for paragraphs too?
Yes — paste a full document and the counts cover all of it. The Word Counter adds paragraph counts if you need those as well.