This sentence counter tells you exactly how many sentences your text contains and, just as usefully, how long they are on average. It counts as you type, so you can watch your writing tighten up in real time.
Sentence length is one of the biggest drivers of readability. Long, winding sentences are the most common reason writing feels heavy — this tool makes the problem visible so you can fix it.
How to use the sentence counter
- Paste or type your text into the box.
- Read the sentence total at the top and the average words per sentence figure below.
- If the average is high, look for sentences joined by “and”, “but” or commas and split them.
- Re-check the average as you edit — aim to bring it into a comfortable range.
How sentences are detected
Sentences are identified by their ending punctuation — periods, question marks, exclamation points and ellipses. The counter handles decimal numbers and common titles such as “Dr.”, and counts a final fragment as a sentence. Sentence detection is an estimate: unusual abbreviations and ambiguous punctuation can still need manual checking.
What is a good sentence length?
There is no single correct number, but these ranges are a helpful guide for different audiences:
| Average sentence length | Reads as |
|---|---|
| Under 14 words | Punchy, very easy to read |
| 15–20 words | Clear and comfortable for most readers |
| 21–25 words | Getting dense; vary your lengths |
| Over 25 words | Often hard to follow; consider splitting |
The goal is not to make every sentence short, but to vary length so your writing has rhythm.
Where a sentence counter helps
Students use it to meet assignment requirements phrased in sentences. Copywriters and bloggers use it to keep prose scannable. Language learners use it to practise writing in complete, correctly punctuated sentences.