Sentence Counter

Count sentences and keep them readable

Sentence counts matter when an assignment asks for “five to seven sentences”, when a summary or product description has a set length, and when you are editing for readability. Paste your writing and the sentence count updates instantly, along with the average number of words per sentence — a quick way to spot a draft that has drifted into long, hard-to-follow sentences.

How to count sentences

1. Type or paste your writing into the box, or choose Upload Document to open a .txt, .md, .docx, or .pdf file.
2. Read the sentence count at the top. It updates as you type, with no button to press.
3. Check average words per sentence below, along with words, characters, paragraphs, and lines.
4. Split or combine sentences in place and watch both numbers change, then use Copy Text to take the edited version with you.

How sentences are detected

The counter follows fixed punctuation rules rather than guessing, so the same text always gives the same result:

• A sentence ends at a period, question mark, exclamation point, or ellipsis followed by a space, a new line, or the end of the text.
• Repeated punctuation such as “?!”, “!!!”, or “...” ends one sentence, not several.
• Closing quotes and brackets stay with their sentence: She said, “Stop.” Then she left. is two sentences.
• Decimals and web addresses such as “3.14” and “example.com” do not end a sentence.
• Titles and common abbreviations — Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Prof., Sr., Jr., St., vs., e.g., i.e. — and single-letter initials like “J. R. R.” do not end a sentence.
• A new line ends a sentence, so each heading or list item counts as one even without a period.

Average words per sentence

The average is your word count divided by your sentence count. It doesn’t judge any single sentence, but it moves quickly when you split a long sentence in two or merge short ones, which makes it a handy dial while revising.

Your text stays on your device

• Sentences are counted by JavaScript running in your browser.
• Your text is never uploaded to Looty Tools or any other server.
• Uploaded documents are opened and read in your browser; the file itself is never sent to Looty Tools.
• Nothing is stored — refreshing or closing the page clears the box.

Limitations

• Uploads accept .txt and .md files up to 5 MB, Word .docx files up to 15 MB, and PDFs up to 25 MB and 50 pages. Older .doc files are not supported, and scanned or image-only PDFs have no text to count. Word headers and footers are not imported.
• Abbreviations outside the list above, such as “etc.” or “approx.”, end a sentence when more text follows them.
• An ellipsis followed by a space inside a sentence (“I think… maybe”) is counted as a sentence break.
• Text with a line break at the end of every line, such as poetry or plain-text email, counts each line as a sentence.
• Sentences are found by punctuation only; the counter does not check grammar, so a fragment ending in a period still counts.
• Designed for English-style punctuation, plus Chinese and Japanese full-width 。！？ marks. Languages that use other sentence marks may be undercounted.

Related text tools

• Word CounterCount the words in a block of text.
• Character CounterCount characters with or without spaces.
• Paragraph CounterCount the paragraphs in a piece of writing.
• Text to PDFTurn plain text into a clean PDF document.

Sentence Counter FAQ

How does the counter know where a sentence ends?

A sentence ends at a period, question mark, or exclamation point (or an ellipsis) that is followed by a space, a line break, or the end of the text. Closing quotation marks and brackets right after the punctuation stay with the sentence.

Does “?!” or “...” count as more than one sentence?

No. A run of end punctuation such as ?!, !!!, or ... ends a single sentence. A period inside a number or web address, like 3.14 or example.com, does not end a sentence because no space follows it.

Do abbreviations like “Dr.” or “e.g.” break the count?

Not the common ones. Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Prof., Sr., Jr., St., vs., e.g., i.e., and single-letter initials like “J.” are recognized and do not end a sentence. Other abbreviations, such as “etc.” in the middle of a sentence, may still be counted as a sentence break.

Why does a heading or list item count as a sentence?

Each new line is treated as the end of a sentence, so a heading, bullet point, or line of a list counts as one sentence even without end punctuation. This keeps lists and titles from merging into the sentence that follows them.

What does “average words per sentence” tell me?

It is your total word count divided by your sentence count. A rising average is a quick signal that sentences are getting longer and may be harder to follow, so it is a useful check when editing.

Can I upload a Word document or PDF instead of pasting?

Yes. Upload Document accepts .txt, .md, Word .docx, and text-based .pdf files, or you can drop a file onto the text box. The file is read in your browser — it is not sent to Looty Tools — and its text replaces whatever is in the box. Scanned PDFs without a text layer and older .doc files are not supported.

Is my writing uploaded?

No. Sentences are counted in your browser and your text never leaves your device or gets saved. Refreshing the page clears the box.