Word count
Words are separated using text patterns, so hyphenated words, apostrophes and non-Latin scripts may count differently from an editor.
Text statistics explained — Guide
Guidance for Letter and Character Counter. Practical instructions, limitations, and accuracy tips.
This article explains the use and limitations of the interactive tool. No signup is required. Output can be approximate and should not substitute for authoritative sources when the stakes are high.
Characters
Character counts usually include spaces and punctuation unless the tool explicitly shows a separate count.
Reading time
A reading-time estimate is based on average reading speed. Technical material and unfamiliar language may take much longer.