Catalog

Ways to Count and Control Words per Page

January 16, 2024 3.8K views

As a student or writer, you might face the challenge of meeting the word count and page count requirements of an essay or document. It can be frustrating to write without knowing how many words you need to allocate to each page. This article aims to help you with this problem by providing you with useful tips on how to determine the number of words per page.

Part 1: How Many Words per Page

Before we dive into how to count the number of words on a page and control the number of words per page, let's first answer the question of how many words fit on a page. The answer to this question varies depending on a few factors, such as font size, line spacing, and margins.

How Many Words per Page in Google Docs

According to the website "SuiteGuides", the number of words per page in Google Docs a can vary depending on the formatting, font size, and spacing of the document.

Assuming a font size of 12 points, single-spaced text, and standard margins, an average page in Google Docs would contain approximately 500 words. However, this number may be higher or lower depending on the specific document settings and content.

It's important to note that word count is not the only factor in determining the length of a page, as the amount of text that fits on a page can also be affected by other factors such as images, tables, and headings.

While meeting the word count and page count requirements is important, the quality of your writing and the coherence of your ideas should always take priority. It's better to have a well-written, concise essay that meets the minimum requirements rather than a long, rambling essay that doesn't effectively communicate your ideas.

How Many Words per Page in MS Word

In other words, the default page size of MS Word is also similar to that of its competitor, which is the letter-sized page with 1-inch margins. However, by using Arial font size 12 as a reference, we can see that Microsoft Word can accommodate slightly more words per page.

For instance, a single-spaced MS Word page can contain around 550 words, whereas a 1.5 spaced page can have approximately 375 words. Lastly, a double-spaced MS Word page can fit roughly 275 words. These figures can vary depending on the font type, font size, and spacing used, but they can serve as a general guide when writing documents using MS Word.

How Many Words per Page in WPS Word

Specifically in WPS word, for a page with 1 inch margins, 12 point Times New Roman font, and minimal spacing elements, a good rule of thumb is to aim for 500 words for a single-spaced page and 250 words for a double-spaced page. This means that the amount of text that can fit on a page can vary depending on these factors.

It is essential to consider additional elements such as tables, images, and headings that can impact the amount of text that can fit on a page. Ignoring these elements can result in a document that is difficult to read or that contains too much information on a single page, making it overwhelming for the reader.

A Good Tool to Figure Out Words per Page

If you're struggling to figure out the number of words per page in your document, a useful tool to consider is WordCounter.net. This online word counters tool provides a quick and easy way to calculate the number of words per page based on the font size, line spacing, and margins of your document.

WordCounter.net can provide a useful ballpark figure to help you estimate the length of your document. Additionally, this tool can also provide valuable insights into the reading level, keyword density, and other metrics that can be helpful for SEO writing.

Here are the steps to use WordCounter.net to determine the number of words per page in your document:

1. Open your web browser and navigate to this URL: WordCounter.net.

2. Enter the font size, line spacing, and margins for your document in the corresponding fields. You can also choose whether your document is single-spaced or double-spaced.

3. Once you've entered all the required information, WordCounter.net will provide you with an estimate of the number of words per page based on the information you provided.

Estimated number of pages for 5000 words



WordCounter.net can be a helpful tool to give you a general idea of the number of words per page in your document. Additionally, it offers other features such as analysis of keyword density and reading level that can be useful for SEO writing.

Part 2: Two Ways to Count Words per Page

Now that we know the importance of knowing how many words are in one page, let's explore two ways to count words per page. These features are both available in WPS Office.

Trustpilot

stars

4.8
WPS Office- Free All-in-One Office Suite
  • Use Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE, No Ads.

  • Edit PDF files with the powerful PDF toolkit.

  • Microsoft-like interface. Easy to learn. 100% Compatibility.

  • Boost your productivity with WPS's abundant free Word, Excel, PPT, and CV templates.

5,820,008 User

avator

Algirdas Jasaitis
Look at the Status Bar

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use the status bar to count words per page:

1. Open the WPS Office document that you want to count the number of words per page for.

2. Look for the status bar at the bottom of the document. It should display the number of words in the document.

3. Right-click on the status bar, and a pop-up menu should appear.

4. Make sure that "Word Count" is selected. If not, click on "Word Count" to enable it.

Pros and Cons of Using Status Bar to Count Words per Page

Pros

1. Convenient: Using the status bar to count words per page is a convenient method as it is easily accessible at the bottom of the document.

2. Quick: It provides a quick way to know the number of words on a page without having to go through the entire page.

3. Real-time counting: The word count on the status bar is updated in real-time, making it easy to keep track of the progress of your writing.

Cons

1. Does not apply to all software: While the status bar is a useful tool for many word processing programs, not all software includes this feature.

2. Limited information: The status bar only shows the word count, and it doesn't provide other information such as the number of characters, paragraphs, or lines.

3. Distraction: Constantly checking the status bar can be a distraction and may disrupt your writing flow.

Use the Word Count

Here are the steps to use the built-in word count feature in Google Docs. This feature is available in most word processing software such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and WPS Office.

1. Open your document in Microsoft Word.

2. Click on the "Tools" tab in the top menu.


3. Click on the "Word Count" button. A pop-up window will appear that shows you the word count for the entire document, including the number of pages, paragraphs, and characters.

word count from tools tab



Pros and Cons of Using the Word Count Feature

Pros

1. Flexibility: Applies to all software, not just specific programs like the status bar.

2. Customization: Word count features often come with customization options, such as the ability to exclude footnotes, endnotes, or headings from the word count.

3. Accuracy: Using the built-in word count feature ensures accuracy in determining the number of words in your document, as it is a precise count.

Cons

1. Complex Steps: Can be more complicated than looking at the status bar, especially if you're not familiar with the software.

2. Access Issues: May not be as visually integrated into the document as the status bar.

Part 3: Why is it important to know how many words are on per page?

Knowing the number of words per page is essential for several reasons. First, it helps you to allocate your content evenly across the pages. For example, if you need to write a 1500-word essay, you can divide it into five pages, with each page containing approximately 300 words. This ensures that your content is well-organized and easy to read.

Second, it helps you to stay within the page limit. Most academic papers or essays have a page limit, and exceeding it can result in a lower grade. By knowing the average number of words per page, you can ensure that your content fits within the required page limit.

Third, it helps you to manage your time more effectively. By knowing the average number of words per page, you can estimate how long it will take you to write a specific number of pages.

FAQs

Q1. Other Factors that Affect Word Count & Doc Length?

There are several other factors that can affect the word count and document length, such as

  • Font Selection

  • Text Size

  • Margin Width

  • Subheading Usage

  • The Presence of Images, Charts and Tables

Using a larger font size or wider margins can increase the number of pages, while using a smaller font size or narrower margins can decrease the number of pages.

Q2. How many pages is 300/400/500/… words?

The number of pages that 300, 400, 500, or any other number of words will take up depends on the font size, font type, line spacing, and margin size used in the document. However, as a general rule of thumb, a page with standard formatting (12-point font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins) will contain approximately 250-300 words.

Number of Pages Based on Word Count


      

Final Thoughts on Counting and Controlling Words per Page

In conclusion, determining the number of words per page is essential for meeting the word count and page count requirements of your document. In this article, we discussed two ways to count words per page, why it's important to know, and some common FAQs. We also recommended using WPS Office to make the process easier.

At the end of the day, tools like WPS Office can be a lifesaver for those looking to control their word count and page length. Its built-in word counter, along with other features like font and margin adjustment, make it a great choice for anyone looking to produce high-quality documents quickly and efficiently.

With these tips, you can now write with confidence and meet your document requirements efficiently.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.