Sentence Counter
Count sentences online with smart abbreviation handling — see words, average sentence length, the longest sentence and estimated reading time.
About the Sentence Counter
This free sentence counter counts the sentences in any text and shows the statistics that actually improve writing: total sentences, total words, average words per sentence, the longest sentence with a preview, and estimated reading time. Unlike naive tools that split on every period, it understands common abbreviations — Dr., Mrs., e.g., i.e., a.m. — and decimal numbers like 3.14, so they never inflate your count.
Average sentence length is one of the strongest readability signals there is. Most style guides recommend averaging 15-20 words per sentence; the tool labels your average as easy, moderate or long so you know at a glance whether to split things up. The longest-sentence preview points you straight at the sentence most likely to lose readers.
Everything updates live as you type, entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded or stored.
How to Use the Sentence Counter
- 1Paste your paragraph, essay or article into the text box.
- 2Read the live sentence, word and average-length counts.
- 3Check the longest sentence preview — it is usually the first one worth splitting.
- 4Revise and re-check until your average sentence length sits where you want it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the tool avoid counting abbreviations as sentence endings?
Before splitting, it protects the periods in common abbreviations such as Dr., Mrs., Prof., St., etc., e.g., i.e., a.m. and p.m., as well as decimal numbers like 3.14. Only genuine sentence-ending punctuation — periods, question marks and exclamation marks followed by a space or line break — starts a new sentence.
What is a good average sentence length?
Most readability research and style guides suggest an average of 15-20 words per sentence for general audiences, and under 14 for very easy reading. Long averages above 25 words usually signal dense, hard-to-follow writing. Variety matters too: mix short punchy sentences with longer ones rather than making every sentence the same length.
How many sentences are in a paragraph?
A typical paragraph has 3-5 sentences, though there is no fixed rule — web writing often uses 1-3 sentence paragraphs for scannability, while academic writing runs longer. Paste your text here to see your sentence count, then divide by your paragraph count for your own average.
How is the reading time calculated?
Reading time is based on an average silent reading speed of 200 words per minute, the same benchmark used by most blogging platforms. A 1,000-word article shows as roughly 5 minutes. It is an estimate — technical or unfamiliar material reads slower.
Does a line of dialogue or a heading count as a sentence?
Any run of text containing letters or numbers that ends with terminal punctuation — or stands alone on its own line — is counted as a sentence. Headings without periods are counted when they sit on their own line, which matches how most word processors treat them.