Sentence Counter
The sentence counter splits text on sentence-ending punctuation and reports how many sentences it found, plus the average words per sentence. It is a quick readability check for anyone editing long or dense copy.
Your text
Counts
Your result will appear here.
Not sure where to start? Use Load example.
Results update automatically and are calculated on your device. Nothing you type is sent to a server.
Runs in your browser. Processing happens entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to Delimiter.live.
How to use the Sentence Counter
- Paste the passage you want to check.
- Read the sentence count and the average words per sentence.
- Aim for an average of roughly 15 to 20 words for general web copy; higher averages usually signal sentences worth splitting.
Example
Input
One. Two! Three?
Output
Sentences: 3 Average words per sentence: 1
Common use cases
- Editing dense copy down to a readable rhythm.
- Checking that an abstract or summary keeps within a sentence limit.
- Comparing the readability of two drafts.
- Preparing text for translation, where shorter sentences translate more reliably.
Limitations and things to watch for
- Sentence boundaries are detected from full stops, question marks and exclamation marks followed by whitespace. Abbreviations such as "Dr." or "e.g." can therefore be read as sentence endings, and a decimal number is not.
- Text without terminal punctuation counts as a single sentence.
Frequently asked questions
How does the tool decide where a sentence ends?
It splits on a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark that is followed by whitespace or the end of the text, and it ignores decimal points inside numbers.
Why is the count higher than I expected?
Abbreviations ending in a full stop, such as "Ltd." or "i.e.", look like sentence endings to a rule-based splitter. Expect a small margin of error on text that is heavy with abbreviations.
What is a good average sentence length?
For general web and business writing, roughly 15 to 20 words per sentence reads comfortably. Technical documentation often runs a little longer, and marketing copy shorter.