Set the document before estimating
Use the assignment’s page size, margins, family, point size and spacing. Keep those settings fixed while comparing page counts. A three-page draft with many headings need not contain the same number of words as three pages of uninterrupted prose.
Read Word’s count
Microsoft documents the status bar for word and page counts. Selecting a passage shows its word count alongside the whole-document count. Clicking the word-count entry opens further statistics. Use the count from the actual edited document instead of converting from a remembered online average.
Make any calculation conditional
If a particular finished layout has W words across P pages, W divided by P is its observed average. Multiplying that value by a target page count gives only a planning estimate for similar content. Changing the family, spacing or proportion of headings changes the basis of that estimate.
Follow the requested limit
When instructions specify a word limit, keep that separate from a page limit. State whether the count includes material such as notes and references according to the assignment. Use the 12-point guide for measurement and the Word font guide for document setup.
Your questions, answered.
Does every double-spaced 12-point page contain the same words?
No. Family, page geometry and content structure affect the number.
How can I count only the main passage in Word?
Microsoft documents selecting the intended text to see its partial count as well as the whole-document count.
Sources & background
Sources supporting this page’s explanations. Practical examples are our editorial suggestions.