With the rise of digital documents, it’s important to have an accurate count of words in a document. Whether you’re a student writing an essay, a professional writing a report, or simply curious about how many words are in your favorite novel, word count is an essential tool. However, checking the word count of a PDF document may not be as straightforward as counting the words in a Microsoft Word document. In this article, we’ll explore the various methods for checking the word count of PDF documents.
1. Using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC to Check Word Count
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is a popular software for creating and editing PDF documents. It also has a built-in feature for checking the word count of PDF documents. Here’s how you can use it:
a. Installing Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
To start, you’ll need to install Adobe Acrobat Pro DC on your computer. You can purchase it directly from Adobe’s website or subscribe to their monthly service. Once installed, follow these steps to check the word count:
b. Opening the PDF Document
Firstly, open the PDF document with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. You can do this by double-clicking on the file or right-clicking on the file and selecting “Open with” and then choosing Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.
c. Accessing the Word Count Tool
In the top menu bar, click on “Tools” and then select “Word Count”. This will bring up a small window that displays the total number of words in the document.
d. Exploring the Word Count Tool
The word count tool also allows you to customize the statistics shown. You can choose to see the number of characters (with and without spaces), lines, and pages. You can also select specific sections of the document to get a word count for just that section.
e. Saving the Word Count Results
If you want to save the word count results, click on the “Save” button in the bottom right corner of the window. This will save a text file with the word count statistics in the same folder as your PDF document.
2. Using Microsoft Word to Check Word Count
Another way to check the word count of a PDF document is by using Microsoft Word. While Word doesn’t directly support editing PDF documents, it can be used to extract the text and provide a word count. Follow these steps:
a. Open the PDF Document in Word
Open Microsoft Word and navigate to “File” > “Open”. Select the PDF document you want to check and click “Open”. A pop-up window will appear, asking if you want to convert the PDF to an editable Word document. Click “OK”.
b. Extracting the Text
Word will now convert the PDF to a Word document and then automatically extract the text from the PDF. Once the process is complete, the text will appear in the Word document.
c. Checking the Word Count
To check the word count, navigate to “Review” > “Word Count”. A window will appear displaying the total number of words in the document.
d. Copying the Text
If you need to use the text elsewhere, you can copy and paste it from the Word document. Simply select the text and press “Ctrl + C” to copy, and then paste it into your desired location.
3. Using Online Tools to Check Word Count
With the advancement of technology, there are now several online tools available for checking the word count of PDF documents. These tools are free to use and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. Here are some of the most popular online tools for checking word count:
a. Online-Convert.com
Online-Convert.com is a popular online tool for converting various file formats, including PDFs. But it also has a feature for checking the word count of PDF documents. Here’s how to use it:
i. Go to the Website
Start by navigating to Online-Convert.com.
ii. Select the “Document Converter” Option
On the homepage, click on the “Document converter” option.
iii. Choose Your File
Click on the “Choose Files” button and select the PDF document you want to check.
iv. Convert the Document
Once your file is uploaded, click on “Convert file” to convert it to a word document.
v. Check the Word Count
After the conversion process is complete, scroll down to the bottom of the page. Here, you’ll see a section with the heading “Statistics”. This will display the total number of words in the document.
b. WordCounter.net
WordCounter.net is another online tool that allows you to check the word count of a PDF document. Here’s how to use it:
i. Go to the Website
Navigate to WordCounter.net.
ii. Upload the Document
Click on the “Upload File” button and select your PDF document.
iii. Check the Word Count
Once the document is uploaded, the website will automatically extract the text and provide a word count. You can also customize the statistics shown by clicking on the settings icon.
4. Using Google Docs to Check Word Count
If you don’t have Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, you can still check the word count of a PDF document using Google Docs. However, keep in mind that this method may not be as accurate as the previous methods. Here’s how to do it:
a. uploading the PDF
Login to your Google account and open Google Docs. Click on “File” > “Open” and then select “Upload”, where you can select the PDF document you want to check.
b. Copying and Pasting the Text
Once the document is opened, click on “Edit” > “Select all” to highlight the entire document. Next, click on “Edit” > “Copy” to copy the text.
c. Checking the Word Count
Open a blank Google Doc and paste the copied text into it. The word count will automatically appear in the bottom left corner of the document.
5. Using Mobile Applications to Check Word Count
If you’re on-the-go and need to quickly check the word count of a PDF document, you can use mobile applications. Here are two popular apps for both Android and iOS devices:
a. OfficeSuite (Android)
OfficeSuite is a free-to-use mobile application that allows you to open and edit PDF documents. To check the word count, simply open the PDF document in the app and navigate to “Tools” > “Word Count”. This will display the total number of words in the document.
b. Adobe Acrobat Reader (iOS)
Adobe Acrobat Reader is a popular app for viewing and editing PDF documents on iOS devices. To check the word count, open the PDF document and tap on the three dots in the top right corner. From the dropdown menu, select “Tools” > “Word Count”. The total number of words will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.
6. Using Command Prompt or Terminal to Check Word Count
For those familiar with using command prompt or terminal, there’s a simple command you can use to check the word count of a PDF document. Here’s how:
a. Open Command Prompt or Terminal
Open command prompt on Windows devices or terminal on Mac devices.
b. Navigate to the PDF Document’s Directory
Use the “cd” command to navigate to the directory where your PDF document is located.
c. Run the Command
Type “wc -w [filename]” into the command prompt or terminal and press enter. This will display the total number of words in the document.
Conclusion
Checking the word count of a PDF document is an essential skill for writers, students, and professionals alike. With the various methods and tools available, it’s now easier than ever to get an accurate word count for your document. Whether you prefer using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, Microsoft Word, online tools, or mobile applications, there’s a method that suits your needs. So the next time you need to check the word count of a PDF document, refer back to this article for a step-by-step guide.
