Word Goal Checker
Track progress toward a word count target while drafting. Set any goal, paste your text, and see the count, remaining words, and percentage fill update as you type. Useful for essays, articles, and daily writing targets.
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What is Word Goal Checker?
The Word Goal Checker measures a draft against a target word count and shows how close the text is to the goal. Set a target, paste or type your draft, and the progress bar fills as the count rises. The result shows words written, words remaining, and the percentage complete. Words are counted by splitting the text on whitespace, so a hyphenated word counts once.
How does Word Goal Checker work?
The count splits the draft on whitespace with a regular expression, so contractions and hyphenated words each count as one. The progress percentage is the word count divided by the target, rounded to the nearest whole number.
The bar fills to 100 percent and stops there. Passing the goal switches the bar to amber and the fourth card to Over Goal, which reports how many words sit past the target.
Key Features
- Live progress bar against any target
- Remaining words and percentage complete
- Over-goal state with the excess word count
- Quick targets for 250, 500, 1,000, and 1,500 words
- Custom target up to one million words
- Hyphenated words counted as one word
Common Use Cases
Hitting an essay word limit
Set the required minimum and watch the bar fill while drafting, so the final count is not a surprise.
Writing to a daily target
Track a 500-word or 1,000-word daily goal across a session without opening a separate word processor.
Trimming an overlong draft
Switch the goal to the maximum length and see how many words need cutting from a piece that ran long.
Checking a client brief
Confirm that a delivered article sits at or near the agreed word count before sending it.
Pacing a NaNoWriMo session
Set the day's target and check progress between writing sprints instead of recalculating by hand.
How to Use This Tool
Set the goal
Type a target word count or pick one of the four quick values.
Paste your draft
Enter text in the draft box, or start typing directly.
Watch the bar
The progress bar, word total, and remaining count update on every keystroke.
Check the over-goal state
When the draft passes the target, the bar turns amber and the fourth card reports the excess.
Copy the summary
Use the header copy button to record the count as a short words-of-goal line.
Pro Tips
- 1
Set the goal to the maximum allowed length when editing, so the over-goal figure tells you how much to cut.
- 2
A hyphenated compound counts as one word, which matches how most word processors count it.
- 3
The percentage stops at 100 on the bar, so use the Over Goal card for the exact excess.
- 4
Clear the draft between sessions so the next piece starts from zero rather than inheriting the previous count.
- 5
Quick targets are shortcuts only. Typing a custom value replaces the selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I track progress toward a word count?
Set the target in the goal field, then type or paste your draft. The bar and the four cards update as you go, so the remaining words are always visible.
What counts as a word in the goal checker?
Text is split on whitespace, so anything between spaces counts as one word. A hyphenated compound such as state-of-the-art is one word, and a number such as 2026 is also one word.
What happens when I pass the goal?
The progress bar turns amber and stops at 100 percent, while the fourth card switches to Over Goal and shows how many words are past the target.
Can I set a goal above 1,500 words?
Yes. The quick buttons stop at 1,500, but the number field accepts any target up to one million words.
Does the checker save my draft?
No. The text stays in the page and is cleared when you reload or press Clear, so nothing is stored between visits.