Word Count is Zero

Summary: If you use the Word Count tool and are surprised that it returns a count of 0, it could be because of what you selected prior to using the tool. Here's the low-down on why you might get this erroneous result. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, and Word 2007.)

If you use the Word Count feature of Word, you may be shocked some time to find out that the Word Count dialog box shows you have 0 words in your document—even when you can see them on the screen!

If this happens to you, it simply means that you have selected an object in your document (such as a picture or drawing object) before issuing the Word Count command. To get a correct word count, simply place the insertion point somewhere within the text of your document and reissue the command. The Word Count feature should display the expected number of words in your document.

Tip #881 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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Word Count is Zero