Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Word Count is Zero.

Word Count is Zero

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 20, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


1

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.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (881) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Word Count is Zero.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is six minus 4?

2015-03-16 04:05:48

Harry Nguyen

I suggest a word count add-on that might help your writing if you use Chrome
<a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/word-count-tool/ibjgdahgcdkpdlbkadidojhfddflblcm">
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/word-count-tool/ibjgdahgcdkpdlbkadidojhfddflblcm
</a>
if you use Firefox:
<a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/word-count-tool">https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/word-count-tool</a>

if you want a quick & reliable solution, you can go to its web version:
<a href="http://wordcounttools.com">Word Count</a>


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