Knowing the word count of your Google Slides presentation can be important for several reasons. You may need to adhere to a specific word limit for a school assignment or work presentation. Understanding the length of your content also allows you to properly plan the timing when presenting the slides.
Fortunately, there are a few easy methods to check the word count in Google Slides. In this article, we’ll explore the steps to find the word count using Google Slides tools, keyboard shortcuts, and by exporting your presentation.
Use the Built-In Word Count Tool
The easiest way to see the word count is by using the Word Count tool built into Google Slides:
- Open your Google Slides presentation
- Click on Tools in the top menu
- Select Word Count from the drop-down menu
A pop-up will display the total number of words in your presentation, along with the number of characters, slides, and pages.
This method provides an exact word count instantly, without needing to export or copy text. It’s the quickest way to check length for short presentations.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts
You can also view the word count by using a handy keyboard shortcut:
- Open your Google Slides presentation
- Press Ctrl+Shift+C on your keyboard at the same time
This will make the Word Count pop-up appear, showing the key statistics for your document.
The shortcut method is faster than clicking through menus and works for both Windows and Mac users. It’s ideal if you need to quickly check word count as you write or edit slides.
Export as a Text File
If you want more flexibility in counting words, you can export your Google Slides as a text file:
- Open your presentation and click File > Download > Plain text (.txt)
- Open the .txt file in a text editor or word processor
- Use the status bar or Word Count tool to view statistics
Copying text into a document gives you options like checking character count or excluding titles from the total word count. You can also paste the text into an online word counter for further analysis.
Paste Text into Google Docs
An alternative is to copy and paste slide text into a blank Google Doc:
- Select all text from your presentation and copy it
- Open a new Google Doc and paste the text
- Click Tools > Word Count to see statistics
Google Docs will automatically count words, characters, pages, and paragraphs. This method keeps your word counting within Google Workspace without needing to export documents.
Use the Explore Tool
Google Slides has an Explore tool that also displays word count:
- Open your presentation and click Explore > Word Count in the sidebar
- View the pop-up with word, character, and slide count
The Explore tool provides quick access to word statistics as you’re editing your document. Enable the Explore sidebar under View > Explore to keep metrics visible.
Conclusion
Checking word count in Google Slides is easy using the built-in tools, shortcuts, and text export options. Determine the best method based on your needs for precision, speed, and compatibility with other word processors.
Accurately tracking word count allows you to meet assignment limits, balance information density, and estimate presentation length when speaking to audiences. Use these Google Slides tips to keep your slides focused, concise, and optimized for every situation.
