Word Count

Word counts should be generated by the editor on the entire insides of a title. However, the index and endmatter (acknowledgment, picture credits) should also be calculated separately. Please see below under Running the Word Count Script to find out which boxes should be checked.

Please note that anyone running a word count using a different method from the one below may get a difference in the number of words counted. This could be because different methods may count punctuation, page numbers or anything else that our Word Count script does not include (see below). 

To be added to B3 (for estimate and final word counts)

• The total count (including the index/endmatter, Illustrator artworks)

To be sent to the Production Editor (for final word counts before archive)

• The total count (including the index/endmatter, Illustrator artworks)

So the final word count should read, e.g.:

10,000 words which include
878 words in the index and endmatter +
352 words in Illustrator artworks

What’s included in the count?

Elements that the Word Count script counts

• Every word, including running heads or feet (but not folio marker symbols), and so-called non-translatable elements + associated unspaced punctuation on all document pages and within the trim area = 1 word
• Text such as folios and running heads or feet (but not folio marker symbols), placed on the master, that have not been released on the document pages (see first screengrab below).
• Every spaced icon that is part of a font and placed on the text layer (e.g. Zapf Dingbats arrows or ticks) = 1 word
• Compound nouns (e.g. rock-a-bye-baby) = 1 word
• Hyphenated adjectives, (e.g. quick-cooking) = 1 word
• Drop caps forming the first character of a word and attached to it = 1 word
• Drop caps followed by a space, and not attached to the word = 2 words
• Spaced measures of weight, length, and so on  (e.g. 50 g, 2 cm) = 2 words
• Text created using the Table feature
• Text on a curved path (not in a frame)
• Translatable text such as place names, numbered bullets using a font, created in Illustrator (e.g. on maps, graphs)

Elements that the script does not count that can be disregarded

• Icons of illustration placed on the text layer, including anchored objects
• Bullet symbols
• Spaced dashes
• Anything on the pasteboard (text should not be placed on the pasteboard anyway)
• Overset text (overmatter not showing in the frame) (overset text is not allowed anyway)

When to update a word count

• Tentpoles
• Editorial Fairs (relevant seasons)
• End of project
• Any point when a title has had a significant change of direction

Note: for brand new, or partially completed titles, estimate word counts will need to be generated manually.

Running the Word Count Script

Which box should you check?

• Include numbers in the count?
  Should be checked for most books as numbers used for measurements may need to be converted (i.e. cookery, craft books, etc.). This can be unchecked on books that only include numbers which would not need conversion (i.e. maths books). You would not want to count numbers in an index because of the page numbers.
• Count words on text layer only?
  Should be checked for all co-editionable books. You may want to uncheck this if counting words on non co-editional books.
• Count words in linked Illustrator documents?
  Should remain checked at all times in case there are Illustrator files used in the book.
• Count words on master pages?
  Should only be checked if running heads are being edited once on the master (i.e. for multiple spreads in one InDesign document where the running head is always the same). This should remain unchecked when the running heads are edited on the document pages (more common for DK titles).

Word Count results window