word counts??

[scribbliz]

hey all, i've been using an online word counter to check my word count for NaNoWriMo. Now i've used the same word count for the first three days, and the total after three days is 5,855. HOWEVER, i started to wonder how acurate it was, and so I checked two more word counters online....I got 6,299 and 6,410 from the other two.....three different word counts for the exact same text, copied and pasted in....why? how do word counts work? is there one that you favor over others? what's the best thing to look for in a word counter?

so far, I've decided to keep using the one i've been using, that gave me the lowest word count...that way when (if) i hit the 50,000 word mark, I'll know for sure I really hit it!

any suggestions??

[PaperGrace]

I'm just using scrivener and it has a word counter in it. The trial I'm using is tailored for NaNo, so I suspect it will jive with they're end word count fairly well.

I am totally behind.

Better get back to it.

[Freedom]

First, Liz, congratulations on your solid numbers!

Word counters use different algorithms, they count numbers and punctuation differently, etc., etc.

I've kept on using Word (I would get all entranced by a new word processor and drift off...), but for word count I use NaNo's own counter, where you go to 'ready to validate' and paste in your latest.

Resistance is futile. That's the only one that counts.

[scribbliz]

hey freedom; i can't find what you are talking about? can you link it? (my head is really realy not working today, i don't feel well at all)

[Freedom]

Sorry you're feeling icky, here's a gentle hug and a mug of hot chocolate ... doggone it.

Well, this is the link to MY spot:
www.nanowrimo.org/en/novels/styx-the-cruise/edit

To get there, go to 'My NaNoWriMo' ... then click on 'Edit Novel Info' ... and that should take you to YOUR spot.

About halfway down it says 'Edit Novel' and right under that is a text box headed 'Word Count.'

Beneath the text box, in teeny little text, it says "I am ready to validate my novel" -- that's a link. Click on it and a box pops up headed 'Word Count Validator -- Paste your novel below' and offering you a nice blank spot. Copy-paste into that spot and hit 'Submit.'

It sometimes takes, say, a minute or so to update, but it will.

This is always blank when you call it up, it's not an editor or anything, nothing is saved there -- once you hit Submit it's gone.

Hope this helps ... and hope you feel better right away!

[scribbliz]

thanks freedom! it seems the first google one to come up was pretty accurate i found it, and I appreciate you telling me where to find it