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TextEdit is a simple text editor program that comes preinstalled on all Mac devices, but it lacks the function of word count. In this guide, we will show you a simple method to add a word count feature to TextEdit on your Mac. We will also discuss a few simpler alternative options in case the primary method seems too complicated.
Adding a precise word count in TextEdit
Open Automator, which is a free program in Applications or can be found with Spotlight. Select Service and then Select to begin. Make sure to leave the “Service acquired selected” text as is and choose “Text Editor” under the “any utility” option. Next, select “Run Shell Script” from the Library options, and paste the following text in the box:
osascript
inform application “TextEdit”
set word_count to count words of document 1
set char_count to count characters of document 1
set show_words to (word_count as string) & “words. (“ & (char_count as string) & “characters.)”
set dialog_title to “TextEdit Word Count”
present dialog show_words with icon 1 with title dialog_title buttons {“Ok”} default button “Ok”
inform end
AppleScriptRight hereDoc
Save the service as “Word Count” and close Automator. Now, in a TextEdit document, select any text, right-click, and the new “Word Count” option will appear at the bottom. Click on it, and a word count for the entire document will appear in a pop-up window.
Easier options
If you find Automator to be complicated, there are some simpler options to try instead.
Find function in TextEdit
Use the “Find” function of TextEdit by pressing Edit>Search>Search or Cmd + F. Then, click on the magnifying glass and select “Any Word Characters” to see the number of words. However, this method isn’t precise and only counts the entire document, so it’s not the best option.
Copy and paste into another program
If all else fails, you can always copy and paste the text from TextEdit into a program that has the word count feature, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word, to get an accurate count.
FAQs
1. Can I add the word count function permanently to TextEdit?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to add the word count function permanently to TextEdit. You will need to follow the above steps every time you want to use the function.
2. Can I use the word count function for selected text only?
No, the current method of adding the word count function to TextEdit only allows you to count all the words in a document, not just selected text.