
Many translators generate their revenue by charging a rate per word. For both the company receiving translation services and the translator, having an accurate word count becomes important to ensure a fair business transaction. However, many Office programs, including Microsoft Word, do not generate an accurate word count. These programs’ standard word count tools fail to count words included in text boxes, headers, and footers. A translator using Microsoft Word may not realize that not all words, including those in text boxes and headers and footers, are counted. This can lead to mistakenly charging a client less than intended based on a per-word rate. Luckily, there are specialized word count tools and software packages that provide an accurate word count within documents.
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Why Accurate Word Count Matters
Understanding the importance of word count is vital for both pricing and delivering quality services. Programs like Trados, a popular translation word counter, can provide word counts that include words within headers, footers, and text boxes.
Features of Effective Word Count Tools
Word count tools can:
- Count words and characters in your documents
- Count words in text boxes and embedded objects
- Count Asian characters
- Count lines of text
- Work with PDF and Excel files
Depending on the word count tool used, other additional features may be provided and different file types supported.
Top Word Count Tools for Translators
Here are some effective free word count tools available for translators:
- A free program for Windows
- Supports Microsoft Office, Open Office, HTML, PDF, Text, and XML file types
- Save reports from Count Anything as HTML files
- Supports BMP, CHM, CSV, DOC, DOCX, GIF, HLP, HTM, HTML, JPG, MIF, ODP, ODS, PDF, PNG, PPS, PPT, PPTX, PUB, RAR, RTF, SDC, SDD, SDW, SLP, SXC, SXI, SXW, TXT, VSD, WPD, XLS, XLSX, XML, and ZIP files
- Count words in multiple files
- Choose what should and should not be counted
- Provides a 30-day free trial
- Supports Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Corel Word Perfect, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Framemaker, HTML, XML, SGML, ASP, PHP, and help files
- Count text in endnotes, footnotes and even annotations
- Supports word count in single files and folders
- 15 day free trial
When using a specific word count tool, translators are able to provide clients with accurate pricing while avoiding limitations of built-in word count tools.
How to Check Word Count in Microsoft Word
Many translators often wonder, how to count words in a paragraph? Microsoft Word offers a built-in feature to view word count, which can be accessed through the Review tab. For a more comprehensive count, consider using word count software that accommodates specialized needs.
Conclusion
By leveraging the right word count tools, translators can provide accurate word counts and ensure proper pricing for their services. Understanding how to check word count and utilizing these tools effectively will enhance your overall translation process.
How do you normally provide word counts to your clients? We’d love to learn about the tools and techniques you use in the comments.
Related: Understanding Legal Terminology: A Certified Translator’s Perspective