CiteCount is packed with features designed to make your academic writing easier, more accurate, and more efficient. From intelligent citation detection to powerful file management, explore everything CiteCount has to offer.
📊 Smart Word Counting
What Makes It Smart?
Unlike standard word processors, CiteCount provides multiple counting methods tailored for academic standards:
📝
Words without Citations
The key metric for IB and most academic assignments. Excludes in-text citations automatically.
📄
Total Words
Every word in your document, including citations.
🔤
Characters (with/without citations)
Useful for assignments with character limits.
📚
Citations Count
See how many citations you've included.
Additional Metrics
Reading Time: Estimated time to read your document (based on 238 words/min)
Speaking Time: Estimated time to present orally (based on 150 words/min)
Paragraphs: Total paragraph count
Sentences: Total sentence count
💡 Pro Tip: Customize which counters appear in the top bar by going to Settings → Counter Display. You can show/hide and reorder any counter!
🎯 Automatic Citation Detection
How It Works
CiteCount uses intelligent pattern recognition to automatically identify in-text citations in your document. Detected citations are highlighted in red (included in word count) or green (excluded from word count).
Supported Citation Formats
Format
Example
Detection
Author-Date
(Smith, 2020)
✅ Automatic
Multiple Authors
(Smith & Jones, 2020)
✅ Automatic
Et al.
(Smith et al., 2020)
✅ Automatic
Page Numbers
(Smith, 2020, p. 45)
✅ Automatic
Multiple Citations
(Smith, 2020; Jones, 2019)
✅ Automatic
Numeric
[1], [2,3], [4-6]
✅ Automatic
Superscript
Example¹ text²
✅ Automatic
Citation Detection Features
Real-time Detection: Citations are detected as you type
Visual Highlighting: Red (counted) or green (excluded) highlighting
Click to Jump: Click any citation in the panel to jump to its location
Toggle Inclusion: Click citations to include/exclude from count
Citation List: View all citations in the Citations panel
Word Count per Citation: See how many words each citation contains
Occurrence Count: See how many times each citation appears
⚠️ Note: Citation detection works best with standard formatting. Unusual spacing, special characters, or non-standard formats may not be detected. You can manually toggle citations in the Citations panel if needed.
✍️ Rich Text Editor
Formatting Options
CiteCount's editor supports essential text formatting while keeping your document clean and focused:
B
Bold Text
Cmd/Ctrl + B
I
Italic Text
Cmd/Ctrl + I
U
Underline Text
Cmd/Ctrl + U
S
Strikethrough
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + X
Editor Features
Spell Checking: Native browser spell check (toggle in Settings)
Auto-Save: Saves your work automatically as you type
Undo/Redo: Full history support with Cmd/Ctrl + Z and Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Z
Find & Replace: Use Cmd/Ctrl + F to search text
Citation Highlighting: Live color-coding of citations
Focus Mode: Minimal interface for distraction-free writing
Customization Options
Make the editor comfortable for long writing sessions:
Font Family: Choose from Sans-serif, Serif, or Monospace
Font Size: Adjust from 12px to 24px
Line Height: Control spacing between lines
Light/Dark Mode: Automatic theme based on system preference
🎨 Customize Your Writing Experience
Press Cmd/Ctrl + , to open Settings and adjust the editor to your preferences. Changes apply instantly!
📁 File Import & Export
Import Documents
Bring your existing documents into CiteCount with ease:
Supported Formats
.docx (Microsoft Word): Full text extraction with formatting
.pdf (PDF): Text extraction (images/equations removed)
Plain Text: Paste from clipboard
Import Methods
Drag & Drop: Drag files directly onto the editor
File Chooser: Click "Choose File" to browse and select
Paste: Copy and paste text from any source
🔒 Privacy First: All file processing happens locally in your browser. Your documents never leave your device or get uploaded to any server!
Export Options
Save your work in various formats:
Plain Text (.txt): Export as basic text file
Rich Text: Preserve formatting
Copy to Clipboard: Quick copy for pasting elsewhere
Print: Direct printing with print preview
⚠️ Import Limitations:
Images, equations, and tables are removed during import
Complex formatting may not transfer perfectly
PDF text extraction quality depends on the source PDF
Large files (>10MB) may take longer to process
🔗 Citation Generator
Quick Citation Creation
Generate properly formatted citations without leaving CiteCount:
Access the Generator
Click the Citation Generator button in the toolbar
Or press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + C
Supported Citation Styles
APA (7th Edition): Most common for social sciences
MLA (9th Edition): Humanities and liberal arts
Chicago: Author-date and notes styles
Harvard: UK universities
Source Types
Books
Journal Articles
Websites
Newspapers
And more...
How to Use
Click Citation Generator or press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + C
Select citation style (APA, MLA, etc.)
Choose source type (Book, Article, Website)
Fill in the required fields (author, title, year, etc.)
Click "Generate" to create the citation
Copy to clipboard or insert directly into your document
✨ Pro Tip: The citation generator creates both in-text citations and full references for your bibliography!
📂 Projects & File Management (Beta)
Organize Your Work
Keep multiple assignments organized with Projects and Folders:
Organize by subject (Biology IA, History Essay, etc.)
Group by semester or term
Separate IB work from other assignments
Accessing File Manager
Click the Docs button in the top navigation to open the File Manager.
📌 Beta Feature: Projects & Folders is currently in beta. Features and functionality may change based on user feedback. Learn more →
⚙️ Settings & Customization
Access Settings
Press Cmd/Ctrl + , or click the Settings icon (⚙️) in the top navigation.
Settings Categories
📝 Editor Settings
Font family (Sans-serif, Serif, Monospace)
Font size (12px - 24px)
Line height
Spell checking (on/off)
Welcome message (show/hide)
📊 Counter Display
Show/hide individual counters
Reorder counters
Enable reading/speaking time
Customize counter visibility
💾 Data & Storage
AutoSave (on/off)
Warn on leave (prevent accidental closing)
Clear history
Export/import settings
Reset to defaults
🎯 Citation Settings
Citation detection sensitivity
Default citation inclusion (exclude/include)
Citation highlight colors
Enable/disable automatic detection
💡 Recommended Settings
✅ Enable AutoSave - Never lose your work
✅ Enable Warn on Leave - Prevents accidental closing
✅ Show all counters - Complete visibility
📱 Mobile Features
Optimized for Mobile
CiteCount works seamlessly on phones and tablets:
Mobile Interface
Responsive Design: Adapts to any screen size
Touch Optimized: Large tap targets and gestures
Compact Counters: Efficient display of statistics
Full-Screen Editor: Maximize writing space
Mobile-Specific Features
Citations Overlay: Full-screen citations panel on mobile
Simplified Toolbar: Essential tools only
Swipe Gestures: Navigate between panels
Voice Typing: Use device's voice input
Tablet Experience
Tablets get the best of both worlds:
Side-by-side editor and citations panel
Full toolbar with all features
Keyboard shortcuts (with external keyboard)
Apple Pencil support for iPad
📱 Mobile Tip: Add CiteCount to your home screen for quick access! Tap the share button and select "Add to Home Screen" (Safari) or "Install app" (Chrome).
🔒 Privacy & Security Features
Your Data, Your Device
CiteCount is built with privacy as a core principle:
How We Protect Your Privacy
No Account Required: Use CiteCount without signing up
Local Storage Only: Everything saved in your browser
No Server Uploads: Files never leave your device
No Tracking: We don't track what you write
Open Source: Code is transparent and auditable
Data Management
Export Your Data: Download all your work anytime
Clear Data: Delete history with one click
Browser Storage: Data persists across sessions
No Cloud Sync: Your data stays on your device
🔒 Privacy Guarantee: CiteCount processes everything locally. We cannot see, access, or recover your documents. This means ultimate privacy but also means you're responsible for backing up important work!
CiteCount follows IB word count guidelines automatically, excluding in-text citations from your word count for Extended Essays, TOK Essays, IAs, and more. Learn more about IB word counts →