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Focus mode, outline and word count

Write without distraction in focus mode, move around a long document with the live outline, and check the word count and reading time.

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Three tools help with long pieces of writing. Focus clears the screen down to the paragraph you are writing. Outline lists your headings so you can jump around a long document. And the word count, with an estimated reading time, is always in view.

Before you start

Focus mode

Focus mode hides the menus, toolbar and side panel, and fades every paragraph except the one the cursor is in, so you can concentrate on one sentence at a time.

Turn it on

  • Click Focus in the bar above the page.
  • Or choose View > Focus mode.
  • Or press ⌘ K on a Mac (Ctrl K on Windows) and choose Toggle focus mode.

A small bar at the top of the window shows Focus, your word count and reading time, and Exit · Esc. As you move the cursor, the paragraph you are in comes into full view and the rest stays faded.

Focus mode always uses the continuous layout, even if you were in page view.

Leave it

Press Esc, or click Exit · Esc in the bar at the top. Your menus, toolbar and page layout come back as they were.

The outline

The outline is a live list of the document's headings. It changes as you type, and highlights the section the cursor is in.

  1. Click Outline in the bar above the page, or choose View > Show outline.
  2. The side panel opens on its Outline tab. Headings are indented by level.
  3. Click a heading to jump to it.

Click Outline again to close the panel. With no headings yet, the tab says No headings yet. Add a Heading 1, 2 or 3 and it shows up here for one-click navigation.

Word count and reading time

You can see the count in three places:

  • The bar above the page shows the number of words and an estimated reading time, such as 1,240 words · 6 min read. A new document shows Empty document.
  • The right end of the toolbar shows the number of words.
  • Tools > Word count opens a window with Words, Characters and Characters excluding spaces for the whole document.

The reading time assumes a reading pace of 220 words a minute, rounded to the nearest minute, and is never less than one minute.

Common questions

Can I count the words in just a selection? The counts are for the whole document.

Focus mode is on and I cannot find the menus. Press Esc to leave focus mode.

The outline does not show my headings. The outline lists text in heading styles. Bold or large text in a normal paragraph is not a heading. Apply a heading from Styles in the toolbar.

Still need help? Contact support at [email protected].