Depends on which word counter you use. Google docs and Word and NeoOffice and an online Java script word counter have all given me different word counts on the same chunk of text, so it's best to view them as ballpark guesses. :-P
What caffienekitty said. Some word counters count all the characters--including punctuation--and then divides that by a number to arrive at a word count, so in that case, it might. Others count spaces, so if you use dashes -- like this -- with spaces between, it might count as a word, too.
The word counter I use has pretty much always come out with the same word count as hand-counting it, if that's any help. It's the word-counter from supermagnus.com, though it looks like the full program, rather than the widget, only comes in Mac flavor. I haven't tested the widget yet, but I'd bet it counts the same as the full program.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-19 11:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-20 02:08 am (UTC)But that is so annoying. Harumph.
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Date: 2012-08-20 04:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-19 11:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-20 02:10 am (UTC)So I guess I should just stick to the old tried-and-true - handcounting it out myself. Which is annoying. *pouts*
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-20 04:26 am (UTC)::runs and hides::
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-20 02:21 pm (UTC)*frowns at you*
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-20 12:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-20 02:22 pm (UTC)Ah, well I have no Macs. I'll just use what Word tells me and round to the nearest number I feel is accurate. *shrugs*