diff --git a/novelwriter/gui/doceditor.py b/novelwriter/gui/doceditor.py
index 39605f0a..941e83ee 100644
--- a/novelwriter/gui/doceditor.py
+++ b/novelwriter/gui/doceditor.py
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
         qDoc = self.document()
         qDoc.contentsChange.connect(self._docChange)
         qDoc.documentLayout().documentSizeChanged.connect(self._docSizeChanged)
+        self.selectionChanged.connect(self._updateSelectedStatus)
 
         # Document Title
         self.docHeader = GuiDocEditHeader(self)
@@ -152,16 +153,26 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
             activated=self._followTag
         )
 
-        # Set Up Word Counter
-        self.wcTimer = QTimer()
-        self.wcTimer.timeout.connect(self._runCounter)
+        # Set Up Document Word Counter
+        self.wcTimerDoc = QTimer()
+        self.wcTimerDoc.timeout.connect(self._runDocCounter)
 
-        self.wCounter = BackgroundWordCounter(self)
-        self.wCounter.setAutoDelete(False)
-        self.wCounter.signals.countsReady.connect(self._updateCounts)
+        self.wCounterDoc = BackgroundWordCounter(self)
+        self.wCounterDoc.setAutoDelete(False)
+        self.wCounterDoc.signals.countsReady.connect(self._updateDocCounts)
 
         self.wcInterval = self.mainConf.wordCountTimer
 
+        # Set Up Selection Word Counter
+        self.wcTimerSel = QTimer()
+        self.wcTimerSel.timeout.connect(self._runSelCounter)
+        self.wcTimerSel.setInterval(500)
+
+        self.wCounterSel = BackgroundWordCounter(self, forSelection=True)
+        self.wCounterSel.setAutoDelete(False)
+        self.wCounterSel.signals.countsReady.connect(self._updateSelCounts)
+
+        # Finalise
         self.initEditor()
 
         logger.debug("GuiDocEditor initialisation complete")
@@ -175,7 +186,8 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
         self._nwDocument = None
         self.setReadOnly(True)
         self.clear()
-        self.wcTimer.stop()
+        self.wcTimerDoc.stop()
+        self.wcTimerSel.stop()
 
         self._docHandle  = None
         self._charCount  = 0
@@ -283,7 +295,7 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
 
         # Configure word count timer
         self.wcInterval = self.mainConf.wordCountTimer
-        self.wcTimer.setInterval(int(self.wcInterval*1000))
+        self.wcTimerDoc.setInterval(int(self.wcInterval*1000))
 
         # If we have a document open, we should reload it in case the
         # font changed, otherwise we just clear the editor entirely,
@@ -347,8 +359,8 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
 
         self._lastEdit = time()
         self._lastActive = time()
-        self._runCounter()
-        self.wcTimer.start()
+        self._runDocCounter()
+        self.wcTimerDoc.start()
         self._docHandle = tHandle
 
         self.setReadOnly(False)
@@ -445,7 +457,7 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
         docText = self.getText()
 
         cC, wC, pC = countWords(docText)
-        self._updateCounts(cC, wC, pC)
+        self._updateDocCounts(cC, wC, pC)
 
         self._nwItem.setCharCount(self._charCount)
         self._nwItem.setWordCount(self._wordCount)
@@ -1078,8 +1090,8 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
         if not self._docChanged:
             self.setDocumentChanged(chrRem != 0 or chrAdd != 0)
 
-        if not self.wcTimer.isActive():
-            self.wcTimer.start()
+        if not self.wcTimerDoc.isActive():
+            self.wcTimerDoc.start()
 
         if self._doReplace and chrAdd == 1:
             self._docAutoReplace(self.document().findBlock(thePos))
@@ -1213,25 +1225,25 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
         return
 
     @pyqtSlot()
-    def _runCounter(self):
+    def _runDocCounter(self):
         """Decide whether to run the word counter, or not due to
         inactivity.
         """
         if self._docHandle is None:
             return
 
-        if self.wCounter.isRunning():
+        if self.wCounterDoc.isRunning():
             logger.verbose("Word counter is busy")
             return
 
         if time() - self._lastEdit < 5 * self.wcInterval:
             logger.verbose("Running word counter")
-            self.theParent.threadPool.start(self.wCounter)
+            self.theParent.threadPool.start(self.wCounterDoc)
 
         return
 
     @pyqtSlot(int, int, int)
-    def _updateCounts(self, cCount, wCount, pCount):
+    def _updateDocCounts(self, cCount, wCount, pCount):
         """Slot for the word counter's finished signal
         """
         if self._docHandle is None or self._nwItem is None:
@@ -1255,6 +1267,51 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
 
         return
 
+    @pyqtSlot()
+    def _updateSelectedStatus(self):
+        """The user made a change in text selection. Forward this
+        information to the footer, and start the selection word counter.
+        """
+        if self.textCursor().hasSelection():
+            if not self.wcTimerSel.isActive():
+                self.wcTimerSel.start()
+            self.docFooter.setHasSelection(True)
+
+        else:
+            self.wcTimerSel.stop()
+            self.docFooter.setHasSelection(False)
+            self.docFooter.updateCounts()
+
+        return
+
+    @pyqtSlot()
+    def _runSelCounter(self):
+        """Update the selection word count.
+        """
+        if self._docHandle is None:
+            return
+
+        if self.wCounterSel.isRunning():
+            logger.verbose("Selection word counter is busy")
+            return
+
+        self.theParent.threadPool.start(self.wCounterSel)
+
+        return
+
+    @pyqtSlot(int, int, int)
+    def _updateSelCounts(self, cCount, wCount, pCount):
+        """Slot for the word counter's finished signal
+        """
+        if self._docHandle is None or self._nwItem is None:
+            return
+
+        logger.verbose("User selectee %d words", wCount)
+        self.docFooter.updateCounts(wCount=wCount, cCount=cCount)
+        self.wcTimerSel.stop()
+
+        return
+
     @pyqtSlot("QSizeF")
     def _docSizeChanged(self, theSize):
         """Called whenever the underlying document layout size changes.
@@ -2010,11 +2067,15 @@ class GuiDocEditor(QTextEdit):
 
 class BackgroundWordCounter(QRunnable):
 
-    def __init__(self, docEditor):
+    def __init__(self, docEditor, forSelection=False):
         QRunnable.__init__(self)
-        self.docEditor = docEditor
-        self.signals = BackgroundWordCounterSignals()
+
+        self._docEditor = docEditor
+        self._forSelection = forSelection
         self._isRunning = False
+
+        self.signals = BackgroundWordCounterSignals()
+
         return
 
     def isRunning(self):
@@ -2026,10 +2087,15 @@ class BackgroundWordCounter(QRunnable):
         call to the function that does the actual counting.
         """
         self._isRunning = True
-        theText = self.docEditor.getText()
+        if self._forSelection:
+            theText = self._docEditor.textCursor().selectedText()
+        else:
+            theText = self._docEditor.getText()
+
         cC, wC, pC = countWords(theText)
         self.signals.countsReady.emit(cC, wC, pC)
         self._isRunning = False
+
         return
 
 # END Class BackgroundWordCounter
@@ -2666,6 +2732,8 @@ class GuiDocEditFooter(QWidget):
         self._theItem   = None
         self._docHandle = None
 
+        self._docSelection = False
+
         self.sPx = int(round(0.9*self.theTheme.baseIconSize))
         fPx = int(0.9*self.theTheme.fontPixelSize)
         bSp = self.mainConf.pxInt(4)
@@ -2784,11 +2852,19 @@ class GuiDocEditFooter(QWidget):
         else:
             self._theItem = self.theProject.projTree[self._docHandle]
 
+        self.setHasSelection(False)
         self.updateInfo()
         self.updateCounts()
 
         return
 
+    def setHasSelection(self, hasSelection):
+        """Toggle the word counter mode between full count and selection
+        count mode.
+        """
+        self._docSelection = hasSelection
+        return
+
     def updateInfo(self):
         """Update the content of text labels.
         """
@@ -2814,7 +2890,7 @@ class GuiDocEditFooter(QWidget):
         return
 
     def updateLineCount(self):
-        """Update the word count.
+        """Update the line counter.
         """
         if self._theItem is None:
             iLine = 0
@@ -2830,8 +2906,21 @@ class GuiDocEditFooter(QWidget):
 
         return
 
-    def updateCounts(self):
-        """Update the word count.
+    def updateCounts(self, wCount=None, cCount=None):
+        """Select which word count display mode to use.
+        """
+        if self._docSelection:
+            self._updateSelectionWordCounts(wCount, cCount)
+        else:
+            self._updateWordCounts()
+        return
+
+    ##
+    #  Internal Functions
+    ##
+
+    def _updateWordCounts(self):
+        """Update the word count for the whole document.
         """
         if self._theItem is None:
             wCount = 0
@@ -2851,4 +2940,19 @@ class GuiDocEditFooter(QWidget):
 
         return
 
+    def _updateSelectionWordCounts(self, wCount, cCount):
+        """Update the word count for a selection.
+        """
+        if wCount is None or cCount is None:
+            return
+
+        self.wordsText.setText(
+            self.tr("Words: {0} selected").format(f"{wCount:n}")
+        )
+        self.wordsText.setToolTip(
+            self.tr("Character count: {0}").format(f"{cCount:n}")
+        )
+
+        return
+
 # END Class GuiDocEditFooter
diff --git a/tests/test_gui/test_gui_doceditor.py b/tests/test_gui/test_gui_doceditor.py
index 9e469732..9b82550f 100644
--- a/tests/test_gui/test_gui_doceditor.py
+++ b/tests/test_gui/test_gui_doceditor.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from PyQt5.QtGui import QTextBlock, QTextCursor, QTextOption
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QAction, QMessageBox, qApp
 
 from novelwriter.gui.doceditor import GuiDocEditor
+from novelwriter.core import countWords
 from novelwriter.enum import nwDocAction, nwDocInsert, nwItemClass, nwItemLayout
 from novelwriter.constants import nwKeyWords, nwUnicode
 
@@ -1187,6 +1188,95 @@ def testGuiEditor_Tags(qtbot, monkeypatch, nwGUI, nwMinimal, ipsumText):
 # END Test testGuiEditor_Tags
 
 
+@pytest.mark.gui
+def testGuiEditor_WordCounters(qtbot, monkeypatch, caplog, nwGUI, nwMinimal, ipsumText):
+    """Test saving text from the editor.
+    """
+    # Block message box
+    monkeypatch.setattr(QMessageBox, "question", lambda *a: QMessageBox.Yes)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(QMessageBox, "critical", lambda *a: QMessageBox.Yes)
+
+    class MockThreadPool:
+
+        def __init__(self):
+            self._objID = None
+
+        def start(self, runObj):
+            self._objID = id(runObj)
+
+        def objectID(self):
+            return self._objID
+
+    nwGUI.threadPool = MockThreadPool()
+    nwGUI.docEditor.wcTimerDoc.blockSignals(True)
+    nwGUI.docEditor.wcTimerSel.blockSignals(True)
+    assert nwGUI.openProject(nwMinimal) is True
+
+    # Run on an empty document
+    nwGUI.docEditor._runDocCounter()
+    assert nwGUI.docEditor.docFooter.wordsText.text() == "Words: 0 (+0)"
+    nwGUI.docEditor._updateDocCounts(0, 0, 0)
+    assert nwGUI.docEditor.docFooter.wordsText.text() == "Words: 0 (+0)"
+
+    nwGUI.docEditor._runSelCounter()
+    assert nwGUI.docEditor.docFooter.wordsText.text() == "Words: 0 (+0)"
+    nwGUI.docEditor._updateSelCounts(0, 0, 0)
+    assert nwGUI.docEditor.docFooter.wordsText.text() == "Words: 0 (+0)"
+
+    # Open a document and populate it
+    sHandle = "8c659a11cd429"
+    nwGUI.theProject.projTree[sHandle].initCount = 0  # Clear item's count
+    nwGUI.theProject.projTree[sHandle].wordCount = 0  # Clear item's count
+    assert nwGUI.openDocument(sHandle) is True
+    qtbot.wait(stepDelay)
+
+    theText = "\n\n".join(ipsumText)
+    cC, wC, pC = countWords(theText)
+    assert nwGUI.docEditor.replaceText(theText) is True
+
+    # Check that a busy counter is blocked
+    with monkeypatch.context() as mp:
+        mp.setattr(nwGUI.docEditor.wCounterDoc, "isRunning", lambda *a: True)
+        nwGUI.docEditor._runDocCounter()
+        assert nwGUI.docEditor.docFooter.wordsText.text() == "Words: 0 (+0)"
+
+    with monkeypatch.context() as mp:
+        mp.setattr(nwGUI.docEditor.wCounterSel, "isRunning", lambda *a: True)
+        nwGUI.docEditor._runSelCounter()
+        assert nwGUI.docEditor.docFooter.wordsText.text() == "Words: 0 (+0)"
+
+    # Run the full word counter
+    nwGUI.docEditor._runDocCounter()
+    assert nwGUI.threadPool.objectID() == id(nwGUI.docEditor.wCounterDoc)
+
+    nwGUI.docEditor.wCounterDoc.run()
+    # nwGUI.docEditor._updateDocCounts(cC, wC, pC)
+    qtbot.wait(stepDelay)
+    assert nwGUI.theProject.projTree[sHandle].charCount == cC
+    assert nwGUI.theProject.projTree[sHandle].wordCount == wC
+    assert nwGUI.theProject.projTree[sHandle].paraCount == pC
+    assert nwGUI.docEditor.docFooter.wordsText.text() == f"Words: {wC} (+{wC})"
+
+    # Select all text
+    assert nwGUI.docEditor.docFooter._docSelection is False
+    nwGUI.docEditor.docAction(nwDocAction.SEL_ALL)
+    qtbot.wait(stepDelay)
+    assert nwGUI.docEditor.docFooter._docSelection is True
+
+    # Run the selection word counter
+    nwGUI.docEditor._runSelCounter()
+    assert nwGUI.threadPool.objectID() == id(nwGUI.docEditor.wCounterSel)
+
+    nwGUI.docEditor.wCounterSel.run()
+    # nwGUI.docEditor._updateSelCounts(cC, wC, pC)
+    qtbot.wait(stepDelay)
+    assert nwGUI.docEditor.docFooter.wordsText.text() == f"Words: {wC} selected"
+
+    # qtbot.stopForInteraction()
+
+# END Test testGuiEditor_WordCounters
+
+
 @pytest.mark.gui
 def testGuiEditor_Search(qtbot, monkeypatch, nwGUI, nwLipsum):
     """Test the document editor search functionality.
diff --git a/tests/test_gui/test_gui_guimain.py b/tests/test_gui/test_gui_guimain.py
index c3fe9c7c..de064614 100644
--- a/tests/test_gui/test_gui_guimain.py
+++ b/tests/test_gui/test_gui_guimain.py
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ def testGuiMain_Editing(qtbot, monkeypatch, nwGUI, fncProj, refDir, outDir):
     qtbot.keyClick(nwGUI.docEditor, Qt.Key_Return, delay=keyDelay)
 
     qtbot.wait(stepDelay)
-    nwGUI.docEditor.wCounter.run()
+    nwGUI.docEditor.wCounterDoc.run()
     qtbot.wait(stepDelay)
 
     # Save the document