Split Into Sentences
Paste a paragraph and get a list with one sentence on each line. Common abbreviations, initials and decimals do not cause a false split.
Worked examples
Abbreviations and initials
Dr. Smith arrived at 5 p.m. He sat down. J. K. Rowling wrote it.
Dr. Smith arrived at 5 p.m. He sat down. J. K. Rowling wrote it.
Dr., p.m. and the initials J. K. do not cause a split.
About Split Into Sentences
Editing, translating, quoting and checking text are all easier one sentence at a time. Splitting on every full stop does not work, because full stops also appear in Dr., p.m., e.g., initials and numbers. This tool splits sentences with those cases in mind, so a paragraph turns into a tidy list with one sentence on each line.
A sentence ends at a full stop, question mark, exclamation mark or ellipsis that is followed by a space and then a capital letter, a number or a quotation mark. A closing quote or bracket stays with its sentence. The tool does not split after common abbreviations such as Dr., Mr., Mrs. and Prof., after single initials such as J. K., after dotted forms such as p.m. and e.g., or when the next word starts with a small letter. Line breaks inside a sentence are joined into a space, and paragraph breaks are kept unless you turn that off.
How to use Split Into Sentences
- Paste your paragraphs into the box.
- Choose whether to leave a blank line between sentences and whether to keep paragraph breaks.
- Read the sentences in the result box.
- Copy them, or number them with the line formatter.
Common uses
- Translating or proofreading a text sentence by sentence
- Quoting or analysing one sentence at a time
- Preparing text for tools that work on single sentences
- Checking the length of each sentence in a draft
Frequently asked questions
Does it handle abbreviations?
Common ones, yes: titles such as Dr. and Mr., months, vs., single initials, and dotted forms like p.m. and e.g. do not cause a split.
What if it splits in the wrong place?
Unusual abbreviations followed by a capital can cause a split, and a sentence starting with a small letter is never split. It is a good guide, so check the result for unusual text.
What happens to line breaks in my paragraph?
Line breaks inside a sentence are joined with a space, since they usually come from wrapped text. Empty lines are treated as paragraph breaks.
Are decimals and web addresses split?
No. A full stop must be followed by a space and then a capital letter, number or quote, so 3.50 and example.co.uk are left whole.