How many words are in the Pledge of Allegiance?

• A. 31
• B. 28
• C. 32
• D. 34

Answer: (A)

This question tests your ability to count words in a fixed text as it’s commonly recited. The version used today contains 31 words.

Here’s the text broken into words to see the count: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Counting each word in order gives I(1) pledge(2) allegiance(3) to(4) the(5) flag(6) of(7) the(8) United(9) States(10) of(11) America(12) and(13) to(14) the(15) republic(16) for(17) which(18) it(19) stands(20) one(21) nation(22) under(23) God(24) indivisible(25) with(26) liberty(27) and(28) justice(29) for(30) all(31). Punctuation doesn’t affect the count.

If you used a version that omits the phrase “under God,” the total would be different (not 31), which is why the 31-word count corresponds to the standard form most people know today.