diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 8e5962e..e63219d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
 out
-node_modules
\ No newline at end of file
+node_modules
+package-lock.json
+*.vsix
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 80251cb..f505a1b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ This is a simple extension that illustrates a number of concepts when it comes t
 
 ## Functionality
 
-It's pretty simple open up a `Markdown` file and the status bar will have an auto-updating wordcount in it...
+It's pretty simple open up a `Markdown` file and the status bar will have an auto-updating wordcount in it. It also...
+
+* Counts number of words highlighted
+* Offers other counting data such as characters (excluding spaces), sentences (basic full stop counting) and paragraphs
+
 
 ![Word Count in status bar](images/wordcount.gif)
diff --git a/extension.ts b/extension.ts
index 41fca5b..1fb178d 100644
--- a/extension.ts
+++ b/extension.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // The module 'vscode' contains the VS Code extensibility API
 // Import the module and reference it with the alias vscode in your code below
-import {window, workspace, commands, Disposable, ExtensionContext, StatusBarAlignment, StatusBarItem, TextDocument} from 'vscode';
+import {window, workspace, commands, Disposable, ExtensionContext, StatusBarAlignment, StatusBarItem, TextDocument, Selection} from 'vscode';
 
 // this method is called when your extension is activated. activation is
 // controlled by the activation events defined in package.json
@@ -14,10 +14,32 @@ export function activate(ctx: ExtensionContext) {
     let wordCounter = new WordCounter();
     let controller = new WordCounterController(wordCounter);
 
+    // define the command to view the summary of the word count
+    let summaryCommand = commands.registerCommand('wordcount.viewSummary',() => {
+        // Get the current text editor
+        let editor = window.activeTextEditor;
+        if (!editor) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        let doc = editor.document;
+        let sel = editor.selection; 
+        let mode = sel == undefined || sel.isEmpty ? "Total" : "Selection"
+        window.showInformationMessage(`
+            ${mode}: | 
+            Words: ${wordCounter._getWordCount(doc, sel)} | 
+            Characters (without spaces): ${wordCounter._getCharCount(doc, sel)} | 
+            Sentences: ${wordCounter._getSentenceCount(doc, sel)} | 
+            Paragraphs: ${wordCounter._getParagraphCount(doc, sel)}
+        `);
+    });
+    
+
     // add to a list of disposables which are disposed when this extension
     // is deactivated again.
     ctx.subscriptions.push(controller);
     ctx.subscriptions.push(wordCounter);
+    ctx.subscriptions.push(summaryCommand);
 }
 
 export class WordCounter {
@@ -29,6 +51,7 @@ export class WordCounter {
         // Create as needed
         if (!this._statusBarItem) {
             this._statusBarItem = window.createStatusBarItem(StatusBarAlignment.Left);
+            this._statusBarItem.command = 'wordcount.viewSummary';
         } 
 
         // Get the current text editor
@@ -39,26 +62,28 @@ export class WordCounter {
         }
 
         let doc = editor.document;
+        let sel = editor.selection;
 
         // Only update status if an MD file
         if (doc.languageId === "markdown") {
-            let wordCount = this._getWordCount(doc);
+            let wordCount = this._getWordCount(doc, sel);
 
             // Update the status bar
-            this._statusBarItem.text = wordCount !== 1 ? `$(pencil) ${wordCount} Words` : '$(pencil) 1 Word';
+            this._statusBarItem.text = sel === undefined || sel.isEmpty ? `${wordCount} Words` : `${wordCount} Selected`;            
             this._statusBarItem.show();
         } else {
             this._statusBarItem.hide();
         }
     }
 
-    public _getWordCount(doc: TextDocument): number {
-        let docContent = doc.getText();
+    public _getWordCount(doc: TextDocument, sel?: Selection): number {
+        let docContent = sel === undefined || sel.isEmpty ? doc.getText() : doc.getText(sel);
 
         // Parse out unwanted whitespace so the split is accurate
         docContent = docContent.replace(/(< ([^>]+)<)/g, '').replace(/\s+/g, ' ');
         docContent = docContent.replace(/^\s\s*/, '').replace(/\s\s*$/, '');
         let wordCount = 0;
+         
         if (docContent != "") {
             wordCount = docContent.split(" ").length;
         }
@@ -66,6 +91,50 @@ export class WordCounter {
         return wordCount;
     }
 
+    //this function counts the number of characters in the main content of the document
+    public _getCharCount(doc: TextDocument, sel?: Selection): number {
+        let docContent = sel === undefined || sel.isEmpty ? doc.getText() : doc.getText(sel);
+    
+        // Parse out unwanted whitespace so the split is accurate
+        docContent = docContent.replace(/(< ([^>]+)<)/g, '').replace(/\s+/g, '');
+        docContent = docContent.replace(/^\s\s*/, '').replace(/\s\s*$/, '');
+        docContent = docContent.replace(' ', '')
+        let charCount = 0;
+        if (docContent != "") {
+            charCount = docContent.length;
+        }
+
+        return charCount;
+    }
+
+    //this function counts the number of sentences across the document by just looking at the number of 
+    // full stops.
+    public _getSentenceCount(doc: TextDocument, sel?: Selection): number {
+        let docContent = sel === undefined || sel.isEmpty ? doc.getText() : doc.getText(sel);
+        let sentenceCount = 0;
+        if (docContent != "") {
+            sentenceCount = docContent.split(".").length - 1;
+        }
+
+        return sentenceCount;
+    }
+
+    //this function counts the number of paragraphs across the document by defining a paragraph as characters split by 
+    // two or more new lines
+    public _getParagraphCount(doc: TextDocument, sel?: Selection): number {
+        let docContent = sel === undefined || sel.isEmpty ? doc.getText() : doc.getText(sel);
+        docContent += "\r\n\r\n"  /* Added so trailing newlines at the end of the document 
+                                    can be factored out regardless if the user inputted it or not. Otherwise, 
+                                    if the user leaves 2 trailing newlines, the program will split it and add both 
+                                    sides to the counter. */
+        let paragraphCount = 0;
+        if (docContent != "") {
+            paragraphCount = docContent.split(/[^\r\n][\r\n]{4}[\s\n\r]*/).length - 1;
+        }
+
+        return paragraphCount;
+    }
+
     public dispose() {
         this._statusBarItem.dispose();
     }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ab4747c..72a41ff 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -27,6 +27,14 @@
 		"vscode": "0.10.x"
 	},
 	"main": "./out/extension",
+	"contributes": {
+		"commands": [
+			{
+				"command": "wordcount.viewSummary",
+				"title": "View Word Count Summary"
+			}
+		]
+	},
 	"scripts": {
 		"vscode:prepublish": "node ./node_modules/vscode/bin/compile",
 		"compile": "node ./node_modules/vscode/bin/compile -watch -p ./"
@@ -35,4 +43,4 @@
 		"vscode": "0.10.x",
 		"typescript": "^1.6.2"
 	}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}