word count at end of essay

How to Include Word Count in MLA Format: A Step-by-Step Guide

Adding a word count to your MLA format paper may seem like a small detail, but it’s an important one. Many instructors require it, and it’s easy to do once you know how. Basically, all you need to do is add your word count at the end of your paper, right before or after your works cited page. It’s that simple!

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Include Word Count in MLA Format

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we’re about to do. Including a word count in your MLA format paper is a way of providing additional information to your instructor. It shows that you have met the required length for your assignment and that you are following the guidelines provided.

Step 1: Finish Writing Your Essay

Complete your essay before counting your words.

After you finish writing your essay, you need to know the total word count. On most word processors, you can see the word count on the bottom of the screen. If not, there’s usually a tool or option in the menu where you can find it. It’s important to do this after you finish writing because any changes could affect the word count.

Step 2: Place the Word Count at the End of Your Essay

After the text of your essay, but before your works cited page, type "Word Count:" followed by the number of words in your essay.

By placing the word count at the end of your essay, you make it easy for your instructor to find it. It’s like saying, "Hey, look, I followed the rules and wrote the right amount!" This helps to show your attention to detail and respect for the assignment requirements.

After you complete these steps, your paper will have the word count included as per MLA format guidelines. This small addition can make a big difference in how your paper is received.

Tips for Including Word Count in MLA Format

Always use the word count feature in your word processor to ensure accuracy.
If you’re using a citation generator, make sure it doesn’t include the works cited in the word count.
Double-check your word count after making any revisions to your essay.
Be honest with your word count; inflating the number doesn’t do you any favors.
Remember to update the word count if you add or remove content from your essay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do i include the title and works cited page in the word count.

No, you should only include the main text of your essay in the word count.

The title and works cited page are not part of the main text of your essay, so they should not be included in the word count. Only count the words from your introduction to the conclusion of your essay.

Does the MLA format require a word count?

Not always, but some instructors may ask for it to be included in your paper.

The MLA format itself doesn’t require a word count, but it’s not uncommon for instructors to request it. It’s always a good idea to check your assignment guidelines or ask your instructor if you’re not sure.

Where exactly should I place the word count?

Place it at the end of your essay, right before or after your works cited page.

Positioning the word count at the end of your essay makes it easy to locate without distracting from the content of your paper. It’s the last thing your instructor will see before checking your sources.

Can I include a word count if I’m hand-writing my essay?

Yes, you can write the word count manually at the end of your essay.

If you’re handwriting your essay, simply count the words as best as you can and write the total at the end of your essay. It might be a bit more work, but it’s doable.

What if my word processor includes footnotes in the word count?

You should manually subtract the words in your footnotes from the total word count.

If your word processor includes footnotes in the word count, just take a moment to count the words in your footnotes and subtract that number from the total. This will give you the correct word count for the main text of your essay.

Finish writing your essay.
Place the word count at the end of your essay, before or after the works cited page.

Including a word count in your MLA format paper is a simple task that shows your attention to detail and adherence to academic standards. It’s a small but significant part of your essay that demonstrates you’ve met the requirements of your assignment. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily add the word count to your essay and ensure it is properly formatted. Remember, it’s not just about hitting a number; it’s about crafting a well-thought-out paper that meets the expectations of your instructor. So go ahead, count those words, and include them in your MLA format paper with confidence!

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

Get Our Free Newsletter

How-to guides and tech deals

You may opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

LEARN WITH CHLOE
ABOUT CHLOE

7 Word Count Tips for Clear, Powerful Academic Writing

Maximum word limits are a pain in the butt. It’s kinda soul destroying to have to cut all the beautiful words you’ve just spent hours writing.

But they are there for a reason.

Word limits force you to write concisely so you can answer the question well without wasting words. I often felt like there was no way I could cut enough from my word count but, using my techniques below, I always managed to and the end result was a clearer, more powerful piece of writing.

In this blog post you’ll discover:

Why you should cut the fluff from your writing
Why you should try to reduce your word count
7 simple techniques to improve your writing today

~ FREE RESOURCE ~

Study Session Planner

Create your own simple, productive study plan in just a few minutes , so you can boost your motivation and focus, get more done in less time , and make faster progress towards your dream university grades .

Your goal isn’t to write a literary masterpiece. You won’t get higher marks for knocking your tutor’s socks off with your elegant prose.

Instead – you need to get your ideas down on paper in the least amount of words possible. While your writing may seem less pleasant to read, your tutor will appreciate de-bloated writing…and you should gain higher marks.

Benefits of reducing your word count and improving the clarity of your writing:

Your ability to control your language will give the reader the impression you are intelligent and educated
Clear writing will help the reader understand your ideas and argument
Cutting the fluff will allow you to include more valuable points so you can score the highest mark possible

If you manage to cut 100 words from an essay by using these tips, that’s 100 extra words to answer the question. Those 100 spare words could be used to craft seven or eight kick ass sentences that could gain you the marks needed to push you to the next grade.

7 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Word Count

1. get rid of redundant modifiers.

The use of redundant modifiers has crept into our everyday language so they’re hard to spot. Marketing messages often include redundant modifiers to attempt to add effect, such as, ‘ very unique ’. If something is ‘ unique ’ it is one of a kind. Adding ‘ very ’ does nothing to the meaning, adds an extra word and just sounds silly if you think about it. The same applies to the examples, ‘ added bonus ’ or ‘ absolutely certain ’.

Look through your writing to see if you’ve included any redundant modifiers. After awhile you’ll get in the habit of not using them.

Here's some examples you can edit to reduce your word count

Absolutely certain > certain

Added bonus > bonus

Basic essentials > essentials

Complete monopoly of the market > monopoly of the market

Crystal clear > clear

End result > result

Exact same > exact/same

Final outcome > outcome

Immediate vicinity > vicinity

Major breakthrough > breakthrough

Make plans in advance > make plans

New initiative > initiative

Natural instinct > instinct

Over exaggerate > exaggerate

Past experience > experience

Past memories > memories

Personal opinion > opinion

Postpone until later > postpone

Revert back > revert

Top priority > priority

True fact > fact

Very unique > unique

Weather conditions > weather

Written down > written

2. De-bloat your inflated phrases

Similarly, there are probably instances where you’re using two, three or four words where one would do. These can take a few edits to pick up but once removed your word count and clarity are improved pretty quickly.

Are indications of > indicates

At all times > always

At the present time > at present/currently/now

Collaborate/join together > collaborate/join

Completely ruined > devastated

Concerning the matter of > about

Despite the fact that > although

Due to the fact that > because

During the course of > during

For the purpose of > for

Has a tendency to > tends

Has knowledge of > knows

Has the ability to > can

In a situation in which > when

In order to > to/so that

In the event that > if

It is necessary that > must/should

On the other hand > conversely

On two separate occasions > twice

The majority of > most

There is a chance that > may/might/could

Until such time as > until

What the organisation aims to do is > the organisation aims to

Whether or not > whether

Will provide a summary > will summarise

With regards to > about

3. Redundant categories

Some people have a tendency to state an attribute or characteristic and then, perhaps in an effort to be more accurate, state its category too. For example, ‘ blue in colour ’ should just be ‘ blue ’. ‘ Small in size ’ should just be ‘ small ’. Remove these in your writing and sound smarter.

Attractive in appearance > attractive

Blue in colour > blue

Heavy in weight > heavy

Honest in character > honest

In a confused state > confused

Of a strange type > strange

Of cheap quality > cheap

Period in time > period

Small in size > small

Unusual in nature > unusual

4. Remove ‘that’

Some words take up precious word count but add nothing. The most common is ‘ that ’ which is fairly harmless but, over the course of an entire essay, could increase the word count. You won’t always be able to remove ‘ that ’ and maintain clarity, but search your document and see if removing them alters the meaning of the sentence.

Ensure that you make relevant use of both articles

This is the book that she wrote

The report that was approved by the board

I want to buy that car

5. Delete adverbs

Adverbs can weaken academic writing by detracting from what is being said. Using adverbs frequently will bloat your writing and can disrupt a reader’s flow. Don’t add a descriptive word to a verb, instead just use a descriptive verb. For example, ‘ dropped rapidly ’ can become ‘ plummeted ’.

Search your text for the word ‘ very ’ or adverbs ending in ‘ ly’ and see if they can be replaced while maintaining clarity.

Eat noisily > gulp

Drop rapidly > plummet

Look angrily > scowl

Run quickly > sprint

Say quietly > whisper

Very big > enormous

Very tired > exhausted

6. Eliminate redundant pairings

The English language is so rich we often have too many words to choose from . Rather than choosing one and sticking to it we tend to pile them on top of each other. A simple idea can quickly become a bloated sentence filled with pointless words.

Look out for some of the examples below and shorten them to reduce the word count but maintain clarity

(Also do this where you’ve created your own list of descriptive or explanatory words.)

First and foremost

Hope and trust

Each and every

So on and do forth

Over and done with

One and only

Few and far between

Peace and quiet

Hope and desire

Tidy and presentable

7. Remove ‘helping words’

This technique can take a little practice to implement but it can reduce your word count quickly. Sentences including words in the form of ‘ be ’ or ‘ have ’ can often be edited and rearranged to reduce word count and add clarity. Check your writing for these sentences.

First, one has to analyse the situation > first, analyse the situation

The report was prepared by Psychology students > Psychology students prepared the report

This report has been prepared to analyse… > this report analyses/aims to analyse…

His duties were classified in the report > the report classified his duties.

How to Study Like a First Class Student

If you’re curious about how to study like a First Class student and whether aiming for top grades is the right approach for you, this episode is your guide. I explore the benefits of adopting a First Class mindset and study habits, explaining why every student can benefit from aiming high, regardless of their current

This One Perspective Shift Will Make Your Studying Easier

In this week’s episode, I reveal a powerful perspective shift that can make your studying easier and transform your academic journey. Whether you’re juggling work, family, or both, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the pressure of achieving good grades. You might even find yourself confused by inconsistent results—feeling confident about an essay only to

What do you want to learn?

Either select the study skill you want to dive into, or choose whether you're in the mood to check out a blog post or podcast episode.

Confident learning
Critical thinking
Distance learning
Essay writing
Exam preparation
Higher grades
Mature student
Note taking
Organisation
Procrastination
Productivity
Study challenge
Study habits
Studying while working

FREE EMAIL SERIES

How to Build Unshakeable Studying Confidence in Just 5 Days

Learn 5 powerful strategies to build an unshakeable foundation of studying confidence.

Say goodbye to self-doubt and traumatic school memories getting in the way of you acing your learning as an adult.

And instead say hello to studying with more motivation, positivity and ease so that you can graduate with the grades you want.

Click to download your FREE Study Session Planner

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA General Format

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

MLA Style specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and citing research in writing. MLA Style also provides writers with a system for referencing their sources through parenthetical citation in their essays and Works Cited pages.

Writers who properly use MLA also build their credibility by demonstrating accountability to their source material. Most importantly, the use of MLA style can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the purposeful or accidental uncredited use of source material produced by other writers.

If you are asked to use MLA format, be sure to consult the MLA Handbook (9th edition). Publishing scholars and graduate students should also consult the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing (3rd edition). The MLA Handbook is available in most writing centers and reference libraries. It is also widely available in bookstores, libraries, and at the MLA web site. See the Additional Resources section of this page for a list of helpful books and sites about using MLA Style.

Paper Format

The preparation of papers and manuscripts in MLA Style is covered in part four of the MLA Style Manual . Below are some basic guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA Style :

General Guidelines

Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another. The font size should be 12 pt.
Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise prompted by your instructor).
Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the “Tab” key as opposed to pushing the space bar five times.
Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor may ask that you omit the number on your first page. Always follow your instructor's guidelines.)
Use italics throughout your essay to indicate the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, provide emphasis.
If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted).

Formatting the First Page of Your Paper

Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested or the paper is assigned as a group project. In the case of a group project, list all names of the contributors, giving each name its own line in the header, followed by the remaining MLA header requirements as described below. Format the remainder of the page as requested by the instructor.
In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.
Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks. Write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.
Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text. For example: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking"
Double space between the title and the first line of the text.
Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number. Number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you omit the last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.)

Here is a sample of the first page of a paper in MLA style:

The First Page of an MLA Paper

Section Headings

Writers sometimes use section headings to improve a document’s readability. These sections may include individual chapters or other named parts of a book or essay.

MLA recommends that when dividing an essay into sections you number those sections with an Arabic number and a period followed by a space and the section name.

MLA does not have a prescribed system of headings for books (for more information on headings, please see page 146 in the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing , 3rd edition). If you are only using one level of headings, meaning that all of the sections are distinct and parallel and have no additional sections that fit within them, MLA recommends that these sections resemble one another grammatically. For instance, if your headings are typically short phrases, make all of the headings short phrases (and not, for example, full sentences). Otherwise, the formatting is up to you. It should, however, be consistent throughout the document.

If you employ multiple levels of headings (some of your sections have sections within sections), you may want to provide a key of your chosen level headings and their formatting to your instructor or editor.

Sample Section Headings

The following sample headings are meant to be used only as a reference. You may employ whatever system of formatting that works best for you so long as it remains consistent throughout the document.

Formatted, unnumbered:

Level 1 Heading: bold, flush left

Level 2 Heading: italics, flush left

Level 3 Heading: centered, bold

Level 4 Heading: centered, italics

Level 5 Heading: underlined, flush left

When enabled, your work will be saved on every edit.

When enabled, CiteCount will warn when you leave or reload the page, if AutoSave is disabled.

When enabled, native spell checking will be used.

When enabled, information about CiteCount below the app will be hidden.

Requires app restart to take effect. AutoSave data will be lost. Recommended if CiteCount is not working as expected.

EXPLORE Random Article
Happiness Hub

How to Avoid Going Over an Essay Word Limit

Last Updated: July 11, 2022 Approved

This article was co-authored by Diane Stubbs . Diane Stubbs is a Secondary English Teacher with over 22 years of experience teaching all high school grade levels and AP courses. She specializes in secondary education, classroom management, and educational technology. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware and a Master of Education from Wesley College. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 260,393 times.

Many people have trouble writing an essay to a specified length. It can be hard to keep the length of an essay in mind when you are writing quickly and focusing on putting your ideas into words. However, with some organization and attention to editing, you should be able to keep any essay under its assigned word limit. This guide will help you keep the quality of your essay strong while still respecting the word limit you were given.

Writing to a Specific Length

For example, if your teacher gives you the prompt of "What is the most important invention of the 19th century?" your thesis statement could be "The most important invention of the 19th century was the steam engine."
Having a clear thesis statement helps you to focus your writing. This allows you to minimize rambling and off-topic sections that could lengthen your essay unnecessarily.

The number of points you will need to support will depend on how long your essay is supposed to be. Plan on only having two or three paragraphs per page. If you are writing a 2 to 3 page paper, you will likely only need a handful of points. If you are writing a 10 to 12 page paper, you will need a lot more points in your outline. [3] X Research source
Consider adding bullet-pointed thoughts under each of your main supporting points. This can help you start to build the structure of each of your paragraphs as you outline.

For example, remove anecdotes that increase word count. Don't follow up side points from an anecdote just because they're interesting. All of the content of the essay should be there because it directly supports your thesis statement.
If you do accidentally go off on a tangent or an aside, cut them later. If you begin cutting content while you are writing the rough draft, you'll have less to work with in the end.

Step 4 Keep track of your word count as you go.

In Microsoft Word, select the "Tools" submenu from the Toolbar and then select "Word Count." [4] X Research source
In other programs, you may need to look in different places. You can typically use your "Help" menu to find the word count feature.
Alternatively, an online word counting tool will automatically display the number of words and characters.
Handwritten pages typically average about 100 to 200 words per page. The number of words on your pages depends on how big your writing is. [5] X Research source

Try reading the essay out loud to make sure that its words flow.
Have a peer or friend check your work and help remove the unnecessary additions. A neutral set of eyes can often prove helpful in spotting repetition.

Step 6 Place additional information at the end of your essay.

However, most teachers and professors frown on attempts to hide additional information in footnotes. Footnotes are meant to reference and occasionally bolster points, not to provide additional information that you couldn't cram in anywhere else.

Reducing Your Word Count

Step 1 Reduce your word count after you have drafted your essay.

If you trim the excess after you have written your essay, you're more likely to have a clear and concise essay in the end.
Write first and edit later. If you constantly worry about word limits, you will often end up discarding ideas that add to your paper.

Step 2 Replace phrases with single words.

Verbs such as "ask for" or "put up with" can often be replaced with single verbs like "request" or "tolerate."
Replace "at the same time" with "simultaneously" and "by the same token" with "similarly."
The adverb "immediately" can be used in lieu of phrases such as "right now" and "as soon as."
Replace full clauses such as "It is clear that" and "It should be obvious that" with single adverbs such as "clearly," "obviously," or "evidently."
A sentence with "the reason why... is that..." can be rewritten with just the conjunction "because." For example: "The reason why ice floats is that..." becomes simply: "Ice floats because..."

Step 3 Take out words that do not change the meaning of your sentences.

In fact, taking extraneous words out makes your sentences stronger. For example, the statement "I am actually a great writer" sounds stronger when it is phrased simply as "I am a great writer."

Step 4 Avoid redundancies, also known as pleonasms.

Sentences such as "Where is she going to ?" and "Where is the house at ?" have unnecessary prepositions. They do not have to be overt if they aren't followed by the object in these constructions.

Decide when you will make each of your points and only mention them there. If you find yourself mentioning a point repeatedly and it doesn't do anything to support that specific paragraph, then delete it.

An example of too much hedging is: "There is a chance that the man might possibly come today." This sentence sounds better as: "There is a chance that the man will come today."
"I think that" is often an unnecessary form of hedging. Instead of writing, "I think that," give the reason why you think so. For example, just state that "Variable A will likely increase variable B because...."

Step 7 Try removing the first sentence from your paragraphs.

You can also work on combining the first and second sentences of your paragraphs. Sometimes you can combine them and reduce your word count, while still retaining the underlying meaning of both of them.

Step 8 Don't become overly attached to your writing.

Cut excess ideas but don't delete them completely if you think they have merit. Place them in a new document for another essay or for free writing inspiration.

Expert Q&A

Many teachers place a word limit as a general guideline, not as an exact rule. If this is the case, then going over a little bit won't be a major problem. What teachers don't want are gigantic papers that have not been edited or well thought out. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
While passive voice has a place, particularly in the methods sections of scientific papers, you should generally avoid it. Even if it allows you to save a word here or there on the length of your paper, the passive voice tends to make your writing less clear and direct, and your tone more stilted and formal. Use sparingly if your aim is to write with clarity and concision. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
↑ https://essaysnark.com/2011/10/tips-on-cutting-it-down-to-size-overlimit-essays/
↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/02/
↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Show-the-word-count-and-more-3c9e6a11-a04d-43b4-977c-563a0e0d5da3
↑ https://www.reference.com/education/many-handwritten-pages-equal-one-typed
↑ http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/diagnostic/writingtoolong/writingtoolong-23b
↑ https://targetstudy.com/one-word-substitution/
↑ http://grammarist.com/redundancies/
↑ https://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/articles/essay-editing-tips.html

About this article

Reader Success Stories

Feb 19, 2019

Did this article help you?

Liliana Martinez

Dec 7, 2016

Nov 8, 2017

About wikiHow
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info

10 Ways to Increase Your Essay Word Count (AI Included)

One of the biggest challenges students face is writing long-form essays of 2,000 words or more.

Someone brought this up at a recent webinar I attended, and I couldn't help but think back to my freshman year. Several years ago, I had to write a long essay on an interesting but unfamiliar subject. It took me a lot longer than it should.

After writing hundreds of articles, essays and reports, I've developed my own list of 'smart hacks' to help increase word count on any written piece.

Let's dive into the word count expansion strategies I use today when I write various texts.

How NOT to increase word count

Adding fluff words.

Adding meaningless words only confuses the core arguments and distracts the evaluator. Whatever merit your actual content may have had will be obscured by a mountain of meaningless words.

The sentence in my essay read,

"Violent acts by adults are often caused by childhood exposure to violence.".

If I try to forcedly add fluff words to expand the text, my sentence would sound stretched:

“Violent acts are often associated with the fact that adults who commit violent acts - acts that are seen as savage, harsh, rough, physically abusive, or otherwise unacceptable in society - have been exposed to similar harsh or extreme violence during their childhoods or when they were young”.

Voice and tone

Although passive voice makes a sentence longer, I have found that my writing is much sharper when I use active voice. Also, do not confuse the need to use a formal or academic tone with passive voice.

Quoting without context

This one is like digging yourself into a hole. I quoted so many out-of-context references that I found my essay running on all sorts of tangents. After spending hours trying to connect the dots between the tangents, I ended up having to rewrite the entire piece because I was unable to justify the distracting content.

Mindless paraphrasing

You hear it from your professor, and spew it back at her. Mindlessly repeating content in different sections of an essay - as if your teacher wouldn't notice, won't really help you ace your courses.

Even more mistakes

After asking some of my classmates, I found out that some of them had resorted to even worse hacks that eventually got them in trouble:

Using filler words - In order to fill more pages, some diverge from the specified format and increase fonts, margins, and spacing. You will lose credibility if you do this, and you will also lose points if you deviate from the writing style specified.
Plagiarism - Plagiarizing large chunks from others' essays or research papers was not only seen as lazy, but it was a fast way from a not-so-great grade to a failed grade.
Other sneaky tricks - These included whitening out gibberish text and increasing the size of periods. Teachers have seen it all and know every trick in the book.

The right way to increase word count

Eventually, my word count increased in a way that makes each word actually count (pardon the pun), and it turns out there are some pretty cool tricks to do that.

With the right tools and techniques, you spend less time on the heavy lifting, more time on the actual writing, and at the end of the day, you have a much more comprehensive essay that is a delight to read. =

1. Use an AI writing tool

Skip the manual paraphrasing and use a smart AI writing tool. For example, I added almost 50 words to a 125-word paragraph using Wordtune’s text expand feature .

How to add more sentences to a paragraph

One method to expand your word count is to find short paragraphs and adding more sentences that clarify what they mean. This task used to be pretty frustrating, but with the use of AI it's made simple. Start by going over the essay, and notice if there's a paragraph that stands out in terms of being lean and overly simplified. Paste that paragraph into the Wordtune editor, and click the 'Plus' icon.

You'll be able to expand the article in any number of ways, including adding an explanation, an analogy, a counterargument, or even a simple continuation of your idea. Then, simply scroll through the different suggestions that AI produces, and find the best one.

2. Take advantage of outlines

It may seem counter-intuitive, but completing your outline can help you meet your word count goal.

Say you need to turn a 200-word article into a 1,500-word essay. Make an outline of the article before trying to tackle this seemingly impossible task of writing the whole piece.This will give you a clearer picture of how your entire thesis works and how to logically support it.

As an example, suppose we're writing an essay on why kids shouldn't play phone games.

To begin, you need to summarize your message in a few sentences. For example:

‍ “Kids have susceptible brains, and games can change the whole chemistry of their brains in a bad way, causing them to go off on tantrums and screaming fits. Moreover, these games form addictive habits that will persist when the kids become older. By continuing to play phone games, the kids fail to develop emotionally, and may become unsocial introverted people. Moreover, there are signs that games make kids more violent and emotionally unstable. Since phones are always at reach, kids can continuously play throughout the day, not stopping even when eating lunch or when attending a school class.”

Before expanding it, write an outline to get a sense of its structure and flow. As a result, you can easily determine how much text is needed for each section, which ones require expanded text, and which ones can be kept brief. This clarity not only helps me reduce anxiety, but also gives me a clear plan of action to finish this essay!

For example, for the paragraph on video games, my outline would look something like this:

Introduction (include statistics and research to argue that video games are harmful for kids) and state the thesis (250 words) Negative effects of video games on children: first build larger categories and then substantiate with smaller points, evidence and data within each point: - Effects on emotional development (200 words) - Effects on physical development (200 words) - Effects on social development (200 words) - Effects on intellectual development (200 words) Give counter-views Cite research that talks about potential positive effects of video games, if used the proper way and under supervision (250 words) Give solutions State why parents find it so hard to keep kids away from video games, especially mobile video games, and offer concrete solutions to set better boundaries with kids for video game usage (250 words) Conclusion Offer a strong conclusion that brings all of the essay together in a summary (250 words)

Note that I’ve planned to write a few hundred more words than the prescribed word limit, so I have scope to edit and tighten later on.

3. Expand your text with intros and conclusions

I use this method all the time to get unstuck and write longer articles without worrying about word counts.

Let's say you finish expanding your outline, and the article is still short a few hundred words.

Two places you should consider expanding are the introduction and conclusion.

How does this work?

In the introduction and conclusion, you can add free-flowing stories, ideas and paragraphs, without having to validate each sentence with technical reference, sources and quotes.
You can use anecdotes, personal experiences, news articles, and research findings to introduce your topic, or to close it.
You can also go into detail about why you were motivated to explore the topic in more depth and why it has helped you to develop your argument. We wrote about essay hooks in more detail here, so be sure to check it out.
Remind readers why this entire argument matters at the human level in the conclusion. This is done by repeating the topic, the core of your argument, and why you have justified your thesis.

Add these elements to your introduction and conclusion, and you will quickly reach your essay quota.

Here's an example from the Wordtune blog of an anecdote placed as part of the intro:

4. Use examples to illustrate your point

It is always helpful to provide examples to illustrate complex academic or technical points. As well as adding color and descriptiveness to your own words, examples help your arguments come to life in a way that academic writing cannot. Having read several essays about the same topic, your evaluator will probably find it enjoyable to read something more creative and genuine.

Examples also help readers visualize your narrative. The situations can be real or imagined, but they must be authentic, relatable, and most importantly, relevant to your topic. Providing examples from your real-life experience will demonstrate to the teacher that you understand your topic.

I started this article by describing my experience as a freshman. The challenges I faced as a student are similar to those you are currently facing, so sharing my journey will help you learn from my mistakes.

5. Invest in serious research

Research is the most effective way to increase a paper's word count.

The more research you conduct, the more ideas, perspectives, and information you have to base your arguments on.

Research takes time and effort, which you may or may not have.

Here's where my smart tools come into play.

No matter how long a paper is, Wordtune Read will give you all the key highlights.

The following is a composite screenshot of how Wordtune Read summarized the effects of video games on children from a long and complex article. The key highlights on the right help you distill the core messages of the research in minutes, condensing hours of reading into minutes.

In just a few steps, you can add at least two supporting arguments or stats for each point you have in your outline. And just like that, you have several hundred very relevant words, added almost effortlessly to your essay.

6. Ask 'Why' questions

At this stage, the research has already provided you with some solid perspectives, but there's nothing like adding some original perspectives to the existing body of research. Asking ‘why’ questions is an effective way to do this. In addition to strengthening your arguments, it will also enhance your essay with relevant and original content.

Think back to the example of the negative effects of video games on children. Let's say one of the arguments you have is "phone games cause emotional issues". Use a series of 'why' questions to dig deeper into the text.

Ask questions like: "why is that true?", "Why is it important?", etc. For each answer, ask another why question and develop some original angles based on the insights that may emerge.

While it beats manual paraphrasing in terms of speed, I felt it also improved the overall quality of the writing.

7. Address the counter view

It's a foolproof way to score brownie points with tutors and also add some value - and word count - to your essay.

Counter views or counterpoints are positions diametrically opposed to your own.

I argue, for example, that video games negatively affect children in the essay about video games. There is always some literature available (and there is always some literature available) on the counter-side of why and under what circumstances video games can actually have a positive impact on children. I am able to write a pretty solid section on that topic.

By balancing the pros and cons of both arguments, I will also be able to bridge the two points of view.

Just like that, you've added about 200 words to your essay!

8. Use quotes and references

While the bibliography section doesn’t usually count towards the overall essay word count, there are some easy tricks you can use to maximize the references. Once you are done with the essay, run through your list of citations and find interesting quotes that you may have missed, which you can now incorporate.

9. Get feedback from a friend

If you're like me, working on the same essay for a long time with complete immersion means you develop blind spots to obvious misses and flaws in your text. This could be especially problematic for non-native English speakers .

Ask a trusted friend or peer to look over your essay again. Share your essay on Gdoc with your friends and find out if they spot something that seems missing, out of place, or that stands out like a sore thumb.

Also, ask them to question your assumptions in the essay - this may give you new angles and perspectives to explore, thus expanding the word count even further.

Your friends will help you find the problematic paragraphs in your writing and make them more concise and effective .

10. Add text while editing

Once you have finished writing your essay, you can use the review stage to edit and add text to your essay.

This is another great opportunity to use your AI writing tool, and get suggestions for ways to make your sentences more fluent . You can also replace superfluous words with stronger vocabulary, and pick alternative ways to word sentences that contain repetitive words.

Try and spot long, convoluted sentences and break them up to smaller sentences.

Keep it long and interesting

Essays that meet the prescribed criteria, including word count, indicate to your teachers that you not only possess subject matter knowledge, but also writing, grammar, logic, research, and communication skills.

You can find interesting angles even in the most mundane sounding topics if you challenge yourself to do the work and not worry too much about the word count. With the 11 smart hacks - including use of the smart writing tools - essay writing and meeting the specified word count becomes much easier!

Learning how to expand a text in an interesting way - and not just by adding fluff - makes you a better writer regardless of the format - essays, reports, statements of purpose - even books!

Share This Article:

8 Tips for E-commerce Copywriting Success (with Examples!)

The Brand Strategy Deck You Need to Drive Social Media Results + 5 Examples

Grammarly Alternatives: Which Writing Assistant is the Best Choice for You?

Looking for fresh content, thank you your submission has been received.

How to Stick to the Word Count on College Essays

Hand holding pen writing in journal to represent sticking to word count on college essays - image by Magoosh

You have a lot to think about when writing your college essay: brainstorming a topic , writing it well, and proofreading and editing it until it represents your best work. And of course, you can’t forget about sticking to the word count.

Keeping your essay short can be challenging. It’s supposed to showcase your best self, set you apart from other candidates, and give some extra insight into your individuality and personality. And you have to accomplish all of this in a limited amount of space?

Don’t worry—sticking to the word count while writing an excellent college essay is certainly possible. We’ll show you how!

What is the word count for college essays?

First, you might be wondering: What is the word count for college essays? The answer varies, but let’s take a look at some general guidelines.

Most college applicants will end up writing the Common App essay. Currently, the Common App asks you to write an essay ranging from 250-650 words . 650 words is just over one page of single-spaced type. When you fill out the application online, it won’t allow you to submit an essay with less than 250 or more than 650 words. So, sticking to the word count is not optional.

If you don’t write the Common App essay, or if you write additional essays, note that most college essays set word limits around 500-750 words. In the rare case that no word limit is specified, most experts recommend staying under 800 words.

Remember that the person reading your essay has read a lot of other essays, so be kind. Say what you need to say as concisely as possible. Here’s how:

Tips to Stick to the Word Count on College Essays

1. “zoom in” on your topic.

The best college essays focus on a specific topic . For instance, you might write about a single moment or event that profoundly impacted you, or a small but meaningful aspect of your life.

When you get specific, you’re able to provide details that are unique to you and your experiences, crafting an essay that no one else could write. Plus, you narrow the scope of your essay, which helps you stay within the word count.

Think about it like “zooming in” with a camera. Maybe you have a broad idea to start with, like family. But you can’t pack all of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences about family into 650 words. If you tried to, your essay would probably feel scattered and unorganized. It wouldn’t give a close, personal look at you or your life.

That means you need to zoom in some more. Let’s take a closer look. Maybe there’s a specific aspect of your family you want to highlight, like the way your family has taught you to speak your mind and stand for your beliefs. This is good, but it’s still pretty broad.

Let’s zoom in again. Get more specific. How has your family taught you to speak your mind? Is there a particular memory that stands out? Now, you decide to write about the spirited debates your family loves to have around the dinner table—and how those debates have shaped you as a person.

Now, that’s a topic you might be able to thoroughly cover in 650 words. And it’s going to be a lot more reflective, meaningful, and personal than a generic essay about “family.”

2. Outline First, Then Write

Once you’ve narrowed the scope of your essay, you’re almost ready to write. One of the most powerful strategies to help you stick to the word count is to create a plan or outline. Map out your essay before you start writing. If you have a plan, you’re less likely to ramble, go off on tangents, and ultimately waste words.

Think about the main purpose of your essay. What do you want the reader (college admissions officers) to know about you when they’re finished? What’s the point you’re trying to make?

As you plan or outline your essay, create a narrative:

What is the beginning, middle, and end of the story you’re telling ?
What is your character arc?
Who were you at the beginning? How were you challenged, influenced, or inspired? What did you learn or how did you grow as a result? Who are you now?

Focus on including information that accomplishes your main purposes and moves your narrative along. If it’s unrelated to any of your key points, you can probably cut it. And if it’s information that’s found somewhere else in your application, you don’t need to include it in your plan.

Having a clear, concise, and focused plan for your essay will help you convey your message without exceeding the word limit.

3. Keep the Introduction Short

The most important part of your essay is the body. That means your introduction doesn’t need to be extremely long. Save your words for the “meat” of the essay, where you’ll really dig into your narrative.

An effective introduction is engaging, interesting, and brief. It provides a glimpse or a preview into what you’ll discuss, but not too much. You want to leave the admissions officer wanting to read more.

In general, an introduction only needs three key parts:

Hook/grabber (an interesting sentence that immediately engages the reader)
Necessary background information (keyword: necessary)
Thesis statement or thematic statement (a clear statement summarizing your overall point)

Because college essays are more creative, you don’t have to follow this pattern exactly. But it gives you an idea of why a solid introduction can be short and sweet. Many students make the mistake of including too much unnecessary background in their introduction. Try to limit your intro to 4-6 sentences, unless there’s other essential information you must include.

If your intro is longer than six sentences, go back and underline or highlight sentences that are essential to the meaning of your essay. Then, review the sentences you didn’t highlight. Can you cut them entirely, or at least shorten them? Can this piece of info wait until the body of your essay?

4. Focus on the Important Stuff

We already mentioned that you want to focus on information that advances your narrative and relates to your main point. You also want to devote most of your word count to reflection and introspection.

When an admissions officer reads your essay, they’re most interested in reading your analysis of your life experiences. Think about questions like:

What did this event mean to you?
Why is it significant?
How has it shaped your life?
How did you learn or grow from this experience?
What does the information in this essay convey about you as a person, the way you think, or what you believe in and value?

If you write an essay about a challenge in your life, for example, you want to describe the challenge itself only briefly. The majority of your essay should focus on how you overcame the challenge and what you learned from the experience. It should demonstrate positive qualities that the experience revealed or helped you develop, like resilience, determination, and courage.

So, if it looks like you’re going to exceed the word count, reread. How many of these sentences are telling your story? How many are reflecting on your story? If you have to cut something, cut nonessential storytelling pieces. Include specific details that bring your story to life and tell it clearly without taking up too much space.

5. Eliminate Repetition

Have you included any repetitive words or phrases? Do any of your sentences basically mean the same thing? Reread your essay for repetition, and cut it.

Here’s an example:

It was the hardest decision I had ever made in my life. I wanted to avoid embarrassment, but I also wanted to do what was right. Making matters worse, I was torn between my two best friends. I never expected to face such a tough decision.

The first and last sentences of the paragraph above basically say, “It was a hard decision.” The writer doesn’t need both of them. If you can find sentences in your essay that don’t add any new information, then it’s safe to delete them.

6. Avoid Using Unnecessary Words

Similarly, sticking to a tight word limit requires you to write concisely. Concise writing is succinct and to the point. It avoids unnecessary words and sentences. To write concisely, think of each word as a $100 bill. You want to spend them wisely.

Of course, you don’t want to sound like a robot. Writing concisely doesn’t mean that you need to cut interesting details or doses of personality. Choose your words deliberately, and avoid words that don’t add meaning, like:

In some circumstances, some of these words might add meaning. But if you’re struggling to stay within the word limit, these words should be some of the first to go. Does the sentence make sense without it? If yes, cut it. In using the $100 bill analogy above, where can you save money? What unnecessary expenses could your essay live without?

Avoid Using Unnecessary Words: Let’s Practice!

Let’s look at my first paragraph above:

I’m not trying to stick to a 650-word limit, but what if I was? What could I cut? Here are some ideas:

The word “Similarly” doesn’t add any information. I could just say, “Sticking to a tight word limit requires you to write concisely.”
In the third sentence, I could delete “To write concisely.” You already know that the topic of this paragraph is concise writing. It would still make sense to say, “Think of each word as a $100 bill.”
In the final sentence, I could say, “Spend them wisely” instead of, “You want to spend them wisely.” Deleting those two words doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence. In fact, it makes the sentence clearer and more direct.

Now, let’s look at my third paragraph:

If I had to cut something, what could I cut? Here are some suggestions:

In the first sentence, I could shorten “In some circumstances” to “Sometimes.” It means the same thing and saves me two words.
In the second sentence, I could delete “some of,” making the sentence, “But if you’re struggling to stay within the word limit, these words should be the first to go.” “Some of” doesn’t add meaning, and deleting it makes the sentence stronger. Plus, I said “some of” in the previous sentence too, so it sounds repetitive.
I could delete “above” from the question, “In using the $100 bill analogy above, where can you save money?” You probably know the analogy is above. And even if you don’t know, it’s not essential information.
The final sentence asks, “What unnecessary expenses could your essay live without?” I could delete “unnecessary” because it has the same meaning as “could live without.”

Hopefully, this gives you an idea of how to cut unnecessary words from your essay! As a writer, it’s easy to get attached to the words you’ve chosen. But when it comes to word counts, you must be prepared to trim the fat and delete any words that don’t add meaning.

You should also shorten sentences and phrases whenever possible. For instance, instead of saying, “I wondered if I had made the right decision,” write, “Had I made the right decision?” With the question mark, “I wondered” is implied. Shorter sentences save you words, and they’re often clearer, stronger, and more direct.

7. Ask for Help

If you’ve tried all of these ideas and exercises, but your essay is still too long, ask for help! Ask a friend, parent, teacher, or other trusted adult to read the essay.

Do they see any sentences, phrases, or words that you can cut?

Sometimes, getting an extra pair of eyes on your essay makes a huge difference. An outside perspective is always clearer.

Final Thoughts: How to Stick to the Word Count on College Essays

You might have a lot to say in your college essay, but you have to say it within the required word count. Use strategies like:

Narrowing down your topic
Mapping out your essay beforehand
Focusing on information that supports your main point and advances your narrative
Cutting repetition
Cutting unnecessary words and phrases
Shortening sentences whenever possible
Asking for a fresh perspective

Believe it or not, using these strategies will also make your essay more engaging and powerful. Not only will you stick to the word count on your college essays, but you’ll also write a clear, concise, and memorable essay for the admissions officers.

Jason Patel is the founder of Transizion , a college counseling and career services company that provides mentorship and consulting on college applications, college essays, resumes, cover letters, interviews, and finding jobs and internships. Jason’s work has been cited in The Washington Post, BBC, NBC News, Forbes, Fast Company, Bustle, Inc., Fox Business, and other great outlets. Transizion donates a portion of profits to underserved students and veterans in of college prep and career development assistance. Jason is a Brazilian Jiujitsu martial artist, outdoorsman, and avid reader. You can find more content on his blog and YouTube channel.

View all posts

More from Magoosh

7 College Essay Topics to Avoid Writing About

How To Hit The Word Count For Your Academic Writing

Keeping track of your essay word count is very troublesome. You have to consider the word limit of the paper you’ll be submitting. Working on your academic work stresses a lot of students. No matter what level you’re in, writing school work intimidates most students. A few professors and teachers like to push their students in writing challenging academic topics like social changes and arduous writing prompts.

Educators do try their best to keep their students from being stressed over writing papers. However, they still have to be prepared for what’s to come in college and work life. Formal or business writing requires a good understanding of grammar. That fact alone terrifies most graduates and soon-to-be college students.

In hopes of giving you a boost of confidence, we prepared useful online tools for your disposal. From a character counter to studying timers, we have just what you need in writing your school papers. Plus, we prepared a few tips that’ll help you in completing your tasks.

Familiarize Yourself with Academic Writing

Image from Pixabay

Everything about academic writing daunts students and writers alike. Composing one requires you to provides coherent and cited sources. You can’t just invent anything as you go. You’re supposed to provide logical answers to your assignment. The whole task needs a whole lot of planning.

To spare you from all the stress, we suggest you use a mind map maker. Creating a mind map helps you arrange your thoughts. With it, you’ll be able to organize the contents of your topic. After composing your ideas, you can then write your academic paper with ease.

There are four types of academic writing you might encounter in college. Here are a few brief introductions to what you can expect when you’re assigned to these tasks.

1. Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing eases the minds of most students. You don’t need to plan anything elaborate. Reaction papers and initial reports fall under this category. Composing a descriptive paper requires you to just provide the sources you used.

2. Analytical Writing

Analytical writing associates descriptive writing with something more concise. Writing papers under this category compels you to compare or relate your topic to other topics. Expand your sources by visiting a library. You can also browse or purchase online textbooks if you hope to avoid library crowds.

3. Persuasive Writing

Persuasive writing covers topic arguments. After presenting your research in writing, you’re asked to involve arguments to further evaluate your topic. Discussing facts with a classmate or a different teacher helps.

4. Critical Writing

Critical writing makes you apply all the three types of academic writing mentioned so far. It’s a more advanced type of academic writing that you’ll probably encounter during more advanced college courses. Critical writing obliges you to practically breathe your topic once you present it. We suggest you especially use an online mind map maker to help you focus. This can keep you away from distractions as you write about your topic.

Make Your Research Paper Shine

Writing a research paper takes a lot of patience. You’re expected to provide a proper analysis, a bona fide interpretation, and a detailed argument without going past the required word count. It may sound difficult but, with these four simple steps, you’ll start your paper with ease.

1. Fully Understand Your Assignment

Coming up with the best topic for your essay is never easy. Even seasoned authors and journalists rely on current trends and news. Don’t be afraid to approach your professor or teachers when you’re having a hard time choosing one. It’s part of their job to help you despite the difficult tasks they give during classes.

2. Research and Conduct Surveys

Don’t skip out on compiling your preliminary research and conducting surveys. Not everything you need comes out from a quick Google search. Gather all the information you need from various sources. Narrowing your target audience also helps you compose the content you need.

3. Face the Trial and Error of Revisions

Writing a research paper is all about trial and error. You’re just a few steps away from finishing your paper. The key to finalizing your drafts starts with your introduction. Finish what you need to write from there and you’re all set.

The rest of the essay will be a breeze. Try using the Pomodoro technique to keep you away from any distractions. Here’s how you can incorporate the technique into your work routine:

Divide your day-to-day schedule

Cut your work schedule into 4-5 parts. It doesn’t have to be your entire work schedule. You can divide it and follow it before and after your lunch break. Force yourself to follow this flow to be fully immersed in this method.

Designate five-minute breaks in between

Add five-minute breaks after every division in your work schedule. Take this time to rest your mind. We suggest you completely relax your mind by meditating or listening to music. Avoid activities that may stress you out. Free your mind from doing anything. Use an online Pomodoro timer to keep track of your divided schedule.

Decide where to add the break that lasts for 15-20 minutes

To avoid burning yourself out, adding a long break in between your busy work schedule is a must. The five-minute breaks help relax your mind as you continue with your workload. Adding a break that lasts 15-20 minutes makes you rest. This doesn’t jeopardize your workflow, so don’t worry about losing productivity. People using the technique usually add their long break as their last but you can put it in your schedule wherever you please.

4. Follow a Checklist

Before submitting your work, go back to what you need to do. You don’t have to read your work all over again. Just create a list of things needed for your paper. This helps in keeping your nerves in check.

How to Increase the Word Count

It happens. You’ve followed the above steps, you pour your heart out to write the perfect paper. You’re almost there! Right before you close your laptop, you check the word count, and there it is, you’ve come up short. Whether it’s an essay, thesis paper, or college application, having to deal with a word count can be daunting sometimes. Fortunately, there are ways to supplement your academic writing. Here are some tips and techniques below.

Revise Your Introduction And Conclusion

The beginning and end of an essay tend to be more adaptable than the body. If you believe the body of your essay is well-supported and does not require additional information, it may be time to rework the introduction or conclusion. Is there a story you’d like to tell? A quote you want to share? Put that in there. Do, remember, though, that any changes you make should be pertinent to your content. You shouldn’t add just for the sake of putting words in!

Insert Examples

Examine your essay for any place you used an example to make a point. Once you’ve found one, add another one. Find case studies online, or search for relevant articles. As you do so, do not forget to cite your sources! The last thing you need would be to have your teacher or professor call you out for plagiarism.

Clarify Statements

When an idea isn’t decently fleshed out, even the best examples won’t work. What you need in this case are clarifying statements, sentences that further explain the “big picture” or the “motherhood statement” you just gave your readers. Most writers use the phrase “in other words.” That’s okay, but you can’t use it all the time. There are other words that give the same idea like, “namely,” “that is to say,” “to put it another way,” etc.

Finding quotations from experts to support your statements is a great way to add words to your paper, while also improving it. Quotes can be used to emphasize almost any point, but they must be used appropriately and in context. Also, only quote people or sources relevant to your content.

If appropriate, why not add stats or surveys? Numbers don’t lie, as long as they are the right ones! Including this type of information validates your writing and can increase your word count. If you want to add 200 words or so, find a study and add another paragraph or two while linking to the study.

Address Diverse Points of View

Addressing opposing viewpoints to your own is an effective way of increasing word count, while improving your paper. Discuss how these alternative viewpoints differ from your conclusions, then explain why you chose the points you choose. Try your best not to be biased in explaining, though. Treat all viewpoints alike, without reference to one’s own feelings or self-interests. Don’t spend too much time on an angle you agree on just because you like it.

Request Assistance From A Peer

Any writer will tell you, there is power in having work seen by fresh eyes. When we can’t see the gaps in our own writing, asking a friend you trust for assistance can be beneficial. Ask them if anything is unclear, if anything else needs to be said. These questions can point you in the direction of areas where you can elaborate and provide more information.

Composing the Best College Application Essay

Remember to be yourself when writing your college application. Recruiters vie for unique applications nowadays. Separate your thoughts from academic writing. Save what you learned about research papers for later. Focus on your drive in applying for the college of your dreams.

Now, the struggle here is how can you make your application stand out? How can you avoid composing a wordy college application? The answer to those questions lies on word counter tools. Tell them about yourself without giving away too much. Center your application around the course you’re interested in. Mention the achievements related to what you’re hoping to take up in the college or university.

Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out From The Rest

Image from Adobe Stock

Writing a cover letter just screams tradition. Despite our more modernized era, submitting cover letters helps heighten your chances of landing your dream job. College students need to be familiar with composing cover letters for their internships. Components in a cover letter basically remain unchanged throughout generations. You’re still required to include the usual contact details, greeting, introduction, body paragraph, and sign-off. It’s just like writing a normal letter but making it more formal. It’s your chance to flaunt your achievements. Here’s how you can make your cover letter shine:

Grab Attention With Your Introduction

Write an introduction that makes you shine. Center this part around your desire of working under the company you desire.

Flaunt Your Experience In Paragraphs

Don’t be afraid to boast about your achievements while writing this part. Show off your educational attainment and the skills relevant to the company.

Conclude Your Letter With A Bang

Showcase your strengths as a possible intern in this section. Thank them for taking the time to read your application. Remember to mind the character count to make this part more concise. Then, include your contact details in your conclusion.

We hope our short guides can help you in your future endeavors. Don’t be afraid to take risks in reaching your goals. College life encourages you not to play it safe. Flaunt your skills and talents. It’s time to make your uniqueness shine during this part of your life. Make the most of your experience as an intern too. Grab every opportunity you need to achieve your goals.

October 05, 2019

September 16, 2019

September 11, 2019

September 10, 2019

8 Ways To Add Length To Your Essay When You’re Struggling To Meet The Word Count

When trying to get through an essay or dissertation with a hefty word count, it’s easy to sit staring at your screen trying to figure the best way to fill that dreaded word count. It can be difficult to elaborate on the point you’re making when you already feel like you’re saying everything you need to say, but making a few simple changes, such as switching one or two words to be more of a formal sentence structure, can make the world of difference and get you one step closer to meeting that looming word count.

Maria Ovdii, co-founder and CEO of premium academic research company www.ivoryresearch.com , has laid out eight top ways of amending your ongoing or upcoming essays in order to get you to your word count:

ADD EXAMPLES

Adding in “for example” to one of your statements will not only reinforce the point you’re trying to make, but it will also get you one step closer to your word count.

CLARIFY SENTENCES

When you find the statements in your writing, if adding in an example doesn’t make sense, then clarifying the sentence might work. This can be done by inserting one or more specific statements to clarify the original one. One way of doing this is to follow your statement with, “in other words…”.

USE QUOTATIONS

You will more than likely already have a few relevant quotations in your essay, but adding a couple more would never hurt. Finding appropriate quotes from experts in the field that support your statements can be an excellent way to add words to your essay while improving the overall strength of your work, helping to back up any points you’re trying to make.

REWORD YOUR INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION

If you’ve done all of the above and are still struggling to meet your word count, look to expand on your introduction and conclusion rather than the body of the essay. A lot of teachers and markers will give more leeway for the introduction and conclusion to be wordy than the main body of the essay, so fluffing them out a bit will get you closer to your word count in such a simple way.

REWORD YOUR SENTENCES

By switching out one or two words to create a more formal sentence structure, you will not only sound more professional and academic, but it also increases your word count. It can be as simple as replacing “like” to “along the lines of”, “in fact” to “as a matter of fact” and “twice” to “on two separate occasions”.

HAVE SOMEONE PROOFREAD YOUR ESSAY

Even if you’re short on time, getting a fresh pair of eyes to read through your essay, specifically noting any points they find confusing, can help you come up with ideas to re-word parts of your essay.

INCLUDE MORE TRANSITIONAL PHRASES

A lot of the time, those grading essays will look for traditional words linking sentences together, such as “therefore”, “even though” and “on the other hand”. Read back through your work and make sure the sentences flow nicely into each other. If they don’t, add in some transitional phrases and, not only will your writing be easier to read, you’ll also be closer to the minimum word count.

READ YOUR ESSAY OUT LOUD

When you read something out loud, you become increasingly aware of any grammatical or syntactical issues. When you then go back to rephrase these sentences, you will most likely end up increasing the length of your essay too. Reading it out loud might also help you realise that you didn’t include enough detail within a particular paragraph.

You may also be interested in...

Currys Black Friday Deals 2024: laptops, TVs, and more

Everything you need to know about Currys Black Friday laptops sale plus all the top savings you'll need this Black Friday.

woman alone on chair by window - loneliness at university

How To Overcome Loneliness At University

At university and feeling lonely, or maybe homesick? We’ve got advice on how to cope with loneliness at university.

Best Student Deals Of The Week

Our roundup of the best student deals & freebies updated weekly to bring you the best freebies and discounts to help you save money.

When And How To Revise Effectively For University Exams

Revision is no-one's favourite thing, but if you're not sure where to start, we've got all the advice you need, and 7 tips to teach you how to revise effectively. So you can start your uni journey on the right foot.

best drinking games - young people playing beer pong outside

Best Drinking Games For Students

University rarely has a dull moment, but if you do find yourself in one, these are some of the best drinking games to play.

5 Reasons Why You Should Try Therapy During Uni

5 reasons why university students should try therapy during their studies from improving mental health to adapting to difficult situations.

Do Students Pay Council Tax?

Living on your own is amazing... apart from all the bills you have to pay. But you could be exempt from paying council tax, so check out our guide to see if you'll be able to avoid at least one bill when you move to university.

The Best Loyalty Cards For Students UK

Students can save money while shopping for food and essentials by getting loyalty cards at Starbucks, Nando's Subway and more to earn points and get freebies.

Student housing - comprehensive guide to student housing

Student Housing 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Finding the Perfect Place to Live

Struggling to understand the world of student housing? Our guide offers you tips and advice on how to find the perfect place to live.

When Do You Move Into University Halls? Your Questions Answered

The time is nearly here to pack up and move to your uni halls - find out everything you need to know about moving to university, what to bring, making friends and dos and don'ts when living with your new housemates.

What Are The Best Student Energy Deals & Providers in 2024?

Moving into your uni house? Don't stress about sorting your student energy bills, we've found the best deals and ways to compare prices for the cheapest gas & electricity in your student house.

Transferring Universities Or Changing Courses? Here’s What You Need To Know

Wondering how to transfer universities? You're not alone, and we're here to help whether you want to transfer to a different university or change your course.

Do Footnotes Count in Word Count?

When you are writing an essay for a class which has a minimum of maximum word count limit, the question of whether or not footnotes and endnotes should be counted toward this limit can come up. Those who have an essay that is under word count are hoping that their footnotes and endnotes can be counted while those who are over the limit want to make sure that these don’t count. Which one is it?

Do footnotes count when doing a word count ? No, footnotes don’t count in the word count in most cases . When a teacher or professor gives an assignment with a minimum or maximum limit, it’s usually done with the intent of being applicable to the topic being assigned. Footnotes are auxiliary information that further clarifies certain points being made in the essay. Since this isn’t a part of the body of the essay, most teachers and professors do not count footnotes as part of the essay’s word count.

This is a general rule of thumb. There can be exceptions depending on the teacher giving the assignment, so the best policy is to ask the person assigning the essay whether or not footnotes should or shouldn’t be included. If this is not possible, it’s best to assume that they are not counted.

Do footnotes count in a page count? Yes, footnotes generally count toward page count . Footnotes are found at the bottom of the page and don’t take up much of the page space in most instances. While it’s relatively easy to exclude footnotes from a word count, it’s much more difficult to exclude them from a page count. For this reason, most professors allow them to be included as part of the overall page count.

Again, counting footnotes as part of the page count is a general rule of thumb, not a definitive answer. It’s always best to ask the person assigning the essay to confirm that this is OK. If you find yourself in a position where this isn’t possible, in most cases it should be acceptable.

Do endnotes count in a word count? No, endnotes don’t count as part of a word count in most cases . Much like footnotes, endnotes give further information to a point made in an essay but aren’t part of the body of the essay. For this reason, endnotes are generally not included in an essay’s word count. The best policy is to ask directly if you aren’t sure about this, but when in doubt, it’s better not to count them.

Do endnotes count in a page count? No, endnotes don’t count as part of a page count most of the time . There is one significant difference between footnotes and endnotes which is endnotes are found at the end of the essay and not at the bottom of each page. Being at the end, it’s much easier to exclude them from a page count than it is to exclude footnotes. For this reason, endnotes aren’t usually counted when doing an assignment with a specific page count.

(Image courtesy of Lohan Gunaweera )

This is a bunch of BS. Why aren’t footnotes counted in word count? I’m writing those words. They didn’t just appear out of thin air. If I had to write them as part of the essay, then I feel they should count in my word count. Teachers are always trying to get us to do more work than they originally say. I’m sick of it!

Quit whining and write the amount you know you’re supposed to write. The only reason a person would consider counting footnotes as part of the wordcount of an essay is that they aren’t able to do the assignment on its on merits. You’re making this into a big ordeal because you just don’t want to write what the assignment calls for and you’re looking for a way out of it.

Although footnotes do have words written within them, they unfortunately do not count at all because they aren’t part of the actual essay writing. This may seem bad but it is how it works unless specified otherwise. If they counted, all everyone would do is footnote every sentence to up the word count!

I actually have a professor who requires us to count our footnotes as part of the paper’s word count. This drives me absolutely crazy. I don’t mind putting in footnotes in most of the papers I write but I hate to do it for this professor. I never have enough room to write everything I want anyway and when footnotes are counted as part of the word count it just means that I have less space to write the points that I want to get across.

Any professor who would require that footnotes or endnotes count as part of the word count just sounds like a lazy professor who doesn’t want to read the full amount that they are assigning.

I’ve never heard of the teacher who allows you to count footnotes or the bibliography in as part of the word count. That’s just ridiculous. The word count should be for the essay, not the parts that support the essay. Why would anybody think that they could include footnotes as part of their essay?

What if the teacher doesn’t give any guidance when it comes to including footnotes in the word count? Can I just assume I can count them? I need them to make my word count. If I count them and the teacher doesn’t allow me to, do you think she will mark down my essay if I say I didn’t know because she never said anything about it? I just want this essay to be over!

No. If you aren’t given any guidance as to whether or not you can use footnotes as part of your word count, you should assume that they are NOT counted. That’s the rule in most cases, so you should opt with what is most prevalent. The only time you should count footnotes as part of word count is it the teacher specifically says that it’s okay to do so.

I think that word counts suck anyway. So many times in school I had to go back and add filler words that just made my paper sound dumbed down. It was so much easier to write a good, precise paper, but teachers only seem to care about the quantity instead of quality. Ugh.

Or you need to look at the writing from different perspectives rather than from a single one. When students aren’t able to reach word count, it’s usually because they see the question to be answered as one-dimensional instead of from a variety of different perspectives from my experience.

I think this will depend on the teacher that gives the assignment because in some cases footnotes actually do count and in others they don’t but if it is not specified chances are they probably will not count.

Isn’t that what the articles just said? If your professor says footnotes and endnotes count, then you should count them. If she says they don’t, then you shouldn’t. If she doesn’t say anything, then assume they don’t count and ask to clarify if you have the opportunity.

Endnotes and footnotes should count. How else are we supposed to write all the words we are assigned?

Neither adds anything to the topic you’re writing about (just give information about where you got a certain statement of idea), so it doesn’t add to the essay in a informational way. Therefore, they should not be counted.

It would seem counterproductive to have footnotes and endnotes counted as part of the word count. The whole reason for them is to give additional information that you don’t actually want in the body of the article or essay. If you wanted them to be a part of it, you’d add a paragraph or two to place that information in directly.

This is the best answer here. Counting footnotes is actually counterproductive when given an assignment with a min or max. They aren’t a part of the actually assignment. They are an added addition in case you didn’t know something or needed more clarification.

How to Increase your Essay's Word Count

It happens. You pour your heart out to write the perfect college essay. You've included everything you could possibly think of in your work. Before you submit your magnificent piece of writing, you enter the essay into a word counter.

And there it is: You've come up short on your word count .

Using the right tool to measure your word count can ensure you

Whether it's a college application, a scholarship essay, or a report for class, word counts can be daunting sometimes. And when you come up short, there are solutions available to bulk up your writing.

This article will help you find ways to add to your word count without sacrificing on the quality of your work.

1. Know your Goal and How to Measure It Accurately

Is the requirement 800–1000 words? Is it 500 words maximum? Knowing the exact word goal is crucial when beginning to write, especially for something as important as a college entrance essay or a scholarship competition. Always be sure to read the detailed requirements for each assignment.

It's also important to use an accurate word counter for essays to calculate your word count. Find a reliable online tool to help you track your word count as you're working so you can have peace of mind that you're creating something that fits the requirements you've been given.

Once you've figured out what word count you're aiming for, it's common to look for some short cuts to help estimate your word count as you work. Some writers ask, " How many pages is 1,000 words? ". Although this varies with font type, font size, and spacing choices, generally speaking, double-spaced, typed fonts provide about 250 words per page.

Remember this is just a general rule. Always verify with a word counter before you submit a piece of writing such as a college essay.

2. Be Aware of What NOT To Do

When writers fall short of word counts, they sometimes add filler words that don't improve the quality of the writing at all. Adding pointless fillers will instead make the writing weaker.

Does the following sound familiar?

You add a few more random words, ask yourself, "How many words is this now?", check it in a word counter, and then repeat this process until you've reached the desired word count.

Though I've been guilty of this myself once or twice, this is NOT the way to properly bulk up your essay.

Being wordy in your writing does not make you appear more intelligent. If you start adding miscellaneous words to your essays, it becomes very, very, very, very obvious to your reader. (See what I did there?) It would be really, really redundant and repetitive and even more redundant to just add extra words that essentially mean the same thing. (See. I did it again.)

What you choose to add to your writing needs to be high quality and necessary. This next hint will help you add words that will enhance your writing instead of hurting it.

Adding random words will make writing weaker, so it

3. Reread Your Essay and Dig Deeper

There are many ways to add quality content to your essays that will increase your word count while still improving your work. Here are some ways to dig deeper into your writing:

Add More Details

Look for places where you might have been vague and clarify. Remember to always try to show—don't tell .

For example, let's say you previously wrote: "My feet were cold."

Can you show us "cold"? Perhaps add details to explain: "My toes were tingling and numb from the chilling, icy snow that was seeping into my tattered shoes."

These details add to your word count while painting a clear picture for your reader.

Offer an Example

If it's appropriate, offer an example.

In a college application essay, you might state, "I have won several awards." However, it's more powerful to provide an example of a specific award that has a deeper meaning: "Winning the most improved player award for volleyball was a proud moment for me. It celebrated how far I had come and how hard I had to work to become a better player for myself and my teammates."

Support Arguments with More Facts and Quotes

Find areas where you are trying to make a point, and back these statements up with more detail. Is there a quality fact you can add to support your case? Is there a great quote from an expert that will help? Adding more solid evidence to your argument can help make your opinion stronger and more supported.

Change Up Your Introduction and Conclusion

The beginning and end of your essay tend to be more flexible than the body. If you feel the body of your essay is already well-supported and doesn't need more information, perhaps it's time to rework the intro or the conclusion . Is there an interesting story you can tell? Is there a way to wrap things up that is more compelling and ties your thoughts together in a more coherent way?

4. Ask a Peer for Help

Sometimes we can't see the gaps in our own writing, so asking a friend to help out can be useful.

Have your friend read through your piece and ask him for feedback. What isn't clear? What needs more explanation? What other questions does he have for you?

These questions can help guide you to places where you can expand and provide more details.

Asking a friend to read over your work can help you identify places where you need to expand your writing.

Getting an accurate word count is important for writing college essays and qualifying for scholarship opportunities. But you shouldn't just add any words to help you meet the required length; instead, make sure you're adding quality words to balance essay length with essay quality.

Using the tips mentioned above, you will be on your way to adding the bulk you need to reach your word count and improving your writing by crafting more details and clarifications that will ultimately produce a better piece of writing.

How to Write Essay Titles and Headers

Don’t overlook the title and section headers when putting together your next writing assignment. Follow these pointers for keeping your writing organized and effective.

101 Standout Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

Need a topic for your upcoming argumentative essay? We've got 100 helpful prompts to help you get kickstarted on your next writing assignment.

Writing a Standout College Admissions Essay

Your personal statement is arguably the most important part of your college application. Follow these guidelines for an exceptional admissions essay.

RRU Writing Centre
WriteAnswers

Q. Are the title page, in-text citations, and/or references included in an essay's word count?

3 Academic Integrity
49 Academic writing
42 APA Style
33 APA Style: Formatting
109 APA Style: In-text citations
107 APA Style: References
3 Generative AI
19 Legal citations
4 New students
16 Paraphrasing
10 Punctuation
25 Quotations
17 Writing Centre information
66 Writing Centre resources

Answered By: Theresa Bell (she/her/hers) Last Updated: Nov 17, 2021 Views: 45614

If you're writing for an academic audience, you're probably aiming for a specific word count. According to the American Psychological Association (APA, 2020),

to determine word count, count every word from beginning to end, including all in-text citations, reference entries, tables, figures (other than words in a figure image, which may not be captured by word count), and appendices. The default settings of the word-count function of your word-processing program are acceptable for determining the word count. (p. 46)

Since in-text citations are essential in academic writing to acknowledge sources of information and prevent plagiarism, including them in the word count aligns them at the same level of importance as the rest of the information in the work. If you are unsure of the expectations for your work, please check with your instructor or publishing editor for direction.

If you are working in a PC version of Microsoft Word, you can click the Word Count button, which can be found under the Review tab in the Proofing section:

If you are using Microsoft Word for Mac, you can view the word count in the status bar at the bottom left corner of the page.

If you are using a different word processing program, please search online for the appropriate instructions to calculate the word count.

If you are not expected to include in-text citations in the word count for your document, try using the Writer's Diet Test to check the word count. The Writer's Diet Test gives automated feedback on sentence-level conciseness for a selection of 100-1000 words, as well as noting the word count for the selection. The test's default setting excludes anything in parentheses, though you can adjust the settings in the "Advanced" tab.

Whether you're submitting an assignment or a manuscript for publication, adhering to the word limit is one of your responsibilities as an author. You can assume that you should include your in-text citations in your word count; however, if you're unsure of what's expected of you, please check with your instructor or publishing editor for clarification.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Share on Facebook

Was this helpful? Yes 0 No 0

IMAGES

How to Insert a Word Count into Your Word Document
How To Write Word Count In Essay
Essay Planning
EN112 Essay
Here's how to increase word count on an essay
10 Ways to Increase Your Essay Word Count (AI Included)

VIDEO

Word Count is a Horrible Way of Measuring Value
Trying to hit the word count on an essay
WORD COUNT : SWT SST ESSAY EMAIL #pte
If your child always makes up the word count when writing an essay, you can prepare this large C
Word Count In Ms Word
When you're trying to reach the word count on your essay

COMMENTS

How to Include a Word Count in Your Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Finish Writing Your Essay. Complete your essay before you worry about the word count. After you've finished writing your essay, you'll have the final word count that you need to include. This is important because if you add the word count before you're done, you might end up with the wrong number.
How to Make an Essay Longer or Shorter
7 ways to reduce word count. When trying to reduce word count it's important to use a scalpel and not an axe—meaning you don't want to delete large portions of your paper to ensure you're below the maximum word count. Instead, you want to find small but significant ways to bring down your word count. 1 Look for redundancies in your argument
How to Include Word Count in MLA Format: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Finish Writing Your Essay. Complete your essay before counting your words. After you finish writing your essay, you need to know the total word count. On most word processors, you can see the word count on the bottom of the screen. If not, there's usually a tool or option in the menu where you can find it.
WordCounter
To check word count, simply place your cursor into the text box above and start typing. You'll see the number of characters and words increase or decrease as you type, delete, and edit them. You can also copy and paste text from another program over into the online editor above. The Auto-Save feature will make sure you won't lose any changes ...
7 Word Count Tips for Clear, Powerful Academic Writing
Peace and quiet. Hope and desire. Tidy and presentable. 7. Remove 'helping words'. This technique can take a little practice to implement but it can reduce your word count quickly. Sentences including words in the form of ' be ' or ' have ' can often be edited and rearranged to reduce word count and add clarity.
MLA General Format
Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another.
APA Style 6th Edition Blog: You Can Word Count on This
Counting the number of words in an APA Style paper is easy: Count all the words in the entire paper to get the total word count. That includes the title page, abstract, main text, quotations, headings, citations, footnotes, reference list, tables, figure captions, and appendices—everything. This gives an accurate representation of the overall ...
CiteCount
Supporting MLA, APA and Chicago style, CiteCount is the tool for you. With CiteCount, you can track and count number of citations you have used, words you have used without citations, and characters you have used without citations. We provide an advanced algorithms to ensure you get the most accurate citation counts - all done within your browser.
How to Avoid Going Over an Essay Word Limit: 15 Steps
1. Reduce your word count after you have drafted your essay. Keep the word limit in mind as you write, but don't worry if you go over a bit. Take the time to trim your essay only after you're done writing. Be sure to get all your points written down and then go back and try to reduce your word count.
The Word Limit in Academic Writing (and How to Stick to It)
There are two main reasons that academic papers usually come with a word limit: Fairness. It's impossible to grade two papers of vastly different lengths (e.g., 20,000 compared to 2,000 words) on the same scale. The word limit makes sure that everyone taking the same class knows what is expected of them. Communication Skills.
10 Ways to Increase Your Essay Word Count (AI Included)
5. Invest in serious research. Research is the most effective way to increase a paper's word count. The more research you conduct, the more ideas, perspectives, and information you have to base your arguments on. Research takes time and effort, which you may or may not have. Here's where my smart tools come into play.
How to Stick to the Word Count on College Essays
First, you might be wondering: What is the word count for college essays? The answer varies, but let's take a look at some general guidelines. Most college applicants will end up writing the Common App essay. Currently, the Common App asks you to write an essay ranging from 250-650 words. 650 words is just over one page of single-spaced type ...
How Long is an Essay? Guidelines for Different Types of Essay
Essay length guidelines. Type of essay. Average word count range. Essay content. High school essay. 300-1000 words. In high school you are often asked to write a 5-paragraph essay, composed of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. College admission essay. 200-650 words.
How To Hit The Word Count For Your Academic Writing
Whether it's an essay, thesis paper, or college application, having to deal with a word count can be daunting sometimes. Fortunately, there are ways to supplement your academic writing. Here are some tips and techniques below. Revise Your Introduction And Conclusion. The beginning and end of an essay tend to be more adaptable than the body.
How to Reduce Your Essay Word Count
When it comes to writing essays, there are two frequent issues that arise; the word count is either too low or too high for the stated range of the essay. For those who perpetually end up with too few words, you need to figure out ways to increase your essay word count. For those who frequently find themselves with too many words on the page, there are some simple steps to take when editing to ...
8 ways to make your essay longer and increase word count
REWORD YOUR SENTENCES. By switching out one or two words to create a more formal sentence structure, you will not only sound more professional and academic, but it also increases your word count. It can be as simple as replacing "like" to "along the lines of", "in fact" to "as a matter of fact" and "twice" to "on two ...
Do Footnotes Count in Word Count?
No, footnotes don't count in the word count in most cases. When a teacher or professor gives an assignment with a minimum or maximum limit, it's usually done with the intent of being applicable to the topic being assigned. Footnotes are auxiliary information that further clarifies certain points being made in the essay.
How to Make an Essay Longer
These are the words and sentences that are used to connect two ideas together, e.g., at the end and the beginning of a paragraph. Besides, they help you whenever you wonder how to make your essay longer. Some examples include: Therefore; However; ... To increase the essay word count, apply the following techniques: ...
How to Increase your Essay's Word Count
Once you've figured out what word count you're aiming for, it's common to look for some short cuts to help estimate your word count as you work. Some writers ask, " How many pages is 1,000 words? Although this varies with font type, font size, and spacing choices, generally speaking, double-spaced, typed fonts provide about 250 words per page.
Are the title page, in-text citations, and/or references included in an
If you are not expected to include in-text citations in the word count for your document, try using the Writer's Diet Test to check the word count. The Writer's Diet Test gives automated feedback on sentence-level conciseness for a selection of 100-1000 words, as well as noting the word count for the selection. The test's default setting ...
How Long Should a College Essay Be?
Revised on October 16, 2024. Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit. If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words. You should aim to stay under the specified limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely.