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Essay Tips: Word Count Advice

  • 3-minute read
  • 10th October 2017

Most students have experienced a few sleepless nights worrying about the word count of an essay . After all, you don’t want to write too little. And writing too much is almost as bad! However, if this sounds like a familiar problem, you might find these tips helpful.

Why Is the Word Count Important?

The word limit for an essay reflects how much you’re expected to write. Most universities allow around 10% leeway either side of the suggested figure. If you’re not sure what the rules are about this at your university, check your style guide or ask a supervisor .

The word count matters for two reasons:

  • Writing too little suggests that you may have underestimated how complicated a problem is or not done enough research.
  • Writing too much may mean that you’re not expressing yourself clearly, or that you need to focus on a specific issue.

In either case, your marker may have a lot of work to get through, so they will appreciate concise writing ! But how can you make sure you get the word count right in a document? The keys lie in planning and editing.

Planning Ahead

How do you ensure your work is the right length? The first step is to plan before your start writing. To do this effectively, you’ll need to:

  • Work out the structure of your essay, breaking it down into sections.
  • Check the word limit and assign a certain number of words to each point you need to make, plus the introduction and conclusion.

You can then see how much space you have to make your argument. And if you find that you don’t have enough words available per section, you can revise your essay plan to focus on the most important points.

Reducing the Word Count

Say your plan doesn’t quite work out, though. What then? Well, if you’ve written too much, there are a few things you can do. These include:

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  • Looking for and cutting any repetition in your work
  • Cutting unnecessary words or phrases (particularly redundancies )
  • Using the active voice instead of the passive voice

Having your work proofread can help with these issues. However, if you need to reduce the word count in your work by a large amount, you may need to make bigger cuts.

This will mean looking for arguments or examples in your work that aren’t essential to your point. In a longer thesis or dissertation, you may also be able to move some information to the appendices.

Increasing the Word Count?

There’s no trick to boosting the word count in an essay. But there are things you shouldn’t do! For example, you shouldn’t add extra words unless they offer something useful. Unnecessary waffle will make your work hard to read, and your marker will spot it quickly.

essay word percentage

Instead, reread your essay and look for things to expand on, such as:

  • Adding another example
  • Explaining an argument in more depth
  • Comparing different points of view
  • Using short quotes to support your points

If you find it difficult to know what to write, a little extra research should help. The key is that anything you add should contribute to your work as well as your word count! And if you need any help proofreading your essay , our academic writing experts are available 24/7.

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Working within word limits: A short guide

  • Short on word counts
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In adhering to the word limit, it is always a good idea for you to roughly plan first how many sections or paragraphs you will need for the essay. From there, you will be able to estimate how much you have to write for each section or paragraph. 

The general rule of thumb is to allocate 10% of the word limit for the introduction and 10% for the conclusion. This rule will leave 80% for the body paragraphs or sections.

Here is the breakdown:

Introduction - 10%

Paragraph 1 - 20%

Paragraph 2 - 20%

Paragraph 3 - 20%

Paragraph 4 - 20%

Conclusion - 10%

In writing a dissertation, the allocation of word limit might differ slightly. The weightage depends on the depth of each chapter.  For example,

Literature review - 25%

Methodology - 15%

Findings - 20%

Discussion - 20%

Remember that normally the references and appendices are not included in the word count. 

  • Next: Short on word counts >>
  • Last Updated: Aug 5, 2024 4:13 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.bham.ac.uk/asc/wordlimits

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.

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Structure and Flow - Skills Guide

Essay structure.

  • Paragraph Structure
  • Creating Flow
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Introduction

What is a good structure?

A good structure to your academic work is vital to make it understandable, easy to read and engaging. An essay or report tells a story, so as any good story does, it needs a beginning, a middle and an end. It's not just the work as a whole that needs structure but your paragraphs too. This section includes guidance on how to create a good overall essay structure. For more information about creating structure for your individual paragraphs see our paragraph structure guide .

Why do I need to learn structure?

To gain good marks and fulfil the learning outcomes of your assignments, you need to demonstrate that you understand the concepts and the work that you have used to form your argument. Structure also ensures that:

  • you avoid repeating yourself
  • you include information that leads from one concept to another
  • you show understanding of your thought process
  • you don't forget a piece of information along the way

How do I use structure?

The basic structure of any academic work looks something like this:

  • Title/Question
  • Introduction (approx. 10% of the word count)
  • Main body - development of argument (approx. 80% of the word count)
  • Conclusion (approx. 10% of the word count)
  • References/Bibliography

Creating sections helps you to plan how much you need to write on each area. This breaks the task down into smaller chunks.

For example:

Essay word count - 3,000 words Introduction - 300 words Main body - 2,400 words Conclusion - 300 words

If your subject has three major themes you can then break the main body down again:

Essay word count - 3,000 words Introduction - 300 words Main body - 2,400 words (theme 1 - 800 words; theme 2 - 800 words; theme 3 - 800 words) Conclusion - 300 words

This is not a precise rule; you can adjust the word counts to accommodate where more emphasis is needed or not, but it can be used to break a large word count into manageable sections.

Structure Resources

  • Essay planning table
  • Point, Evidence, Explain Example
  • Academic Language at Level 6
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Structure and Planning Podcast

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  • Last Updated: Aug 23, 2023 3:52 PM
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Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, what's the college essay word count limit.

So, I've started brainstorming for my college essays, and honestly, there's so much I want to write about. I was wondering, how long can my college essay be? Is there a specific word count I need to stick to?

Yes, there is a word limit that you need to adhere to when you're writing your college essay. For the Common Application, you're given a word limit of 650 words for the personal statement. That's about a page and a half, double-spaced.

For school-specific supplemental essays, the word count typically varies. Some prompts might specify a word limit like 200, 250, or 500 words. In some cases, you might just be given a guideline like "brief" or "one page".

Regardless of the limits, remember to be concise and clear in your writing. Every sentence should serve a purpose in your essay! Good luck with your essay writing process.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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Assignment length requirements are usually given in terms of numbers of words.

Unless the lecturer tells you that these limits are strict, it is normally acceptable to be 10% above or below this word limit (so, for example, a 2000 word assignment should be between 1800 and 2200 words). If the assignment uses the words “up to” (as in “up to 2500 words”) that usually means that you cannot go above the limit.

Use the tool below to calculate the acceptable range for an assignment (based on +/- 10%).

from  to  words

Unless the lecturer tells you otherwise, the word limit does not include ‘administrative’ sections of the assignment: the cover or title page, table of contents, table of figures, reference list, list of works cited, bibliography, or any appendices.

The word limit that you are given reflects the level of detail required . This means that if your assignment is too long, you're either taking too many words to explain your point or giving too many / too detailed examples. If your assignment is too short, either there is more to the answer than you have written or the assignment has not gone into enough detail about the answer.

  • Don't try to remove single words from your assignment. It is unlikely to reduce the assignment's length significantly, but it may confuse your argument . Instead, aim to remove or condense whole sections of your assignment.
  • You should not include something just because it is a fact, or just because it is included in your course materials. Include something only if it is relevant to your argument.
  • Be direct. State your point rather than writing many paragraphs to ‘lead up’ to it.
  • Go back to the question . Which sections relate to the point and which are secondary?
  • Go back to the plan . Which paragraphs fit in the overall structure? Which paragraphs overlap and can be combined?
  • Remove sections where you
  • Over-explain your point
  • Over-specify your point
  • Repeat yourself
  • Write off-topic or ramble
  • Remove multiple examples where one or two are sufficient.
  • Remove hedging language that adds little to the argument (e.g., it would seem that, it is possible that).

If you are often over the word count you should look at your writing style. See writing concisely for more.

Explain your argument fully

  • Make sure every argument in your head and in your plan is on the page.
  • Would a general (i.e., non-specialist) reader understand your point? Have someone else read over your assignment and ask you questions about it. What do they think is missing?
  • Are there gaps in your argument?
  • Does each point logically follow the last one, or do you jump over important points?

Look for the ‘hidden’ answer

  • What theories do you think the marker expects?
  • How does this relate to the materials from lectures and study guides? Use the course information in your answer to the assignment question.
  • Are there complications or contradictions in the argument or in your research? Explain them and explore them.

Flesh it out

  • Define any special terminology you've used that a general reader would not be familiar with.
  • Illustrate with more examples and/or quotations.
  • Contextualise and explain the quotations you use. How do they relate to your argument?

Page authorised by Director - Centre for Learner Success Last updated on 12 December, 2018

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What are the six different essay lengths?

essay word percentage

This is the second of three chapters about Essays . To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.   

– Discuss why essays might vary in length

– Outline the six major lengths of academic essay

– Provide defining features for each essay length

Chapter 1: What is an academic essay?

Chapter 2: What are the six different essay lengths?

Chapter 3: What are the seven different types of academic essay?

Before you begin reading...

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The length of essay you’re assigned will likely depend on where you are exactly in your academic course. Generally, assignments at the start of a bachelor’s degree will be shorter than those required in a student’s final years, just like master’s  and doctoral-level essays will continue to increase in both length and difficulty.

1. The One-Paragraph Essay

Generally about 150 to 250 words in length, the one-paragraph essay may be assigned by academic tutors simply in order to practise the basic concepts of paragraph writing, or it may also be used for specific purposes such as to practise summarising an article that’s been read in class or to write an extended definition of a concept. Additionally, one-paragraph essays may also be used as a diagnostic to quickly determine the level of a student’s writing. Unlike other essay lengths, for the one-paragraph essay, you’ll need to include at least some introductory, body and conclusive elements within the same paragraph.    

2. The Three-Paragraph Essay

Usually around 500 words in length, the three-paragraph essay is generally used to introduce students to the concept that all essays should maintain an introduction , body section and conclusion if the writer wishes to produce cohesive and a logical writing. The introduction and conclusion will be the first and last paragraphs and tend to be a little shorter in length, while the central body paragraph will contain the essay’s content or argument. A simple table explaining the balance of content in a three-paragraph essay has been provided below:

About Essay Types 2.1 Three Paragraph Essay

3. The Five-Paragraph Essay

Around 1,000 words in length, the five-paragraph essay is generally set by tutors who are content that their students understand the introduction-body-conclusion essay  structure and wish to allow more freedom to expand the ideas and arguments presented by the writer in the body section of the essay. This length of essay still only dedicates one paragraph to the introduction and conclusion , but allows three paragraphs to be dedicated to the exploration of the theme in the essay’s body. At this length, certain essay types such as cause and effect essays or compare and contrast essays may now be utilised. The following is a simple diagram of the balance of paragraph lengths in a five-paragraph essay.

About Essay Types 2.2 Five Paragraph Essay

4. The Extended Essay

The extended essay is the most common type of essay that’s assigned during a bachelor’s or master’s degree , and it may be of any length – although it’s unusual for such essays to be above 5,000 words. The most common lengths for an extended essay are 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 words, with a word count allowance of plus or minus 10%. Such essay types will most certainly require research and referencing skills , and may also begin to follow more complex structures such as are found in dissertations and theses rather than simply following the introduction-body-conclusion structure of shorter essays.

5. The Dissertation

Generally assigned as the final project for both bachelor’s   and master’s degree , the typical length of an academic dissertation is 10,000 or 15,000 words. Unlike shorter essay types , dissertations have more complex structures and are almost always based around primary research (original research that the writer has conducted themselves). The following table demonstrates some of the key parts of a dissertation as well as the rough word count  percentages for each section:

About Essay Types 2.3 The Dissertation

6. The Thesis

Finally, the thesis is the longest academic essay type and the one that’s reserved for doctorate students studying PhDs. Generally between 40,000 and 60,000 words in length, the doctorate thesis may contain all the elements of a dissertation but in much more detail and with more careful investigation. Such essays  are almost certainly original and are based on primary research , with a larger focus on the accuracy of the literature review , data collection and data analysis . Many students will never encounter this essay type. 

Once you can recognise which essay length you’ve been assigned, the next question covered in Chapter 3 is about determining the type of essay you have to write. This is because each essay type will require particular styles, structures, foci and language.

To reference this reader:

Academic Marker (2022) Essays . Available at: https://academicmarker.com/academic-guidance/assignments/essays/ (Accessed: Date Month Year).

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Our essays academic reader (including all four chapters about this topic) can be accessed here at the click of a button.

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Writing-Related Software Tutorials

When to Use the Percent Sign in a Sentence (The Ultimate Guide)

By Erin Wright

Image of large percent sign in a room with overlay title When to Use the Percent Sign in a Sentence

To understand when to use the percent sign instead of the word percent , we need to look at the recommendations provided by all four of our primary style guides:

The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago style)

The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style)

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA style)

MLA Handbook from the Modern Language Association (MLA style)

Note that The Chicago Manual of Style is the default guide for the publishing industry, so strongly consider following Chicago style if you don’t have a designated guide. For additional information about each guide, visit “ Which Style Guide Is Best for You? ”

Before we begin, here are several tips for writing the percent sign regardless of which style guide you follow.

Four Tips for Writing the Percent Sign in a Sentence

1. Don’t include a space between the percent sign and the numeral.

Not-so-good: 15 %

2. When possible, rewrite sentences that start with a numeral and percent sign or add an introductory word or phrase so that the numeral–percent sign combination doesn’t appear at the beginning.

Not-so-good: 17% of the inventory was moldy.

Good: Unfortunately, 17% of the inventory was moldy.

3. Only use the percent sign with numerals, not spelled-out numbers.

Not-so-good: Over thirty-seven% of the county fair tickets were sold before opening day.

Good: Over 37% of the county fair tickets were sold before opening day.

4. Always pair the percent sign with a numeral; don’t use the percent sign as a standalone abbreviation for the noun percentage .

Not-so-good: Only a small % of voters requested mail-in ballots.

Good: Only a small percentage of voters requested mail-in ballots.

When to Use the Percent Sign according to Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago style) has separate recommendations for nontechnical and technical content.

For nontechnical content, Chicago style suggests using numerals and the word percent instead of the percent sign. However, if the number falls at the beginning of the sentence, it should be spelled out rather than written as a numeral. 1

The survey showed that only 9 percent of employees liked the company’s new cafeteria food.

Twenty-seven percent of the art students preferred pastels to colored pencils.

For technical content, Chicago style suggests using numerals with the percent sign. But, use the word percent if the number appears at the start of the sentence with a spelled-out number. 2

Of the 500 cats in the study, 17% refused to play with the research toys.

Ninety-five percent of the native trees and 75% of the feed crops survived the drought.

Nontechnical Content versus Technical Content

The line between nontechnical and technical content is sometimes blurry. For example, an article about astrophysics is most likely (very!) technical. However, simpler content, such as a marketing brochure for the general public, might still be considered technical if it includes a lot of numbers. In those borderline situations, choose the style you believe will best serve your audience.

When to Use the Percent Sign according to AP Style

The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style) recently updated its recommendations for using percent signs. Previously, AP style used the word percent with numerals. 3 Now, AP style uses the percent sign with numerals in formal content. 4

The charity drive collected 33% more donations this year.

If you are referring to a percent generically or casually, AP style suggests spelling out the number and using the word percent . 5

Bob said, “I thought I had about a one percent chance of finding my lost wedding band. But here it is.”

If a percent must appear at the beginning of a sentence, spell out the number and use the word percent . 6

Forty-seven percent of participants preferred ankle socks more than calf-length socks.

When to Use the Percent Sign according to APA Style

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA style) recommends using numerals with the percent sign within a sentence. 7

The grocery store saw a 42% increase in ice cream sales in July.

APA style also recommends using the word percent with spelled-out numbers at the start of a sentence. 8

Fifty-three percent of the moviegoers ate popcorn; 7% ate smuggled-in candy.

When to Use the Percent Sign according to MLA Style

The MLA Handbook (MLA style) recommends spelling out numbers and the word percent when they can be written in less than three words. 9

The professor was disappointed that only seventy-five percent of the class finished the assignment.

If the numbers can’t be written in less than three words, use numerals with the percent sign. 10

Home values increased 25.2% in the last year.

In number-heavy documents, the MLA Style Center recommends using numerals with the percent sign (although presumably not at the start of a sentence). 11

After training, 83% of the shelter dogs could follow sit and stay commands.

Related Resources

Three Tips for Starting a Sentence with a Number

When to Hyphenate Numbers with Units of Time

How to Write Large Numbers

  • The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 9.18.
  • The Associated Press Stylebook 2018 (New York: Associated Press, 2018), 221.
  • The Associated Press Stylebook 2022–2024 (New York: Associated Press, 2022), 223.
  • Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2020), 6.44.
  • Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2020), 6.33.
  • MLA Handbook , 9th ed. (New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2021), 2.131.

Updated June 24, 2022

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How to Write a 1000 Word Essay with an Example

1000 word essay

Samuel Gorbold

With careful planning and guidance, you can understand how to write a 1000-word essay and turn this challenge into an opportunity for growth. Here's a simple guide to help you through:

  • Pick an engaging topic : Choose something you're passionate about and that fits the length requirement.
  • Do thorough research : Find reliable sources to back up your ideas.
  • Make a clear outline : This will keep your essay organized and on track.
  • Craft a strong introduction : Hook your reader and present your main argument.
  • Develop each paragraph : Focus on one point per paragraph to make your case.
  • Write a memorable conclusion : Recap your key points and leave a lasting impression.
  • Proofread and revise : Look for errors and refine your essay.

And remember, if you need a helping hand, EssayHub is here for you. Our dedicated team, who's writing papers for money , is ready to guide you, offer support, or even craft your essay from scratch, ensuring you shine and achieve your goals!

What is a 1000 Word Essay?

A 1000 word essay explores a topic in depth, usually filling about 3-4 pages. The key elements include an introduction, body paragraphs that build your argument, and a conclusion that wraps up your main points.

This type of essay showcases your unique viewpoint and helps sharpen your writing, critical thinking, and analytical skills. While writing it can be challenging, it's also a valuable opportunity. It enhances your ability to research, analyze, and express your ideas clearly and effectively.

Types of 1000 Word Essays

A 1000-word essay is more of a format than a specific type of essay, and it can be adapted to various genres, including:

  • Persuasive Essays: These seek to sway readers to adopt a particular viewpoint, relying on solid evidence, logical arguments, and credible sources.
  • Descriptive Essays: These create vivid images through rich, descriptive language to depict people, places, objects, or experiences.
  • Narrative Essays: Often used for college applications, these essays tell a personal story or recount an experience, rather than just presenting information.
  • Expository Essays: These offer a detailed examination of a topic, presenting multiple perspectives and performing thorough analysis.

essay word percentage

How Long is a 1000 Word Essay?

The page count of a 1000-word essay can vary depending on factors like font size and line spacing. When using standard academic formatting (12-point font and double-spacing), it typically falls between 3 and 4 pages.

How Many Pages is a 1000-word Essay?

Font Type Font Size Number of Pages Spacing
Times New Roman 12 pt 2 Single-spaced
Times New Roman 12 pt 3-4 Double-spaced

1000 Word Essay Structure

To streamline your writing, follow this structure:

Introduction (100-200 words)

  • Hook: Grab the reader's attention with a compelling anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a surprising statistic.
  • Background Information: Provide the necessary context for your topic, ensuring the reader understands the relevance and significance of your essay.
  • Thesis Statement: Clearly state your main argument or purpose. A strong thesis should be concise, specific, and debatable.

Body Paragraphs (800 words)

  • Topic Sentence: Introduce the first main point supporting your thesis.
  • Argument: Explain how this point relates to your overall argument.
  • Evidence: Provide specific examples, facts, quotes, or data to support your claim.
  • Concluding Sentence: Summarize the key points of the paragraph and transition to the next one.
  • Paragraph 2 (200-300 words):
  • Paragraph 3 (200-300 words):

Conclusion (100-200 words)

  • Summary of Main Points: Briefly recap the key arguments presented in the body paragraphs.
  • Restating the Thesis: Reiterate your thesis statement in a slightly different way, emphasizing its significance.
  • Concluding Statement: Offer a final thought or insight that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. This could be a call to action, a philosophical reflection, or a provocative question.

essay word percentage

How to Format a 1000 Word Essay?

Formatting your essay is crucial for making it visually appealing, easy to read, and compliant with academic standards. While specific styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago each have their unique requirements, here are some general formatting guidelines from our college essay writer that apply across most styles:

Font and Spacing:

  • Font: Use a clear, standard font like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.
  • Font Size: Stick with a 12-point font size.
  • Margins: Set margins to 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
  • Line Spacing: Double-space your text for better readability.

Headings and Subheadings:

  • Distinction: Make headings and subheadings stand out with a larger font size, bold text, or underlining.
  • Hierarchy: Organize headings and subheadings in a clear order that matches your essay's structure.

Other Formatting Tips:

  • Page Numbers: Include page numbers, usually in the header or footer.
  • Title Page: Add a title page with your name, course details, instructor's name, and date.
  • Citations and References: Follow the rules for in-text citations and reference lists according to your chosen style (APA, MLA, Chicago).
  • Headers and Footers: Use these to add page numbers or other needed information

How to Write a 1000 Word Essay?

essay word percentage

With a little planning and guidance, you can easily learn how to write a 1000-word essay and turn that boring task into a rewarding experience.

  • Choose a Captivating Topic: Pick a subject that interests you and aligns with your word count. This will make the writing process more enjoyable and ensure a more engaging essay.
  • Conduct Thorough Research: Gather information from reliable sources to support your arguments. Credible sources strengthen your essay's credibility.
  • Create a Clear Outline: An outline serves as a roadmap, guiding your writing and ensuring a logical structure. It helps you stay organized and avoid losing track of your main points.
  • Craft a Compelling Introduction: Grab your reader's attention with a hook, provide necessary background information, and clearly state your thesis. A strong introduction sets the tone for your essay.
  • Develop Persuasive Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph should focus on a specific point supporting your thesis. Present your arguments and back them up with evidence. Use transitions to connect your ideas smoothly.
  • Write a Memorable Conclusion: Recap your main points, restate your thesis confidently, and leave a lasting impression on the reader. A strong conclusion wraps up your essay effectively.
  • Proofread and Revise: Once you've finished your first draft, carefully review it for errors in grammar, spelling, and clarity. Edit and revise to ensure your essay is polished and professional.

1000 Word Essay Example

Our essay writer helper has put together a sample that shows you exactly how to structure your own. It will guide you through the process of developing a strong introduction, crafting compelling body paragraphs, and writing a memorable conclusion.

Final Outlook

Writing a 1000-word essay can seem boring, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes it much simpler:

  • Find something you're excited about.
  • Gather credible information to support your arguments.
  • Organize your ideas logically.
  • Capture your reader's interest and state your thesis.
  • Develop clear body paragraphs.
  • Summarize your points and leave a memorable final impression.
  • Check for mistakes and refine your essay.

Whether you're tackling a research paper, a persuasive essay, or any other writing challenge, the EssayHub team is ready to assist you. Let us take the stress out of writing and help you achieve excellence. Your success is our priority!

essay word percentage

Can I Finish a 1000-Word Essay in 2 Hours?

How to write a 1000 word essay in an hour, can i write a 1000 word essay in a day, how long does it take to write 1000 words, how many paragraphs is 1000 words essay.

Samuel Gorbold , a seasoned professor with over 30 years of experience, guides students across disciplines such as English, psychology, political science, and many more. Together with EssayHub, he is dedicated to enhancing student understanding and success through comprehensive academic support.

essay word percentage

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Percent, Per Cent and Percentages

  • 2-minute read
  • 26th March 2018

We’ve been told that putting 110% into anything is mathematically impossible . But we’re proofreaders, not mathematicians! As such, we’re not going to let math get in the way of putting everything we have into solving your writing problems . Today, for example, we’re looking at writing percentages.

Words and Numbers

As with any numbers , percentages can be written as either words or numbers:

Words: Around nine percent of people dislike coffee.

Numbers: Approximately 91% of people like coffee.

The examples above reflect three important guidelines when writing percentages:

  • Numbers up to ten are usually written as words, while larger numbers are written as numerals
  • When a percentage is written as a word, it should be followed by “percent”
  • When a percentage is written as a numeral, it should be followed by the “%” sign

However, this can vary depending on the context (e.g., measurements in scientific writing are almost always written as numerals, even for numbers under ten). It’s therefore a good idea to check your style guide for advice on how to write percentages.

Percent vs. Per Cent

The question we’re asked most often about writing percentages is whether to use “percent” or “per cent.” Ultimately, though, this doesn’t really matter: both are accepted spellings of this term.

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Again, we recommend checking your style guide if you have one, as some publishers and colleges have a preference. And “percent” is much more common these days than “per cent.” But other than that, the main thing is picking one spelling and using it consistently throughout your work.

essay word percentage

When to Use “Percentage”

Finally, we have the word “percentage.” Although similar to “percent,” this word has a slightly different usage: “Percent” is used with specific numbers, while “percentage” is used when referring to a general or non-specific amount of something. For example:

A small percentage of the forms were coffee stained.

Almost seven percent of the forms were coffee stained.

As shown above, you should use “percentage” when the exact amount is unspecified.

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How to Write Percentages in a Formal Paper

How to Write Percentages in a Formal Paper

How Do You Find Out a Percent of a Number?

The next time you must write a formal paper, make certain you have the correct style guide to use when creating the document. Some style manuals want you to write out "percent" after a number, and others may prefer that you use the percentage symbol instead. If you don't follow the manual's specific guidelines, you may end up wasting all your efforts. Colleges, journalism outlets, book publishers and scientific groups – to name a few – all use different style guides for writing.

What Style Manuals Provide

Style guides or manuals, depending on the specific publication, provide the correct font to use; citation styles for citing books; article title and footnote formats; address and decimal formats; correct usage of em or en dashes, acronyms, numbers and percentages; quotation attribution requirements; and much more. Each style manual or guide is different and may have you write out the word "percent" or use the percentage symbol after the number.

Multiple Style Manuals

Use the style guide best suited to your formal paper:

  • Humanities studies typically use the MLA style manual. * Education and psychology use the APA style guide. * History, business and some fine arts studies use the Chicago-Turabian style guide. * Sciencing and engineering studies typically use the CSE-CBE style manual. * Book publishers prefer the Chicago Manual of Style
  • Most journalism outlets use the AP style guide

Writing a Percentage

Under the MLA style guide, write numbers out and add the word "percent" behind the number. For scientific papers, you can use the percent symbol, but check the guide you're using to ensure this is correct. The reason these guides require percent spelled out instead of using the symbol is to ensure no mistake is made. Symbols sometimes lead to confusion when used, unless required by the specific guide. The APA style guide requires the use of the percentage symbol after a number, but it also requires you to spell out percentages when using the word in a sentence.

Use the Correct Style Manual

For instance, in the APA style guide, you must format pages with 1-inch margins all around, include a header on each page called a running head – the title of your paper not to exceed 50 characters – and include four major sections in the paper such as:

If you are writing a formal paper for a college course, the instructor will inform you, at some point, as to the correct style guide to use.

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  • Purdue University Online Writing Lab: Writing Numbers
  • American Psychological Association: The Grammar of Mathematics: Percentage or %?
  • Chicago Manual of Style Online: Bibliography
  • Purdue University Online Writing Lab: General Format
  • Lake Sumter State College: Guide to AP Style

About the Author

As a journalist and editor for several years, Laurie Brenner has covered many topics in her writings, but science is one of her first loves. Her stint as Manager of the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in California's gold country served to deepen her interest in science which she now fulfills by writing for online science websites. Brenner is also a published sci-fi author. She graduated from San Diego's Coleman College in 1972.

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APA Style Guidelines for Numbers | Words or Numerals?

Published on August 7, 2015 by Sarah Vinz . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Numbers can be written either as words (e.g., one hundred) or numerals (e.g., 100). In this article we follow the guidelines of APA Style , one of the most common style guides used in academic writing .

In general, words should be used for numbers from zero through nine, and numerals should be used from 10 onwards. This is true for both cardinal numbers (e.g., two, 11) and ordinal numbers (e.g., second, 11 th ). However, there are some important exceptions to this rule.

Note that other style guides, such as Chicago Style,  address numbers differently (for example, in Chicago, you use words for numbers up to 100). Regardless of what style guide you follow, the most important thing is to be consistent in how you treat numbers throughout your document.

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Table of contents

Writing percentages, reporting statistical results that include numbers, writing numbers that are accompanied by measurements, writing long numbers, consistency may not be obvious, other interesting articles.

Use numerals for numbers from zero to nine that are followed by a precise unit of measurement.

The samples measured 7 cm in diameter. (“cm” is a unit of measurement)

But: These three samples were subjected to further testing.

Use words for any number that is used to start a sentence, with the exception of years.

Seventy-two thousand ink cartridges are sold every day.

Nineteenth-century novels often feature complicated plot lines.

But: 2008 saw record olive crops throughout the Mediterranean.

Use words for common fractions and set expressions.

According to the survey, two thirds of the employees are dissatisfied.

Understanding the Five Pillars of Islam is a critical first step.

The Fourth of July is traditionally marked by a firework display.

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With percentages, the standard is to use numerals and “%” (not “percent”).

According to the report, 45% of the workforce is employed in the service sector. Only 6% currently work in agriculture.

The main exception is if you are using a percentage to begin a sentence. In this case, use words to express the entire percentage.

Thirteen percent of the patients reported that their symptoms improved after taking the experimental drug.

If your paper includes quantitative research, you probably have data to report. Statistics, mathematical functions, ratios, and percentages are all written using numerals. This is true regardless of whether they are included within a table or as part of the actual text. Keep the following guidelines in mind:

  • Report most statistics to two decimal places (such as M = 5.44).
  • Report statistics that could never exceed 1.0 to three decimal places (such as p < .001).
  • If a value has the potential to exceed 1.0, use the leading zero. If a value can never exceed 1.0, do not use the leading zero.
  • Italicize values that are not Greek letters (such as M , SD , p , and F ).
  • Include spaces before and after =, >, and <.

The average IQ of the participants was relatively high ( M = 137.33, SD = 4.54).

The results of the second test were statistically significant, t (12) = 4.11, p < .05.

There are further detailed guidelines about reporting statistics in APA .

If a number comes immediately before a unit of measurement, use numerals.

Each patient received  5 mg  of the experimental drug.

The tallest participant was 2.03 m .

Also use numerals for precise ages, times, dates, scores, points on a scale, and amounts of money.

The final score of Ghana 2, Brazil 1 did not represent a decisive victory.

Children under 8 years receive a $50 discount.

But: Most girls start reading when they are about five years old. (“about” makes the number imprecise)

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Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

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essay word percentage

Longer numbers follow specific rules:

  • Use a period to indicate a decimal point.
  • Starting with 1,000, use commas to separate every three digits.

The region has an average of 43.75 doctors for every 10,000 people.

Some predict that the number of users will reach 2 billion by 2020.

One of the main reasons why writing numbers is complicated is that consistently applying the rules may lead to a text that actually seems very in consistent. Consider the following paragraphs:

At about the age of seven , the girl’s height was 1.47 m. This placed her in the fifth percentile, although her weight placed her in the top 7% of her class. By the time she was 9 years old, she was taller than half of the boys in her year. Five years later, she was still ranked 15 th .

Thirteen thousand viewers watched the performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night from the park, while another 2,000 watched from the surrounding buildings and 1.2 million watched it on television. As one  out of every 11 residents saw at least part of the play, this one event can definitely be considered a success.

These texts may look awkward because so many different number formats have been used, but don’t be deceived – the above guidelines have all been followed.

If you are not required to strictly follow a particular style (such as APA format ), you may have some flexibility to modify the guidelines presented in this article. Just be sure to apply any modifications you make throughout your entire document.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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Sarah's academic background includes a Master of Arts in English, a Master of International Affairs degree, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She loves the challenge of finding the perfect formulation or wording and derives much satisfaction from helping students take their academic writing up a notch.

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The Barker Underground

Writing advice from the harvard college writing center tutors, one hundred percent or 100% tips for writing numbers..

by Raymond DeLuca, English Grammar and Language Tutor

Students bring all sorts of different essays to the Writing Center, and each discipline has its own conventions when it comes to writing numbers. People are always surprised to learn that, yes, there are good and not so good ways to write numbers in English. So, this information will save you a headache. After all, it is not the best use of your time when writing an essay (especially when it’s due in a few hours) to get stuck thinking, well, is it “3” or “three”?

Just as there are different citation styles for citing sources in different academic fields, there are also different conventions for writing numbers. Each of the most common citation styles—MLA, APA, and Chicago– offers slightly different rules for writing numbers. You should always make sure you know what style and citation guidelines you should be following for a specific assignment. If you are writing a non-technical paper and can choose your style, I recommend following the MLA guidelines, which make a lot of sense and are commonly used in cases where you’re not using a lot of numbers.

Rule #1: When should you write out numbers and when should you use the number?

For papers in the humanities and in some social sciences, you will often use either the MLA or Chicago citation styles. In those styles, when you are writing a non-technical paper, you should write out numbers less than one hundred, using a dash for two-digit numbers: eight, fifteen, forty-five, sixty-two, eighty-seven, etc., etc.  And, for numbers over one hundred: 1,435; 2,870; 5,740; 11,480. Someone here is bound to ask: “Well, does that mean one trillion should be written as 1,000,000,000,000?” No, of course not. If the number (even if it’s above one hundred) can be easily expressed in words, then keep it in words: four hundred, eight thousand, three billion, nine quintillion, etc.

If you’re using APA style, you should generally only write out numbers 1-9 and use numerals for everything else. But there is an exception: If you are using a number at the beginning of the sentence, you should write it out.

Rule #2 What about percentages?

Just like with regular numbers, different style guides express different preferences for percentages.  I like the MLA style, which advises that for a percentage less than one hundred, you should write it in words: two percent, seventy-six percent, ninety-nine percent, but, for a percentage greater than one hundred, write it in numerals: 110 percent, 500 percent, 999 percent. Besides that, as you can see, in non-technical writing, it is better to use the word “percent” rather than the percent sign, “%.” It’s ugly.

In this case, Chicago and APA style both call for using use numbers in percentages.

Rule #3: What about years?

MLA, Chicago, and APA style all say that years are better written in numerals, not words: 1967, not “nineteen sixty-seven.” (Sometimes students write out the years to pad their paper’s word count; it’s not a good look! Everyone can see what you’re doing.) It’s also considered poor style to start a sentence with a year, i.e., “2020 has been a bad year.” You could rephrase that, writing instead: “Many people thought 2020 would be a better year.”

Rule #4: What about decades?

If you’re talking about a series of events that occurred in a certain decade, say, from 1980 – 1989, you can refer to that period in three different ways: the eighties, the ‘80s, or the 1980s. But stay clear of the “nineteen eighties.”

Rule #5: If you ever find yourself writing about a score or a court decision or a ratio, you should stick with numerals (even if said numbers are less than one hundred). For example, “The Red Sox were up 4-2 before losing 6-4,” or “The contentious 5-4 Supreme Court ruling says…”

These are obviously not the only situations you will encounter when you need to write a number, but these rules will help clear up some of the most common issues I’ve seen in student writing. Numbers can be as easy as one, two, three. If you find yourself writing a science or an econometrics paper, you may have to use way more numbers than you would otherwise, and you will need to make sure you are following the guidelines in your field. Generally, though, these five suggestions are good to keep in mind.

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How to write numbers and percentage?

In the sentence –

Auditors recommend an increase of the allowance for bad debts by ten %.

– should the percent sign be there or should the word percent be spelled out. Also should the number be written in a numeral format?

  • writing-style
  • percentages

Angela Perez's user avatar

  • 4 Please see also Writing . Good Luck. –  Kris Commented May 20, 2019 at 10:20

3 Answers 3

In general, it is good practice that the symbol that a number is associated with agrees with the way the number is written (in numeric or text form). For example, $3 instead of 3 dollars .

Note that this doesn't apply when the numbers are large, so it is perfectly fine to write 89.5 percent , as eighty-nine-and-a-half percent is very clunky.

This source puts it simply:

When writing percentages and money references, use the numeral with the percent or dollar sign.

Also, this answer on Academia.SE says "APA version 6 style manual has an entire section starting from 4.31 on how to present numbers in text" and provides a summary.

Therefore, you should write either 10% or ten percent - note that it is a common mistake for some to write per and cent separately. For some classical humour, check out this xkcd post .

What is incorrect is for the number to be written in text form but not for the symbol. That is, ten % or £ five is not good phrasing.

Chappo Hasn't Forgotten's user avatar

  • 2 +1. But I've quickly edited your post to show how we prefer our links/references to be explained, since links sometimes break and a reference without an explanation then becomes meaningless. :-) –  Chappo Hasn't Forgotten Commented May 20, 2019 at 7:44
  • 4 Note that it is not a mistake to write per cent in the UK or Canada (and perhaps in other places or according to some style guides), where it is the accepted spelling of the word, which is derived from per centum . –  Jason Bassford Commented May 20, 2019 at 17:44
  • 2 The opening sentence of this answer—"In general, it is good practice that the symbol that a number is associated with agrees with the way the number is written (in numeric or text form)"—seems reasonable, but most current style guides in the United States disagree with it. None of the style guides I consulted endorse the form "ten %," but the contrary mixed form "10 percent" finds support in a number of U.S. style guides, including two of the most influential ones: The Chicago Manual of Style and The Associated Press Stylebook . See my answer below for relevant style guide excerpts. –  Sven Yargs Commented Jul 27, 2019 at 23:27

If you're writing out the number then write out 'percent', e.g. ten percent, otherwise use the sign, e.g. 10%.

KillingTime's user avatar

  • 7 I'm not disagreeing with your answer, but it would be so much more useful if you could add a reference as evidence in support of it, to distinguish it from mere opinion or personal practice/preference. I can't upvote it as it stands, whereas with a little effort it could easily pick up votes not just this week, but (given there's no other answer I can find on our site) regularly over time! :-) –  Chappo Hasn't Forgotten Commented May 20, 2019 at 7:24
  • 4 -1 Happy to retract the downvote once a reference has been supplied. –  Mari-Lou A Commented Jul 27, 2019 at 10:32

Style guides differ considerably on the best way to express a percentage such as ten percent. To make matters even fuzzier, some of them have different advice depending on whether the term appears in running text or in a special element (such as a table) and depending on whether the subject of the text is general or heavily scientific or statistical. Here is a quick survey of different style guide advice on how to render percentages.

From The Chicago Manual of Style , sixteenth edition (2010):

9.18 Percentages . Except at the beginning of a sentence, percentages are usually expressed in numerals. In nontechnical contexts, the word percent is usually used; in scientific and statistical copy, the symbol % is more common. Fewer than 3 percent of the employees used public transportation. With 90–95 percent of the wok complete, we can relax. A 75 percent likelihood of winning is worth the effort. Her five-year certificate of deposit carries an interest rare of 5.9 percent. Only 20% of the ants were observed to react to the stimulus. The treatment resulted in a 20%–25% increase in reports of night blindness.

Note that percent , an adverb, is not interchangeable with the noun percentage (1 percent is a very small percentage). Note also that no space appears between the numeral and the symbol %.

As its examples show, Chicago endorses "10 percent" in most general-text situations, "Ten percent" at the beginning of a general-text sentence, and "10%" in scientific and technical text. Chicago doesn't address how to handle "10%" if that term were to appear at the beginning of a sentence in a scientific or statistical text, but I imagine that it would advise you to use "Ten percent," with the further proviso that you should recast the sentence to avoid putting the percentage term at the beginning if the spelled-out form seemed excessively awkward (that is, it would recommend changing "Ninety-seven point three percent of survey respondents said..." to something like "In the survey, 97.3% of respondents said...").

From Margery Fee & Janice McAlpine, [Oxford] Guide to Canadian English Usage , second edition (2007):

percentage, per cent, percent Percentage is always one word. Canadians prefer the two-word spelling of per cent , although the single-word spelling is also common. British dictionaries list per cent first, American dictionaries percent . Per cent is followed by either a single or a plural verb form, depending on the related noun: 'Fifteen per cent of the total is added to the bill for service' or 'Only twenty per cent of the students are going to pass the test'. The per cent symbol (%) is used only with figures: '8%'.

The examples suggest that Fee & McAlpine would support one or the other of the options "ten per cent" or "10%," depending on context; and they explicitly reject use of the mixed form "ten %." However, the mixed form "10 per cent" goes unmentioned.

From The Associated Press Stylebook (2007):

percent One word. It take a singular verb when standing alone or when a singular word follows an of construction: The teacher said 60 percent as a failing grade. He said 50 percent of the membership was there. It takes a plural verb when a plural word follows an of construction: He said 50 percent of the members were there. Use figures: 1 percent , 2.5 percent (use decimals, not fractions), 10 percent .

AP evidently opposes use of the percentage symbol under any circumstances and allows only the form "10 percent."

From Bryan Garner, Garner's Modern American Usage , second edition (2003):

percent; per-cent; per cent; percent.; per centum. This sequence illustrates in reverse the evolution of this word, originally a phrase. Today it is best spelled as a single word. The plural of percent is percent ; adding an -s, though not uncommon, is substandard. In most writing, 75% is easier to read than 75 percent or (worse yet) seventy-five percent . Prefer the percentage sign when you can. Many styles, however, insist on spelling out percent . ... ...Writers must be careful with percentages and percentage points. For example, if the unemployment rate rises from 4% to 6%, both of these statements are true: Unemployment is up two percentage points , and Unemployment is up 50% .

Garner's is the only reference work I consulted that strongly recommends expressing percentages in the form "10%," regardless of the type of text one is dealing with.

The Oxford Guide to Style (2002) takes three swings at the subject:

3.2 Usage Abbreviations in running text Prefer nineteenth century to 19th cent., and 25 per cent (two words, no point) to 25% in text; rules for notes and tabular or parenthetical matter differ. ... 7.8 Statistical texts ... The symbol %, rather than the spelt-out per cent, is permissible in text as well as in peripheral matter such as tables, notes, parenthetical material, and captions. ... 13.9.1 Use of scientific style [in the social sciences] Since social science as a discipline resides somewhere between the arts and the 'hard' sciences, a decision must be made for each typescript whether a scientific style should be followed in presenting the text and references. The higher the level of statistical material—as evidenced in economics, econometrics, demography, geography, and the like—the more appropriate scientific style becomes. In text this usually manifests itself in such matters as spelling out numbers up to ten only (rather than up to on hundred), and using % rather than per cent .

Oxford's scattershot coverage—and lack of relevant examples—might lead one to suppose that it countenances "ten %" in scientific texts; but I suspect that the juxtaposition of "spelling out numbers up to ten only" and "using % rather than 'per cent'" is an unfortunate accident, not a recommendation to use "ten %" in social science texts. The only example relevant I could find in this style guide involves parenthetical use of "74%" and "26%" in statistical texts—which doesn't address the specific case of "ten per cent" (Oxford does say that "Figures in scientific and technical work are usually spelt out up to nine," which would be a vote for "10%," but that doesn't help its users figure out how to handle, for example, "nine per cent").

From Allan Siegal & William Connolly, The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage , revised edition (1999):

percent, percentage. Percent is one word. The preceding number is always expressed in figures (except where it begins a sentence): 80 percent ; 8 percent ; one-half of 1 percent ; four-fifths of 1 percent ; 0.5 percent . But: five percentage points ; 12 percentage points . The symbol % may be used with a figure in headlines, tables and charts: 5% Raise ; 93% . Do not use the abbreviation pct .

As this guideline indicates, the New York Times follows the usual U.S. style guide preference for "10 percent" in running text and "10%" in special matter (such as tables and headlines).

From Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Style Manual , second edition (1998):

3.10.4 Percentages and Amounts of Money Treat percentages and amounts of money like other numbers: use numerals with the appropriate symbols. [Relevant examples;] 1%[;] 45%[;] 100%

In discussions involving infrequent use of numbers you may spell out a percentage or an amount of money if you can do so in three words or fewer (five dollars, forty-five percent, two thousand dollars, sixty-eight cents). Do no combine spelled forms of numbers with symbols.

MLA thus explicitly rejects spelled-out numbers and the percentage symbol (such as "ten %").

From Words into Type , third edition (1974):

Percentage. In literary works percentage numbers are spelled out: "fifty percent." In technical and scientific writing, numerals always precede the word percent , with the single exception that isolated references one percent may be spelled out. In statistical material and where other numerals appear frequently with abbreviations in scientific copy, the percent sign (%) may be used in text matter. Always use the sign (%) in tables, and never use a fraction before the word percent or the percent sign. 10 percent[;] 2.25 percent, not 2¼ percent[;] 12.3 percent[;] 0.5 percent, not ½ of 1 percent

Words into Type is considerably older than the other style guides I've cited here. It endorses the spelled-out form "ten percent" in what it calls "literary works," but insists on "10 percent" in technical and scientific copy and on "10%" in tables.

As the preceding excerpts indicate, style guides are all over the map in their preferred formatting for percentages. Depending on where you live, what your subject matter is, and which style guide you follow, you may find that the recommended form is "ten per cent," "ten percent," "10 percent," or "10%." I could not, however, find any style guide that explicitly endorsed the form "ten %."

Sven Yargs's user avatar

  • 1 You say that in Margery Fee & Janice McAlpine (2007) "the mixed forms '10 per cent' and 'ten %' go unmentioned." But don't they rule out "ten %" ("[t]he per cent symbol (%) is used only with figures: '8%' ")? –  Jacinto Commented Aug 2, 2019 at 6:51
  • 1 @Jacinto: Yes, you're right—I should have ended that remark by saying "the mixed form '10 per cent' goes unmentioned." My apologies to Fee & McAllpine for misstating their conclusion about "ten %." I will rewrite my assessment of their guidance shortly. Thanks, Jacinto, for pointing out the mistake. –  Sven Yargs Commented Aug 2, 2019 at 8:28

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    Twenty-seven percent of the art students preferred pastels to colored pencils. For technical content, Chicago style suggests using numerals with the percent sign. But, use the word percent if the number appears at the start of the sentence with a spelled-out number. 2. Of the 500 cats in the study, 17% refused to play with the research toys.

  16. 1000 Word Essay: Structure, Format, Steps and Example

    1000 Word Essay Structure. To streamline your writing, follow this structure: Introduction (100-200 words) Hook: Grab the reader's attention with a compelling anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a surprising statistic. Background Information: Provide the necessary context for your topic, ensuring the reader understands the relevance and significance of your essay.

  17. Writing Tips: Percent, Per Cent and Percentages

    Numbers up to ten are usually written as words, while larger numbers are written as numerals. When a percentage is written as a word, it should be followed by "percent". When a percentage is written as a numeral, it should be followed by the "%" sign. However, this can vary depending on the context (e.g., measurements in scientific ...

  18. How to Write Percentages in a Formal Paper

    Using the percent symbol or spelling out the word percent depends on the specific style guide for the type of formal paper you plan to write. In journalism, for example, the AP style guides requires you to use the word "percent" after the number, instead of using the symbol.

  19. APA Style Guidelines for Numbers

    Numbers can be written either as words (e.g., one hundred) or numerals (e.g., 100). In this article we follow the guidelines of APA Style, one of the most common style guides used in academic writing.

  20. One hundred percent? Or 100%? Tips for writing numbers

    I like the MLA style, which advises that for a percentage less than one hundred, you should write it in words: two percent, seventy-six percent, ninety-nine percent, but, for a percentage greater than one hundred, write it in numerals: 110 percent, 500 percent, 999 percent. Besides that, as you can see, in non-technical writing, it is better to ...

  21. writing style

    Today it is best spelled as a single word. The plural of percent is percent; adding an -s, though not uncommon, is substandard. In most writing, 75% is easier to read than 75 percent or (worse yet) seventy-five percent. Prefer the percentage sign when you can. Many styles, however, insist on spelling out percent.

  22. Essay Length

    Unless your essay is blatantly too short or too long (i.e. 10 pages for a 3000-word essay or 8 pages for a 6000-word essay, or something like that chances of someone actually counting the words in your essay are rather slim, though, so you'd probably get away with an extra paragraph.

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