what is included in a word count for an essay

How to Include a Word Count in Your Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide

Including a word count in your essay may seem like a small detail, but it’s an important part of meeting your assignment’s requirements. Luckily, it’s a simple process that can be accomplished in just a few steps. By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to add that word count with ease.

Step by Step Tutorial: Including a Word Count in an Essay

Before we dive into the steps, let’s talk about why you might need to include a word count in your essay. Sometimes, your teacher or professor will ask for this to make sure you’re meeting the length requirements for the assignment. Plus, it shows that you’re following directions and paying attention to detail.

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.

Step 2: Use a Word Processor’s Word Count Feature

Locate and use the word count tool in your word processor to find out the total number of words in your essay.

Most word processors, like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, have a built-in feature that automatically counts the words in your document. This is the easiest and most accurate way to find your word count.

Step 3: Place the Word Count at the End of Your Essay

Type out the word count at the end of your essay, usually after the conclusion.

Once you have your word count, you’ll need to decide where to place it in your essay. The standard practice is to include it at the end of your document, typically after the conclusion section.

After completing these steps, your essay will have the required word count clearly displayed. This not only meets the assignment’s guidelines but also gives a professional touch to your work.

Tips for Including a Word Count in an Essay

Always double-check the word count to ensure accuracy.
Include the word count on the same page as your essay, not on a separate page.
If your teacher has specific instructions on where to place the word count, follow them.
Don’t include the title page, headers, footers, or bibliography in your word count unless instructed.
Use the word count feature periodically as you write to keep track of your essay’s length.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do i include the word count in the header or footer.

No, the word count should be included in the main body of your essay, typically at the end.

Including the word count in the main body makes it easily visible to the reader and ensures it’s seen as part of the essay’s content.

Should the word count be bolded or in a different font?

The word count does not need to be bolded or in a different font, but it should be clear and easy to find.

Keeping the word count in the same font as your essay maintains consistency and prevents it from being distracting.

What if my essay is under or over the word count?

If your essay does not meet the required word count, you may need to add more content or edit for brevity.

Always aim to meet the word count requirements as closely as possible, as this is often a key component of the assignment.

Can I include the word count in the middle of my essay?

It’s best to include the word count at the end of your essay to avoid disrupting the flow of your writing.

Placing the word count at the end maintains the structure of your essay and keeps the focus on the content.

What if my word processor doesn’t have a word count feature?

If your word processor lacks a word count feature, you can use online tools or manually count the words.

Online tools can provide an accurate word count, but if you’re counting manually, be thorough to avoid mistakes.

Finish writing your essay.
Use your word processor’s word count feature.
Place the word count at the end of your essay.

Including a word count in your essay is a breeze once you know the steps. It boils down to finishing your essay, utilizing your word processor’s tool, and placing the count where it’s easily found. This simple act of including a word count not only ensures you’re meeting the requirements but also adds a professional touch to your work. While it might seem like a minor detail, it’s one that can have a big impact on how your essay is received. So, the next time you’re asked to include a word count, you’ll know exactly what to do. Remember, attention to detail can make all the difference in your writing. Now go ahead and hit that word count target like a pro!

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.

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Michelle Rafter

The Future of Freelancing

October 8, 2012 By Michelle V. Rafter

Everything you need to know about word counts (but were too afraid to ask your editor)

Example of cutting a story that's too long

After sharing the name for five years, I figured it was time to write about word count – not about this blog, but the number of words in a story.

You’re probably asking yourself, what’s there to know? You write your story and the little tool built into Word shows you at the bottom of the screen how many words it includes.

If only it were that simple.

It’s true that the days are gone of estimating how much you’d written by counting the words in a couple lines of type and then multiplying that by the total lines on the page or pages. I’m sure I’m showing my age by even admitting I know how to do that.

Built-in counters like the one in Word takes the guess work out of measuring word counts.

But there’s a lot more to word counts than that, including what acceptable margins are for going over or under the word count given for an assignment, and what to do if you miss your target length. Read on for more about this writing and freelancing basic.

Word count tools

If you don’t like the word counter that comes with Word, there are others. Some word-counter tools include:

Word Count Tool – Copy and paste your text into a box on this free, cloud-based tool to see how much you’ve written. Counts words that are entirely alphabetically and words that contain letters and numbers. Doesn’t count words that start with apostrophes, hyphens or numbers. Handy for any writing you might be doing in a non-Word program or if you’re working on a mobile devices.
Word Counter – Another copy and paste word-count tool. This one will also displays the top 10 keywords and keyword density of whatever you’re writing – a good thing if you’re doing SEO work.
WordCalc – This tool counts syllables as well as words, something that anyone writing or studying poetry would appreciate.
Cut and paste word counter – A Java script you can add to your website or blog to count words in a paragraph or other text.

What else to know about word counts

There’s a lot more to know about word counts than the sum total of the words you’re using.

Let’s look at some questions writers ask related to word counts:

How much can a word count be over or under and still be considered on target?

My general rule of thumb is you’re OK if you turn in an article with 5 percent fewer words to 5 percent more words than assigned. For a 500-word story, that would be 475 words to 525 words. For a 1,000-word story, that would be 950 words to 1,050 words. For a 3,000-word article, it would be 2,850 to 3, 150 words.

If you’re not sure, ask your editor. They may have their own rule of thumb on what constitutes hitting the word count.

But face it, it’s really easy to write over – at leas it is for me. So that brings up more questions.

If a story runs long, what’s better, letting an editor trim a long story, or trimming it yourself?

Always, always take the first stab at trimming a story yourself. Turning in 1,300 words for an assignment that called for 1,000 might not seem like a big deal to you. But if your editor has five 1,000-word assignments come in and they all are over by 300 words, it’s going to take a lot of extra work for him or her to trim all of them down to size while retaining all the key elements. And would you rather have an overworked editor who’s frustrated by having to make cuts to five stories in one day make trims to your well-constructed story or do it yourself?

If you trim a too-long story yourself, what’s the best way to cut?

There are a few different ways to trim a story that’s over the word count:

Go through line by line and tighten up the language.
Look at the lead: if it’s a short assignment and you used an anecdotal or “hook” style lead, is it necessary? Could you delete it and use the nut graph as the lead without changing the impact?
Have you used too many quotes ? In short stories – and even in long ones – quotes can take up a lot of precious space. Use them sparingly, and paraphrase instead.
Do you have one example too many? Anecdotes and examples add color, but they also add length. As much as you love all your sources, if the piece is running long, you may need to ax one or more.
Here are some more suggestions: A few words about writing short .

What if an assignment calls for 500 words and there’s no way to cover all the material the editor wants in that space?

Don’t wait until you’re filing a story to let your editor know you had trouble with the word count. Give them a heads up as soon as you realize there may be a problem. That could lead to a phone call or email exchange where you can discuss the situation in more detail. Perhaps it’s a matter of pinning down the premise of a story more precisely, which could help establish exactly what to keep and what to toss. Perhaps after hearing more about the information you’ve uncovered, your editor will OK going over the original word count. Or maybe they’ll assign a sidebar to handle some of the additional details. If you’re writing for a print publication – not as common these days – the amount of space for your story could have changed between the time it was assigned and time you’re talking, and that could affect the word count. Regardless of the situation, err in favor on contacting your editor sooner rather than later.

What if you don’t have enough to say to fill the entire word count?

This isn’t something that happens to me often (see above). But my guess is if you’re running out of words before you run out of word count, it’s because you haven’t thoroughly investigated the topic. Look back over your reporting and research: did you talk to enough sources? Did you get enough detail from the sources you talked to? Is there an avenue of the subject you could have delved into in more depth? Chances are the answer to one or more of those is “Yes” and by doing a little more digging you can come up with the additional information you need to finish the assignment.

Got a burning word count question, or have a secret for trimming extra words from a story? Let me know by leaving a comment.

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October 9, 2012 at 7:47 am

When I worked as an editor there was nothing I hated more than getting a story that was even one word over the requested word count.

My favourite writer, however, came up with a great strategy. If she had something that was too long, but felt it was worthwhile, she would send me two stories: one that met the word count and one that was longer but that included the important info. I think I accepted the longer one at least 50% of the time.

October 9, 2012 at 8:11 am

Smart writer.

Ask Us: Academic Skills Team

What is included in the word count, before you start to write up your assignment you should check the information provided in your module handbook or assignment brief on the required word count, or ask your tutor for guidance..

Generally speaking, the word count will include the following:

All titles or headings that form part of the actual text.
All words that form the essay (the main body of text).
All words forming the titles for figures, tables and boxes, are included but this does not include boxes or tables or figures themselves
All in-text (that is bracketed) citations
All directly quoted material

It will not include:

All words that form the title page
All words that form the reference list
Captions added to visual material (i.e. diagrams, tables, maps, and/or images)

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Writing Tips

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.

what is included in a word count for an essay

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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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.

Instantly increase your word count with this FREE AI tool > Instantly increase your word count with this FREE AI tool >

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 a statistical fact, a joke, example, analogy, or 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!

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The Word Limit in Academic Writing (and How to Stick to It)

3-minute read

24th September 2016

Even the phrase “word limit” can cause panic among students . For some it’s the challenge of writing enough, while others find it hard to stick within the limit given. In either case, it can lead to spending more time worrying about the length of your paper than the content!

And length isn't everything, right ladies? Ahem.

But why do college papers come with set word limits? And what should you do to ensure you don’t write too much or too little?

Why Have a Word Limit?

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 As well as testing your knowledge, college papers are about communicating clearly and concisely. Setting a word limit forces you to consider what you’re saying more carefully, helping you to develop your writing skills.

Sticking to the word limit is, therefore, part of being a good academic, since being a long way over or under could suggest you’ve misjudged the scope of the essay topic or that you’re having trouble communicating your ideas.

How to Stick to the Word Limit

Although many colleges give you roughly 10% leeway on the word limit, you should aim for your finished paper to be as close to the suggested word count as possible. If you find yourself writing too much, you can reduce the word count by:

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Editing out repetition, redundant words and padding phrases
Cutting down long or unnecessary quotations
Reducing the number of examples or case studies used (if you’ve included several)
Using the active voice instead of the passive voice

More generally, you should re-read your work and eliminate anything that isn’t directly related to the question you’re answering. As well as helping you stick to the word limit, this will make your work more focused, which could boost your grades.

How to Increase Your Word Count

If you’re struggling to write enough, the temptation might be to add padding phrases like “in my opinion” or long block quotations until you hit the minimum word count. But this will simply detract from the clarity of your writing.

Instead, the answer is usually to go back over your work and look for things that could be improved with a little additional attention. This might involve:

Addressing anything from your essay question that you’ve overlooked
Adding illustrative examples to support a point
Considering different sources and views on the same issue
Using short quotations as evidence for your arguments

Moreover, whether you’ve written too much or too little, getting someone else to read your work and offer feedback is a fantastic idea (especially if you ask a professional for help). This will help you to identify areas that could be expanded or cut in the next draft, so eventually you should be able to get your essay to the required length.

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May 31, 2016

You can word count on this.

Dear Style Expert,

What words count toward the word count in an APA Style paper? Am I supposed to count the title page, abstract, citations, and reference list? Are there minimums or maximums for the word count of a sentence or paragraph? How many words should go in the whole paper? Help me!

—Wordy William

Dear Wordy,

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 length of your paper and saves you from having to perform elaborate calculations just to know whether your paper is too long, too short, or just right. Use the word count feature of your word-processing program to count the words in your paper.

There is also no set minimum or maximum number of words allowed in a sentence or paragraph. Sentences and paragraphs of any length are technically allowed. However, there are still reasons to avoid very short or very long sentences and paragraphs that have nothing to do with arbitrary word counts. Very short sentences might be abrupt or choppy, and very long sentences might get confusing. Paragraphs shorter than two or three sentences might seem incomplete, and paragraphs longer than a page might contain too many ideas at once. Use very short or long sentences and paragraphs only when warranted by the information being presented.

The word count limit for an entire paper will be set by the journal to which you are submitting your work or by your professor for a university assignment. Limits vary widely and are dependent on the nature of the article you are writing—for example, a brief report will be short but a dissertation quite long.

The word count limit for the abstract is also set by the publisher or professor; abstract word limits vary from journal to journal and typically range from 150 to 250 words (for student assignments, the limit is typically 250 words as well).

If you’ve got other questions about word counts for your particular assignment, your professor or publisher will probably be the best resource for you. Leave any other questions or comments below.

For seventh edition guidelines, visit the seventh edition APA Style blog . This search includes only sixth edition blog archive results:

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, ideal word count for a college essay.

Hi all! I'm starting to work on my college essays and I was curious about how many words I should be aiming for in my essay. Are there any general guidelines or suggestions? Thanks!

When it comes to college essays, different schools may have different word count requirements, which you can usually find on the school's application instructions or their website. However, the Common Application's personal statement has a word limit of 650. It's a good idea to stay within that limit, ensuring that you fully answer the prompt while still being concise.

As a general guideline, aim to write an essay between 500 to 650 words. An essay that's too short might not provide enough depth, while an excessively long essay can be tough to engage with. It's important to strike a balance, conveying your unique story or perspective in a focused and engaging way. Remember, quality often trumps quantity. Good luck with your essays!

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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Q. What is included in the word count?

25 Assignment support
5 Book allocation
11 Databases
8 Directional
18 Eresources
24 Library services
15 My library account
3 Partner courses
14 Procedures
62 Referencing
40 Research support
17 Search strategy
1 Study spaces
2 Systematic review
3 Walk in access

Need more help?

Answered by: ros sykes last updated: dec 13, 2023 views: 13852.

The word count usually includes everything in the main body of the text including citations, quotations and tables. Everything before the main text (e.g. abstract, acknowledgements, contents, executive summaries) and everything after the main text (e.g. references, bibliographies, appendices) are not included in the word count limit.

There are exceptions to this, but if there is an exception it should be explained in your assessment brief. For more information see the University Assessment Policy .

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ah...well...that's 772 words off my word count...I may need to request an extension to my project submission date. by Abdullah Qadri on May 02, 2024

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How Many Words Should Your Essay Have for Grading High?

How many words are in an essay?

This question bothers all students, whether in middle school or college. Two reasons:

They don’t have word count guidelines to know how long their essay should be to grade high. Or, they struggle with the word limit within a paper and wonder if they can go under the suggested length.

The essay length varies, depending on many factors: subject, purpose, and academic level. Essays are usually shorter than dissertations or research papers. The thesis is the longest one.

In this article, I’ll answer two popular questions: How long is an essay? How many paragraphs are in an essay?

Also, let’s learn how long each essay part is and if it’s okay to go beyond or under the suggested length.

How Long is an Essay, Depending on the Type?


High-school	350-1,000	Students learn to write standard 5-paragraph essays with an intro, core, and conclusion.
College admission	250-650	These are concise texts, with a word limit prescribed by admission officers. Applicants write essays expressing their motives to enter a particular college.
Undergraduate	1,500-5,000	The length depends on several factors: subject, paper type, and purpose.
Graduate admission	500-1,000	Like admission essays, these are statements about achievements and motivations to continue learning.
Graduate	2,500-6,000	These are enhanced research papers with more complex structures. You write them to prove your Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees.

The above rules are average. They may vary at different educational institutions. It stands to reason that elementary-level students write short essays. And their papers get longer in their middle 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades, etc.

Often, there’s no exact word number or page count for academic papers. Guidelines usually prescribe a supposed range: 500-850 words, 5-7 pages, and so on. When in doubt, you can ask your instructor.

How Many Paragraphs is an Essay? 6 Main Lengths

You won’t find any rule prescribing a set number of paragraphs for an essay. Five-paragraph essays are a standard, but it doesn’t mean ALL papers should follow it.

Each essay consists of three parts:

Introduction . Often, it’s one paragraph introducing your topic and thesis to readers. When writing complex papers like dissertations, your intro section can be 2-3 paragraphs.
Body. It’s a core section discussing the topic in detail. The number of paragraphs here depends on your paper’s type and complexity. This part is 1-4 paragraphs unless you write extended research papers.
Conclusion. Like intros, this section is often one paragraph summarizing the essay.

Below, I’ll cover the six main lengths to show how to balance a word count in essays.

One-paragraph essays

150-200

Aimed at practicing the concepts of paragraph writing. It can be a summary or an extended definition. Common for elementary and middle school students.

Three-paragraph papers

500	– Intro paragraph = 25% – Body paragraph = 50% – Concluding paragraph = 25% Assigned to practice cohesive and logical writing with introduction, body, and conclusion. The body section is the longest one here.

Five-paragraph essays

1,000

– Intro = 100-200
– Body paragraph 1 = 150-250
– Body paragraph 2 = 150-250
– Body paragraph 3 = 150-250
– Conclusion = 100-150

It’s a standard essay structure for high school students learning to build arguments. Most types of fall into this category.

Extended papers

1,500; 3,000; 5,000

– Check the guidelines
+/- 10% of the prescribed length allowed

Assigned in college to undergraduates getting their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Such papers need deep research and may be of a more complex structure.

Dissertation

10,000; 15,000

Paragraph length by section, in % of the total length:

– Abstract – 5%
– Intro – 10%
– Literature review – 25%
– Methodology – 15%
– Result – 20%
– Discussion – 15%
– Conclusion – 10%

It’s a final project for Bachelor’s and Master’s to prove they’re worth their degree. Dissertations have a complex structure and need original research.

40,000-60,000

Paragraph length by section, in % of the total length:

– Abstract – 5%
– Intro – 10%
– Literature review – 25%
– Methodology – 15%
– Result – 20%
– Discussion – 15%
– Conclusion – 10%

Assigned to doctoral students getting PhDs. Its structure is as complex as a dissertation but with more details. The focus is on the research and data analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is essay length important.

Yes, it is. Prescribing a length, instructors understand if you can organize thoughts and arguments. An essay of 1,000 words requires more research and effort than a 350-word paper, agree? The specified length also helps you understand how complex your work should be to grade high. Longer essays teach you to write cohesive texts, choose arguments, and think critically.

Don’t write essays for the sake of count. Quality matters, so please focus on arguments, evidence, and analysis. Avoid placing too many transitions, generic words, and lengthy expressions. Make your every word and sentence count.

How many words are in an essay sample?

350 words at least.

It depends on the essay type you write. Thus, a high school essay sample will be 350 words at least. If you need a college application essay, consider personal papers of 250-650 words. Check essay samples of 800-1,000 words if you need a standard college paper. More complex works like graduate school essays or dissertations will be 3,000+ words.

How long is each part of an essay?

Stick to the 80/20 rule when calculating the length of each essay part. An essay body is the core section of academic papers: Make it 80% of the text. The remaining 20% goes to an introduction and a conclusion.

Say you write a 1,000-word essay. It means you will have 800 words in the body; 100 words go to the introduction and 100 words — for a concluding paragraph. You can go 10% below or above the prescribed limit. (Unless your instructor sets specific limitations.)

How many sentences are in an essay?

21-34 sentences for a standard 5-paragraph essay.

It depends on your essay type and the required word count. I’ll take a standard 5-paragraph college paper as an example:

You have one introductory paragraph, which is 3-5 sentences average. Other 3-5 sentences go to your conclusion. The body consists of three sections, 5-8 sentences each (1). So, here we have it: 21-34 sentences in an essay.

How many words are in an essay introduction?

Take 10-15% of the total length required. Thus, if you need to write a 1,000-word essay, your introduction will be 100-150 words.

For advanced research papers, where intros are longer than one paragraph, stick to 100-150 words per paragraph average. Such texts are usually above 3,000 words, so you’ll follow the 80/20 rule anyway.

Can I go under the suggested length?

It’s not advisable. Please do your best to meet the minimum word count given in the assignment. If the guidelines say “350-600 words,” write at least 350 words in an essay. Sometimes, a 10% deviation is acceptable, but don’t take this rule for granted. Most instructors won’t appreciate your 315-word paper if they ask you to write 350 words at least.

How to make your essay longer?

Add more examples and evidence to the body paragraphs.
Explain and analyze every argument in detail.
Mention counterarguments if applicable.

Can I make my essay longer?

Yes, you can exceed the word limit by 10% if allowed by your course instructor. For example, if you get an assignment of 500-700 words, it’s okay to submit a 770-word essay for a review.

Important! Always ask your instructor if the 10% rule is available in their course. And exceed the word count only if you have critical information to add.

Academic writing is all about rules and instructions. Essay length isn’t an exception:

Every college paper has a prescribed, approximate word count to follow. When asking, “How long is an essay?” remember the answer will depend on several factors:

Academic level. (Middle and high school students write short essays. Undergraduates and graduates craft longer and more complex papers.)
Type and purpose. (Research-based essays are longer than reflective stories you write for college admission officers.)
Instructions you get from a teacher. (Check them: The supposed essay length is often there.)

How many words are in an essay? You can answer this question now.

References:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/paragraphs_and_paragraphing/paragraphing.html
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Academic style

At university you become part of an academic community. When you write essays at university there are certain rules that you have to follow to make sure that everyone is writing in the same style. This is known as academic style . The rules that you follow are called academic conventions. The main rules for writing academic essays are don't be personal ( so don't use words like I or my) don't use informal language, don't use shortened forms of words ( like won't) and make sure you reference your work properly.

Avoiding plagiarism

Plagiarism is a very serious offence. It means that you use the work of other people without saying it is other people's work. When you don't state that you are talking about someone else's ideas or opinions it is like you are pretending that you have written those words or had those thoughts yourself. You will get in to a lot of trouble if your tutor thinks you have plagiarised . In order to avoid plagiarism you must use references and citations for all the texts you have mentioned that have been written by other people. For more information on plagiarism see the article on it on the academic hub.

When you are asked to use citations in your essay it means that you show that you are talking about someone else's work that you have read. While you are at the University, you will need to follow the Harvard referencing system in order to cite properly. Citations provide the last name and the date of publication of the text you are talking about. Citations appear IN TEXT. This means you write the author's surname and the date of publication within the text as you are writing your essay.

Harvard Referencing

When you are writing an academic essay you will have to discuss the things you have read. When you are talking about the work of someone else you have to make sure that you have shown in your essay that you are talking about the ideas or opinions of someone else. In order to do this every essay needs a referencing system. At University of Greenwich the Harvard referencing system is used. In Harvard referencing you use citations and provide a reference list at the end of your essay. Your department will provide you with a guide to how to reference and you can find more information by looking at the academic hub by following the link below.

www.gre.ac.uk/academicskills

When we talk about structure within an essay it means the way in which you have ordered your ideas. A common structure for an essay is a three part one : introduction, the main body and conclusion. You should make sure that your ideas link together in a clear and logical way. The purpose of the introduction is to show your reader what you are going to do in your essay, the main body discusses the points you are making in depth and finally the conclusion sums up the key aspects of your essay. A conclusion often re states your opinion if you have been required to provide one and sometimes ends with a final thought for your reader to think about.

Topic sentences

A topic sentence is the name we give to a sentence that explains what the main topic of the paragraph is going to be about. Often the topic sentence is found at the start of the paragraph. In order to write a good paragraph your topic sentence has to be clear. This means that you should stick to ONE main topic that you are going to discuss within your paragraph. You need to introduce this topic in the topic sentence. If you try to talk about too many things in one paragraph it will confuse your reader.

Thesis statement

Some of the essays you write might require you to give an opinion or to express a particular point of view. A thesis statement is the part of your essay where you say what viewpoint the essay is going to argue. Remember that you should not use the word I. It is more common in academic writing to say" This essay will prove that" or "This essay will argue that......". Your thesis statement will help your reader to understand the arguments you are making and to decide if they agree with you or not.

When you are given an essay to write you will also be told how many words you can use. This is known as the word count . Part of what you are being assessed on when you write an essay is if you can write about the topic thoroughly while not going over the word count. Sometimes you will be allowed to write 10 % more or less than the actual word count but you must always check this first. It is also important to check with your tutors to see if in-text citations are included in your word count, you may find this information in your programme handbook. The reference list is not included in the word count.

Key words in the essay question

When we talk about the key words in an essay question these are the words that show you what you have to do in the essay. It is really important that you identify the key words so you know that you are writing about the right thing and have not missed anything out. Key words will often show you how you should approach the essay. For example if you are asked to describe as a key word you will be explaining something whereas if you are asked to analyse you will be discussing the subject in depth.

Limitations

You often state your limitations in your introduction. What this means is that you show that you recognise that you are not going to talk about every aspect of your subject but about certain things in particular. For example it would be impossible to write an essay on fruit because there are so many different fruits from across the world. If you were to write an essay about fruit you would have to set some limitations. You would have to think about what type of fruit you were going to discuss and where the fruit was from and how you are going to discuss it. Limitations make it easier for the reader to see what we are talking about.

Often in an introduction to an essay we provide an outline. This means that we state what we are going to do in the essay. For example we could briefly discuss the stages of the essay saying the different things the essay is going to focus on. Outlines are also used when giving presentations. They are a way of showing the reader or audience the direction our essay or presentation is going to take.

Paragraphs are groups of sentences linked by a main topic. There are no set rules for the amount of sentences that should appear in a paragraph but you should not write paragraphs that are too long or too short. If you write a paragraph that is too short then your reader may think you do not know much about the topic you are talking about. If you write a paragraph that is too long then this may become boring or confusing for your reader.

A well constructed paragraph will focus on a clear subject. This subject will be introduced in the first sentence of the paragraph. In the main part of the paragraph you should make points, use citations and explain why the information you have used is important. You can also finish off your paragraph by making a closing statement that links back to the question you are answering or your argument.

Proof reading

Proof reading means that you check your work over for any mistakes. It is really important that you leave enough time before your essay deadline to do this. There is no point in having a well argued and researched essay if your work is full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024 1:19 PM
URL: https://libguides.gre.ac.uk/academicskills

Frequently asked questions

How do i meet the word count.

If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

Frequently asked questions: College admissions essays

When writing your Common App essay , choose a prompt that sparks your interest and that you can connect to a unique personal story.

No matter which prompt you choose, admissions officers are more interested in your ability to demonstrate personal development , insight, or motivation for a certain area of study.

The Common App essay is your primary writing sample within the Common Application, a college application portal accepted by more than 900 schools. All your prospective schools that accept the Common App will read this essay to understand your character, background, and value as a potential student.

Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs; instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary school-specific essays within the Common App.

Most importantly, your essay should be about you , not another person or thing. An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability.

Your essay shouldn’t be a résumé of your experiences but instead should tell a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding your message and content. Then, check for flow, tone, style , and clarity. Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors .

If you’ve got to write your college essay fast , don’t panic. First, set yourself deadlines: you should spend about 10% of your remaining time on brainstorming, 10% on outlining, 40% writing, 30% revising, and 10% taking breaks in between stages.

Second, brainstorm stories and values based on your essay prompt.

Third, outline your essay based on the montage or narrative essay structure .

Fourth, write specific, personal, and unique stories that would be hard for other students to replicate.

Fifth, revise your essay and make sure it’s clearly written.

Last, if possible, get feedback from an essay coach . Scribbr essay editors can help you revise your essay in 12 hours or less.

Avoid swearing in a college essay , since admissions officers’ opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it’s safest to try to make the same point without swearing.

If you have bad grades on your transcript, you may want to use your college admissions essay to explain the challenging circumstances that led to them. Make sure to avoid dwelling on the negative aspects and highlight how you overcame the situation or learned an important lesson.

However, some college applications offer an additional information section where you can explain your bad grades, allowing you to choose another meaningful topic for your college essay.

Here’s a brief list of college essay topics that may be considered cliché:

Extracurriculars, especially sports
Role models
Dealing with a personal tragedy or death in the family
Struggling with new life situations (immigrant stories, moving homes, parents’ divorce)
Becoming a better person after community service, traveling, or summer camp
Overcoming a difficult class
Using a common object as an extended metaphor

It’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic. However, it’s possible to make a common topic compelling with interesting story arcs, uncommon connections, and an advanced writing style.

Yes. The college application essay is less formal than other academic writing —though of course it’s not mandatory to use contractions in your essay.

In a college essay , you can be creative with your language . When writing about the past, you can use the present tense to make the reader feel as if they were there in the moment with you. But make sure to maintain consistency and when in doubt, default to the correct verb tense according to the time you’re writing about.

The college admissions essay gives admissions officers a different perspective on you beyond your academic achievements, test scores, and extracurriculars. It’s your chance to stand out from other applicants with similar academic profiles by telling a unique, personal, and specific story.

Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial to avoid distracting the reader from your college essay’s content.

A college application essay is less formal than most academic writing . Instead of citing sources formally with in-text citations and a reference list, you can cite them informally in your text.

For example, “In her research paper on genetics, Quinn Roberts explores …”

There is no set number of paragraphs in a college admissions essay . College admissions essays can diverge from the traditional five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in English class. Just make sure to stay under the specified word count .

Most topics are acceptable for college essays if you can use them to demonstrate personal growth or a lesson learned. However, there are a few difficult topics for college essays that should be avoided. Avoid topics that are:

Overly personal (e.g. graphic details of illness or injury, romantic or sexual relationships)
Not personal enough (e.g. broad solutions to world problems, inspiring people or things)
Too negative (e.g. an in-depth look at your flaws, put-downs of others, criticizing the need for a college essay)
Too boring (e.g. a resume of your academic achievements and extracurriculars)
Inappropriate for a college essay (e.g. illegal activities, offensive humor, false accounts of yourself, bragging about privilege)

To write an effective diversity essay , include vulnerable, authentic stories about your unique identity, background, or perspective. Provide insight into how your lived experience has influenced your outlook, activities, and goals. If relevant, you should also mention how your background has led you to apply for this university and why you’re a good fit.

Many universities believe a student body composed of different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience.

Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community, which is why they assign a diversity essay .

In addition to your main college essay , some schools and scholarships may ask for a supplementary essay focused on an aspect of your identity or background. This is sometimes called a diversity essay .

You can use humor in a college essay , but carefully consider its purpose and use it wisely. An effective use of humor involves unexpected, keen observations of the everyday, or speaks to a deeper theme. Humor shouldn’t be the main focus of the essay, but rather a tool to improve your storytelling.

Get a second opinion from a teacher, counselor, or essay coach on whether your essay’s humor is appropriate.

Though admissions officers are interested in hearing your story, they’re also interested in how you tell it. An exceptionally written essay will differentiate you from other applicants, meaning that admissions officers will spend more time reading it.

You can use literary devices to catch your reader’s attention and enrich your storytelling; however, focus on using just a few devices well, rather than trying to use as many as possible.

To decide on a good college essay topic , spend time thoughtfully answering brainstorming questions. If you still have trouble identifying topics, try the following two strategies:

Identify your qualities → Brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities
Identify memorable stories → Connect your qualities to these stories

You can also ask family, friends, or mentors to help you brainstorm topics, give feedback on your potential essay topics, or recall key stories that showcase your qualities.

Yes—admissions officers don’t expect everyone to have a totally unique college essay topic . But you must differentiate your essay from others by having a surprising story arc, an interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style .

There are no foolproof college essay topics —whatever your topic, the key is to write about it effectively. However, a good topic

Is meaningful, specific, and personal to you
Focuses on you and your experiences
Reveals something beyond your test scores, grades, and extracurriculars
Is creative and original

Unlike a five-paragraph essay, your admissions essay should not end by summarizing the points you’ve already made. It’s better to be creative and aim for a strong final impression.

You should also avoid stating the obvious (for example, saying that you hope to be accepted).

There are a few strategies you can use for a memorable ending to your college essay :

Return to the beginning with a “full circle” structure
Reveal the main point or insight in your story
Look to the future
End on an action

The best technique will depend on your topic choice, essay outline, and writing style. You can write several endings using different techniques to see which works best.

College deadlines vary depending on the schools you’re applying to and your application plan:

For early action applications and the first round of early decision applications, the deadline is on November 1 or 15. Decisions are released by mid-December.
For the second round of early decision applications, the deadline is January 1 or 15. Decisions are released in January or February.
Regular decision deadlines usually fall between late November and mid-March, and decisions are released in March or April.
Rolling admission deadlines run from July to April, and decisions are released around four to eight weeks after submission.

Depending on your prospective schools’ requirements, you may need to submit scores for the SAT or ACT as part of your college application .

Some schools now no longer require students to submit test scores; however, you should still take the SAT or ACT and aim to get a high score to strengthen your application package.

Aim to take the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year to give yourself enough time to retake it in the fall of your senior year if necessary.

Apply early for federal student aid and application fee waivers. You can also look for scholarships from schools, corporations, and charitable foundations.

To maximize your options, you should aim to apply to about eight schools:

Two reach schools that might be difficult to get into
Four match schools that you have a good chance of getting into
Two safety schools that you feel confident you’ll get into

The college admissions essay accounts for roughly 25% of the weight of your application .

At highly selective schools, there are four qualified candidates for every spot. While your academic achievements are important, your college admissions essay can help you stand out from other applicants with similar profiles.

In general, for your college application you will need to submit all of the following:

Your personal information
List of extracurriculars and awards
College application essays
Transcripts
Standardized test scores
Recommendation letters.

Different colleges may have specific requirements, so make sure you check exactly what’s expected in the application guidance.

You should start thinking about your college applications the summer before your junior year to give you sufficient time for college visits, taking standardized tests, applying for financial aid , writing essays, and collecting application material.

Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.

If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .

You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.

Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.

You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.

A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.

After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

A unique, personally meaningful topic
A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay , and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don’t forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

You should already begin thinking about your essay the summer before your senior year so that you have plenty of time to try out different topics and get feedback on what works.

Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurricular track records.

In most cases, quoting other people isn’t a good way to start your college essay . Admissions officers want to hear your thoughts about yourself, and quotes often don’t achieve that. Unless a quote truly adds something important to your essay that it otherwise wouldn’t have, you probably shouldn’t include it.

Cliché openers in a college essay introduction are usually general and applicable to many students and situations. Most successful introductions are specific: they only work for the unique essay that follows.

The key to a strong college essay introduction is not to give too much away. Try to start with a surprising statement or image that raises questions and compels the reader to find out more.

The introduction of your college essay is the first thing admissions officers will read and therefore your most important opportunity to stand out. An excellent introduction will keep admissions officers reading, allowing you to tell them what you want them to know.

You can speed up this process by shortening and smoothing your writing with a paraphrasing tool . After that, you can use the summarizer to shorten it even more.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.

You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.

If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.

In your application essay , admissions officers are looking for particular features : they want to see context on your background, positive traits that you could bring to campus, and examples of you demonstrating those qualities.

Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to understand each applicant’s unique personality and experiences.

You don’t need a title for your college admissions essay , but you can include one if you think it adds something important.

Your college essay’s format should be as simple as possible:

Use a standard, readable font
Use 1.5 or double spacing
If attaching a file, save it as a PDF
Stick to the word count
Avoid unusual formatting and unnecessary decorative touches

There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay , but these are two common structures that work:

A montage structure, a series of vignettes with a common theme.
A narrative structure, a single story that shows your personal growth or how you overcame a challenge.

Avoid the five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in high school.

Campus visits are always helpful, but if you can’t make it in person, the college website will have plenty of information for you to explore. You should look through the course catalog and even reach out to current faculty with any questions about the school.

Colleges set a “Why this college?” essay because they want to see that you’ve done your research. You must prove that you know what makes the school unique and can connect that to your own personal goals and academic interests.

Depending on your writing, you may go through several rounds of revision . Make sure to put aside your essay for a little while after each editing stage to return with a fresh perspective.

Teachers and guidance counselors can help you check your language, tone, and content . Ask for their help at least one to two months before the submission deadline, as many other students will also want their help.

Friends and family are a good resource to check for authenticity. It’s best to seek help from family members with a strong writing or English educational background, or from older siblings and cousins who have been through the college admissions process.

If possible, get help from an essay coach or editor ; they’ll have specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and be able to give objective expert feedback.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding message, flow, tone, style , and clarity. Then, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

What are three words your friends or family would use to describe you, and why would they choose them?
Whom do you admire most and why?
What are you most proud of? Ashamed of?

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

In a college application essay , you can occasionally bend grammatical rules if doing so adds value to the storytelling process and the essay maintains clarity.

However, use standard language rules if your stylistic choices would otherwise distract the reader from your overall narrative or could be easily interpreted as unintentional errors.

Write concisely and use the active voice to maintain a quick pace throughout your essay and make sure it’s the right length . Avoid adding definitions unless they provide necessary explanation.

Use first-person “I” statements to speak from your perspective . Use appropriate word choices that show off your vocabulary but don’t sound like you used a thesaurus. Avoid using idioms or cliché expressions by rewriting them in a creative, original way.

If you’re an international student applying to a US college and you’re comfortable using American idioms or cultural references , you can. But instead of potentially using them incorrectly, don’t be afraid to write in detail about yourself within your own culture.

Provide context for any words, customs, or places that an American admissions officer might be unfamiliar with.

College application essays are less formal than other kinds of academic writing . Use a conversational yet respectful tone , as if speaking with a teacher or mentor. Be vulnerable about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences to connect with the reader.

Aim to write in your authentic voice , with a style that sounds natural and genuine. You can be creative with your word choice, but don’t use elaborate vocabulary to impress admissions officers.

Admissions officers use college admissions essays to evaluate your character, writing skills , and ability to self-reflect . The essay is your chance to show what you will add to the academic community.

The college essay may be the deciding factor in your application , especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

Some colleges also require supplemental essays about specific topics, such as why you chose that specific college . Scholarship essays are often required to obtain financial aid .

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How do I (legitimately) reach the word count for essays?

I've always hated writing papers with a word/page limit since I can never seem to reach it naturally. I feel like I sum up my thoughts too quickly. For this most recent paper it needs 1500-2000 words, and after adding all the details I could think of I still only reached 1200. Any advice to make longer papers?

Edit: a lot of the advice is "get another source" or "add more quotes". This particular paper is only citing one source because it's an analysis of said source. There's nothing else to cite and and honestly I'm not sure what else I can quote.

How-To Geek

How to insert a word count into your word document.

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Word tracks certain summary information about documents, such as the number of words in a document. If you want to display the number of words contained in your document in the document itself that you can quickly update, this is easily accomplished.

To insert a word count in your document, place the cursor at the point in the document where you want to insert the word count and click the “Insert” tab.

In the “Text” section of the “Insert” tab, click the “Quick Parts” button. If your Word window is not wide enough to display “Quick Parts” next to the appropriate button, click the button with the icon to which the mouse cursor is pointing in the following image.

Select “Field” from the drop-down menu.

On the “Field” dialog box, select “Document Information” from the “Categories” drop-down box.

Click on “NumWords” in the “Field names” list on the left.

The “Format” and “Numeric format” lists allow you to specify the format for the field being inserted. However, for the number of words, you don’t need to apply any formatting so don’t select anything from those lists. Click “OK” to insert the field into the document.

The number of words in your document is inserted at the cursor. Once you add or delete words in your document, you can update the word count by right-clicking on the word count number, and selecting “Update Field” from the popup menu.

NOTE: When the cursor is in word count number, the number is highlighted in gray because the number is a field.

If you have other fields in your document you want to update, you can update all of them at once by pressing "Ctrl + A" to select the whole document (minus any headers, footers, footnotes, or endnotes) and then pressing "F9". To update fields in headers, footers, footnotes, and endnotes, you must open those parts of the document and update the fields in them separately.

You can also insert other document properties into your Word document, including built-in and custom properties .

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What counts as a word when dealing with a word limit?

I am trying to determine if it will be feasible to revise a manuscript for a journal that has a 6500 word limit. Currently, the manuscript is between 7500 and 8000 words long, depending on how I count words. However, it is not clear which of the following words will count toward my word count (in decreasing order of word count):

Figure and table legends
Math equations
Section headings

Which of these uses count toward a word limit? Are there general rules for which words count toward a word limit?

Bonus: how strict are editors with word limits?

technical-writing
scientific-publishing

First of all, you should check and see if they have any guidelines posted that will help you to be certain that you stay within their listed range. If they don't have anything listed, then you could send them an inquiry to try to find out.

Generally, the word count would not include the title page, if you have one.
Words used in tables or graphs, including the legends, would not normnally be included.
If you use abstracts as part of the body of your material, then they would be included.
Citations, on the other hand, would not.
If the math equations constitute any portion of your overall content, then they would be included.
Section headings should be included.
When you mention numbers, I assume you mean numbers that are used as part of your formulas or equations, in which case they would be included.

If you make use of an appendix or a table of contents, then neither of those would be included in your word count. I would recommend creating a second copy of your document and removing the items that would NOT be included and see what your word processor comes up with for the word count. That would probably put you pretty close to where you need to be.

As far as editors,it just depends. Some may be flexible, especially if the content warrants it. Others, however, set limits as a hard and fast rule and are not willing to concede and additional space at all.

thank you for the advice. I wanted to ask here first before bothering the editor with a naive question. The numbers I was curious about are in the text. – David LeBauer Commented Sep 6, 2011 at 18:00
In that case, your numbers would inded count. – Steven Drennon Commented Sep 6, 2011 at 18:08

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7.11 Calculating Your Word Count

You are responsible for including an accurate word-count on the cover sheet for each piece of work you submit. Failure to be honest in this respect will itself be penalized under the University’s cheating and plagiarism regulations.

The word count specified for assessments will include footnotes, quotations and in-line references, but exclude the titles, bibliography and appendices. The exception to this are modules taught within History; please see the History Subject Handbook for their guidelines.

Some assessment tasks ask for diagrams, tables, maps, and/or visual images which are either placed together in an appendix or placed at appropriate points in the essay. These are normally labelled, for instance as Fig. 1, Fig. 2, etc. Such visual material should be clearly captioned; the captions do not count towards the overall word count. Unless module handbooks or departmental guidance explicitly allow otherwise, appendices should not normally contain writing other than captions or writing that is integral to diagrams, etc.: in other words, an appendix is not the place to argue a point.

Academic staff will check the declared word count on the cover sheet against the word limit specified for that assessment; where the word count exceeds the specified word limit, the appropriate penalty will be applied.

Where academic staff suspect that you have not declared the word count honestly, and that the piece of work is over the specified limit, staff will ask the Humanities Education Team to check the word count in order to determine the appropriate penalty to be administered.

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.

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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.
Everything you need to know about word counts (but were too afraid to
For a 500-word story, that would be 475 words to 525 words. For a 1,000-word story, that would be 950 words to 1,050 words. For a 3,000-word article, it would be 2,850 to 3, 150 words. If you're not sure, ask your editor. They may have their own rule of thumb on what constitutes hitting the word count. But face it, it's really easy to write ...
What is included in the word count?
Generally speaking, the word count will include the following: All titles or headings that form part of the actual text. All words that form the essay (the main body of text). All words forming the titles for figures, tables and boxes, are included but this does not include boxes or tables or figures themselves.
Essay Tips: Word Count Advice
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 ...
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 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.
The Word Limit in Academic Writing (and How to Stick to It)
Setting a word limit forces you to consider what you're saying more carefully, helping you to develop your writing skills. Sticking to the word limit is, therefore, part of being a good academic, since being a long way over or under could suggest you've misjudged the scope of the essay topic or that you're having trouble communicating ...
How Long Should a College Essay Be?
Revised on June 1, 2023. 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.
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 ...
Ideal word count for a college essay?
When it comes to college essays, different schools may have different word count requirements, which you can usually find on the school's application instructions or their website. However, the Common Application's personal statement has a word limit of 650. It's a good idea to stay within that limit, ensuring that you fully answer the prompt while still being concise.
What is included in the word count?
The word count usually includes everything in the main body of the text including citations, quotations and tables. Everything before the main text (e.g. abstract, acknowledgements, contents, executive summaries) and everything after the main text (e.g. references, bibliographies, appendices) are not included in the word count limit. There are ...
PDF Structuring an essay
You can do this in three stages: Introduce the general topic area. Explain why that topic is important or interesting. Detail the specific focus of your essay and indicate the themes you are going to explore. This should be around 10% of your total word count. For example, in a 2000-word essay, the introduction should be around 200 words.
WordCounter
Knowing the word count of a text can be important. For example, if an author has to write a minimum or maximum amount of words for an article, essay, report, story, book, paper, you name it. WordCounter will help to make sure its word count reaches a specific requirement or stays within a certain limit.
How Many Words Are in an Essay? The Length Guide
Essay type: Average word count: Description : High-school: 350-1,000: Students learn to write standard 5-paragraph essays with an intro, core, and conclusion. College admission: 250-650: These are concise texts, with a word limit prescribed by admission officers. Applicants write essays expressing their motives to enter a particular college.
Words Commonly Used When Talking About Essays
The reference list is not included in the word count. Key words in the essay question. When we talk about the key words in an essay question these are the words that show you what you have to do in the essay. It is really important that you identify the key words so you know that you are writing about the right thing and have not missed ...
How do I meet the word count?
If your college essay goes over the word count limit, cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay. If you're struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.
How do I (legitimately) reach the word count for essays?
If you have 5 paragraphs (including introduction and conclusion) and each is 250 words, you are already at the 1,500-word mark. Split your essay into 200-400-word paragraphs depending on its nature and how many points you wanna discuss to support your argument. Stick to the per-paragraph word count. Done.
How to Insert a Word Count into Your Word Document
The number of words in your document is inserted at the cursor. Once you add or delete words in your document, you can update the word count by right-clicking on the word count number, and selecting "Update Field" from the popup menu. NOTE: When the cursor is in word count number, the number is highlighted in gray because the number is a field.
What counts as a word when dealing with a word limit?
5. I am trying to determine if it will be feasible to revise a manuscript for a journal that has a 6500 word limit. Currently, the manuscript is between 7500 and 8000 words long, depending on how I count words. However, it is not clear which of the following words will count toward my word count (in decreasing order of word count):
Calculating your word count
7.11 Calculating Your Word Count. You are responsible for including an accurate word-count on the cover sheet for each piece of work you submit. Failure to be honest in this respect will itself be penalized under the University's cheating and plagiarism regulations. The word count specified for assessments will include footnotes, quotations ...
Do Footnotes Count in Word Count?
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.
PDF Policy on word count
Word count includes everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes, lists, etc). The list of references, appendices and footnotes2are NOT included in the word count unless it is clearly stated in the coursework instructions that the module is an exception to this rule. There are two standard referencing ...
Free Word Counter
Count Words Easily with Wordvice AI's Word Counter. Our word counting tool lets you count the number of words of a paragraph, passage, or entire document with the click of a button. It's the perfect tool when you need to meet the word count requirements of a paper or essay, or to improve your SEO strategies.

How to Include a Word Count in Your Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step by Step Tutorial: Including a Word Count in an Essay

Step 1: Finish Writing Your Essay

Step 2: Use a Word Processor’s Word Count Feature

Step 3: Place the Word Count at the End of Your Essay

Tips for Including a Word Count in an Essay

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Table of contents

How NOT to increase word count

Voice and tone

Quoting without context

Mindless paraphrasing

Even more mistakes

The right way to increase word count

1. Use an AI writing tool

How to add more sentences to a paragraph

2. Take advantage of outlines

3. Expand your text with intros and conclusions

4. Use examples to illustrate your point

5. Invest in serious research

6. Ask 'Why' questions

7. Address the counter view

8. Use quotes and references

9. Get feedback from a friend

10. Add text while editing

Keep it long and interesting

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The Word Limit in Academic Writing (and How to Stick to It)

Why Have a Word Limit?

How to Stick to the Word Limit

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How to Increase Your Word Count

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May 31, 2016

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