As a rule, never submit anything that is more than 10% below a word limit. The limit is there for a reason, if you’re under it significantly then you’re either going to give the impression that you didn’t make sufficient effort, that you rushed it or that you didn’t understand the topic.
Is it better to be under or over the word count?
Your best bet is to write an essay and forget about the word count, which will probably end up with you being over it. Then when you come to reading it through, delete any repeated points, unnecessary words or irrelevant facts.
Is it okay to write less than the word limit?
No. You should never exceed the word limit for an essay. You should be able to trim your essay, even if it means writing way less than the word limit.
How close to the word count should I be?
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.
Do you need to meet the word count?
Getting an accurate word count is important for writing college essays and qualifying for scholarship opportunities. But you shouldn’t just add any words to help you meet the required length; instead, make sure you’re adding quality words to balance essay length with essay quality.
Is it bad to be under the word limit for college essays?
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.
How important is word count in college essays?
Overall, it’s best to stay within the word count limit or range — it’s provided for a reason! Writing too much will likely result in your essay being cut off, and writing too little may cause readers to think that you aren’t truly interested in their school. If no range is given, remember to stick to 400-600 words.
How many marks do you lose for going over word count?
The falsification of a word count may result in the failure of the paper. There is no penalization for essays which exceed the word limit by up to 5% of the imposed limit. However, if you exceed the word limit by any more than 5%, a fixed penalty of five marks will be deducted from your assessment grade.
What is the shortest An essay can be?
around 150 words
Essays can be anywhere from 250 to 650 words total.” The shortest word limits for college essays are usually around 150 words (less than half a single-spaced page). Rarely will you see a word limit higher than around 650 words (over one single-spaced page).
How many words is considered a long essay?
The most common lengths for an extended essay are 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 words, with a word count allowance of plus or minus 10%.
Does a 500 word essay have to be exactly 500 words?
500-word essays do not have to be exactly 500 words, but they should be as close as possible. The essay prompt may say “in under 500 words” or “in at least 500 words,” which would state whether 500 is the minimum or maximum word count.
Why is a word count important?
It is possible to effectively convey your point in 450 words, while other subjects require much more research and information to sufficiently discuss a topic. In addition, find the word count that works best for your reader’s expectations. Keep them captivated in your content and make it useful.
What do you do if your essay is too short?
5 Helpful Tips for Serious Students
- expanding the opposing view.
- adding an additional alternate view (from a neutral or surprising angle)
- adding another case study or example that pushes your own claim TOO far (and then explaining why your argument is not as weak as that extreme case)
How do I increase my word count?
How to Increase Your Essay Word Count
- Add Examples. Skim through your essay looking for any place you have used an example to make a point.
- Address Different Viewpoints.
- Clarify Statements.
- Find Additional Sources.
- Use Quotations.
- Rework Introduction and Conclusion.
- Page Count.
How do you beef up in an essay?
- Ways to Expand (& Improve) an Essay.
- Expand individual paragraphs.
- Ask how and why questions.
- Add (more) concrete examples and evidence.
- Expand the introduction and/or conclusion.
- Add a sentence or two at the end of each paragraph summarizing (and/or refuting) the.
- Write new paragraphs.
Do colleges check word count?
The admissions counselors are skilled at estimating the length of your essay. If they specify “an essay of no fewer than 250 words,” they expect at least one typewritten, double-spaced page with normal fonts and margins. And if they ask for no more than two typewritten pages, they will be annoyed to receive ten.
Do admissions officers care about word count?
One rule of thumb that is frequently tossed around is 10%, although it’s worth noting that admissions consultants tend to promote this rule more than any admissions officer does. However, if you can stay within 10% of the word limit for an essay, you probably are okay.
Is a 5000 word essay long?
5,000 words is 10 pages single-spaced or 20 pages double-spaced. Typical documents that are 5,000 words include college dissertations, theses, and in-depth blog posts and journal articles. It will take approximately 17 minutes to read 5,000 words.
Is 500 words good for a college essay?
500 to 600 words allows you to give them a proper flying experience and gives you the words necessary to differentiate your world from the world of other applicants. In order to produce a great final draft essay, your rough drafts should be even longer than 650 words.
How do you lower word count in college essay?
10 Tricks to Reduce Your Word Count in Academic Writing
- Delete “The” You can often omit the word “the” from your text without losing any meaning.
- Erase “That”
- Remove Adverbs and Adjectives.
- Use Shorter Words.
- Trim Wordy Phrases.
- Choose Active Voice.
- Revise Needless Transitions.
- Eliminate Conjunctions.
How many words over the limit is acceptable?
Assignment length requirements are usually given in terms of numbers of words. Unless the lecturer tells you that these limits are strict, it is normally acceptable to be 10% above or below this word limit (so, for example, a 2000 word assignment should be between 1800 and 2200 words).
