Word Counts

It’s ten forty-seven pm, and you’re staring bleary-eyed at your computer screen. The cursor blinks at you cheerfully, almost mockingly, as you finally tap out Ctrl+Shift+C. Your word count pops up. It isn’t the number you want. You watch in the hope that it changes. It doesn’t.

You get up to pour another cup of coffee.

We’ve all been there, balancing the tightrope of either cutting down or expanding a project. While sometimes tedious, word counts exist with purpose. This could be for publications or magazines to ensure that works can fit in a defined amount of space. Oftentimes in academia, it acts as an equalizer, giving every student the same opportunity to present their argument while avoiding redundancy. However, sometimes students may focus too much on word count and lose sight of their topic. And when it comes to strengthening your paper, you may find that increasing/decreasing your word count is the perfect way to do that.

3 Ways to Increase Word Count

1. Adding More Quotes/Examples

One of the easiest ways to boost your word count is by simply adding another quote or example to further your point. However, when putting in more quotes/examples, it’s important to remember that they have to be useful and practical to your argument and remain on topic. You can also consider expanding with statistics, historical background, or anecdotes depending on the project. Remember, if you’re going to use quotes, then you’ll also need to add your own analysis, context, or commentary.

2. Add Another Source

Like adding examples, diving into another primary or secondary source will reinforce your ideas while increasing word count. Go over your project to find any sparse paragraphs, then find some new sources. These can be primary (diaries, speeches, autobiographies, videos), secondary (textbooks, critiques, interpretations, reviews), or tertiary (handbooks, encyclopedias, guidebooks, almanacs). 

3. Refute Counterclaims

Examining different angles and counterclaims or creating counterarguments to your thesis is a great way to both boost word count as well as fortify your own arguments. Try to acknowledge the questions and concerns that may come up within your audience and respond to them. Not only will this make you seem more credible; it will also show how you considered multiple sides of a discussion. 

3 Ways to Decrease Word Count

1. Prepositional Phrases

A quick and easy way to cut down word count is to spot any prepositional phrases within the paper. These phrases tend to appear at the beginning or end of a sentence and can quickly add up. It’s very easy to overuse prepositional phrases, and they can quickly become excessive, so cutting them may make your paper more compact. If you’d like to learn more about using prepositions, check out this Purdue Owl Guide.

2. Combine Redundancies & Ideas

You can also keep an eye out for any sentences that repeat information or words previously stated in your piece. Get rid of any second remarks, especially if you’re just repeating yourself with slightly different wording. Keep in mind that some sentences can also be combined if they touch on the same topic, which will keep your wording more concise and get to the point faster.

3. Use Active Voice

When writing with an active voice, sentences tend to be shorter. Here’s an example:

Active: Virginia Woolfe published Mrs. Dalloway in 1925.

Passive: Mrs. Dalloway was published by Virginia Woolfe in 1925.

While this may seem like a small difference, continuously writing in passive voice can quickly rack up your word count. Try reviewing your work and looking for areas where you may have used passive voice, then rewrite them in active voice.

Whether you need to increase or decrease your word count, never lose sight of your voice and the meaning behind your piece. Hopefully, these tips will help you reach your goal and strengthen your work. So pour yourself that cup of coffee, take a breath, and get ready to write!

About the Author

Evelyn Vandrey (she/her) is an English and Art History major from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. If she isn’t spending her time getting lost in Richmond, she’s probably drinking a chai latte, playing a video game, or scribbling down her ideas.

Quote: “Don’t Panic.” – Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash