What Is Included In Word Count MLA?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Count all of the text excluding your ‘Works Cited' list, any appendices, and any you have included

. This is the selection of text that MLA considers to be important as your word count.

Do you include quotes in word count MLA?

The general rule is that

word count includes everything in the main body of the text

– including headings, tables, citations, quotes, lists, etc. The list of references, appendices, and footnotes are generally not included in the word count.

What is included in a word count?

Word count is defined as the number of words contained within the main body of the text which include:

titles, headings, abstracts, summaries, in-text citations, quotations, footnotes

.

Does essay word count include in-text references?

Word count includes everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes, lists, etc). The list of references, appendices and

footnotes2 are NOT included in the word count unless it is clearly stated in the coursework instructions

that the module is an exception to this rule.

Are footnotes included in word count MLA?

Bibliographic footnotes continue to be read and

are not included in the word count

. Q: Can we use MLA style and footnotes? A: Yes, you can. Style guides are just that: guides to style.

Do names count as words?

Oxford definition of a word: A single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed. By that definition, a name is

clearly

a word.

How much can you go under a word limit?

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).

Where do you put word count in a report?

The word count will appear

at the bottom left of your document

. Each paragraph should be indented 1⁄2”.

Do quotes count as sentences?


You should never have a quotation standing alone

as a complete sentence, or, worse, as an incomplete sentence, in your writing. The quotation will seem disconnected from your own thoughts and from the flow of your sentences.

Does Work Cited count as a page MLA?

According to MLA style,

you must have a Works Cited page at the end of your research paper

. All entries in the Works Cited page must correspond to the works cited in your main text.

What doesn't count in a 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 footnotes2

are NOT included in the word count unless it is clearly stated in the coursework instructions that the module is an exception to this rule.

What is excluded from a word count?


Tables, diagrams (including associated legends)

, appendices, references, footnotes and endnotes, the bibliography and any bound published material are excluded from the word count.

Does Work Cited count as a page?

The Works Cited page is the list of sources used in the research paper.

It should be its own page at the end of the paper

. Center the title, “Works Cited” (without quotation marks), at the top of the page. If only one source was consulted, title the page “Work Cited”.

Do footnotes count in a word count?

The

word count DOES NOT

include the bibliography or citations/references in the text (Harvard Style referencing) or in footnotes or endnotes (Chicago Style referencing). ANY OTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED IN A FOOTNOTE OR ENDNOTE OTHER THAN A REFERENCE OR CITATION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE WORD COUNT.

How do you do a word count without footnotes?

If you want to count only the words in a particular section of your document, select that portion of the text with your mouse or keyboard, then go to

Review > Word Count to open

the Word Count dialog box to see how many words are in that section and whether that count includes/excludes footnotes/endnotes/text boxes.

Are cover sheet included in word count?

The word count usually refers to the information provided in the body of the text. Accordingly, the

title page and references may not be included

, but it's a safe assumption to include your in-text citations in your word count since the citations provide critical information within the text.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.