Does Word Count Include References?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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.

Does APA word count include references?

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.

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.

Do references count in word count for journal?

Some journals may have limits on page numbers, so be mindful of that. Also be aware that

word count often does NOT include the

title page, abstract, references, or figures.

Does a 500 word essay have to be exactly 500 words?

500-word essays

do not have to be exactly

, but they should be as close as possible.

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).

What is the minimum word count for a book?

If you're writing your first novel, the general rule of thumb for novel writing is a word count in the 80,000 to 100,000 range. While anything over 40,000 words can fall into the novel category,

50,000

is considered the minimum novel length. Anything over 110,000 words is considered too long for a fiction novel.

Do acknowledgements count in word count?

Word counts

exclude

references, title page, acknowledgements, table of contents and the three project management forms. All other text is included in the word count, including the abstract, tables and the figure captions.

What is included in a paper word count?

Jun 03, 2021 25643. 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.

Is it possible to write 500 words in an hour?

Writing 500 words will take about 12.5 minutes for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 25 minutes for handwriting. However, if the content needs to include in-depth research, links, citations, or graphics such as for a blog article or high school essay, the length can grow to

1.7 hours

.

Do teachers actually check word count?


If written, they will actually count them

, looking for repetition. If submitted electronically, they can, among other things look at the properties of the essay, or they can simply highlight the whole document, which will also give you the number of words.

What is the trick to increase word count?

Read over your paper and look for any statements that seem long-winded or unclear.

Break apart long sentences or statements into multiple sentences

. Then, clarify your ideas in each sentence to help increase your word count. Add follow up statements so your ideas are specific and well rounded in the paper.

How many pages is 2000 words?

Answer: 2,000 words is

4 pages single-spaced or 8 pages double-spaced

. Documents that typically contain 2,000 words include college essays, operating manuals, and longer form blog posts. It will take approximately 7 minutes to read 2,000 words.

What words are not counted in word count?

Sometimes direct quotes are counted and sometimes not. 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.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.