What Words Are Excluded In A Word Count: Unveiling The Limits

What is excluded from word count in a sentence? Some elements that are not counted as words include symbols that incorporate numbers. For instance, when you write “55%,” it is considered one number, and the symbol “%” is not counted as a word. Conversely, if you express it as “55 percent,” it is regarded as both one word and one number. This distinction highlights that the inclusion of words like “percent” affects the word count, while symbols such as “%” do not contribute to the total word tally in a sentence.

“What Words to Omit in Your Essay: Enhancing Clarity and Academic Style”

When crafting an essay, it’s essential to maintain a certain level of formality and precision in your writing. To help you achieve this, it’s important to be aware of words and phrases that are best avoided in academic writing. Here’s a comprehensive list of over 20 words and expressions that you should steer clear of when composing your essay:

1. Contractions: Avoid using contractions like “can’t” or “don’t” and instead use their full forms, such as “cannot” or “do not.”

2. Idioms: Steer clear of idiomatic expressions, which can be confusing for readers who are not familiar with them.

3-5) “So on,” “etc,” “and so forth”: These vague phrases should be replaced with more specific language or omitted altogether to ensure clarity.

1. Clichés: Overused phrases like “in the nick of time” or “all in a day’s work” can weaken your essay’s impact and originality.

7-11) “Thing,” “stuff,” “good,” “bad,” “big”: Replace these generic terms with more precise vocabulary to convey your ideas effectively.

1. Slang, jargon, teen speak: Stay away from informal language or specialized terminology that might alienate your audience or undermine your essay’s professionalism.

2. Rhetorical questions: While rhetorical questions can be effective in some contexts, they should be used sparingly in academic writing.

14-17) “In terms of,” “needless to say,” “in conclusion,” “it goes without saying”: These phrases can make your writing sound redundant or overly formulaic.

By avoiding these words and phrases in your essay, you’ll be better equipped to communicate your ideas clearly and maintain a formal tone that aligns with academic writing standards. Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, and it’s always a good practice to review your essay for any additional words or expressions that may hinder your message’s effectiveness.

• 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)

• 1) Contractions. …
• 2) Idioms. …
• 3-5) “So on,” “etc,” “and so forth“ …
• 6) Clichés. …
• 7-11) “Thing,” “stuff,” “good,” “bad,” “big“ …
• 12) Slang, jargon, teen speak. …
• 13) Rhetorical questions. …
• 14-17) “In terms of,” “needless to say,” “in conclusion,” “it goes without saying“