The usual conventions
| Element | Typically counted? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main body text | Yes | |
| Headings and subheadings | Yes | Some courses exclude them |
| Direct quotations | Yes | Long block quotes count too |
| In-text citations, e.g. (Khan, 2020) | Yes | Footnote-style citations may not |
| Footnotes and endnotes | Varies | Content footnotes often count; check |
| Reference list or bibliography | No | |
| Title page and table of contents | No | |
| Abstract | Varies | Often excluded in theses, counted in some assignments |
| Appendices | No | Usually; if they contain analysis they may count |
| Tables and figures | Varies | Captions often count; table contents often do not |
This table is a guide to common practice. It is not a rule; ask your tutor or follow the handbook.
Citation styles and word counts
Author–date styles such as APA and Harvard put citations inside the text, so they add to the count. Numbered or footnote styles such as Vancouver and Chicago notes put citations outside the main text, so the body count is lower. If you can choose a style, the word-count rule may still apply uniformly; do not rely on the style to cut words.
How to measure what counts
In Word and Google Docs, select the portion that counts, from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion, and read the count for the selection; see How to Count Words in Microsoft Word and How to Count Words in Google Docs. Or paste only that portion into the Word Counter. For a section-by-section breakdown, use # headings in the Thesis Word Counter.
The 10 percent rule
Many institutions tolerate a 10 percent overrun without penalty; others apply none. Beyond the margin, marks are deducted or excess text is not marked. Never pad to the upper end; aim for the target and use the margin as a safety buffer. Ask in writing if the instruction is ambiguous, and keep the reply.
Journals and applications
Journals publish their own rules: main text only, sometimes including figure legends, with the abstract and references separate; see the Research Paper Word Counter and Abstract Word Counter. Application systems for personal statements may count characters; see the Personal Statement Word Counter. When the portal shows its own count, that is the number that matters.
Try it yourself
Put the numbers above to work with these free tools:
Frequently asked questions
Do footnotes count in the word limit?
It depends. Many courses count explanatory footnotes but not citations.
Does the title count?
Normally not.
Do quotes count?
Yes.
What if the brief does not say?
Ask. If you cannot, count body text, headings and quotations, and exclude the reference list.