Question 1

Does the word count include references and footnotes?

Accepted Answer

Whether references, footnotes and appendices count toward your word limit depends on your institution and specific assignment guidelines. Many universities exclude reference lists from the word count. Always check your assignment brief or module handbook for the exact rules.

Question 2

How close to the word limit should I be?

Accepted Answer

Most institutions allow 10% over or under the stated word limit without penalty. If your assignment says "2000 words," most marking schemes accept 1,800–2,200 words. Going significantly over or under the limit may affect your grade. Check your institution's policy.

Question 3

Why does my word count differ from my word processor?

Accepted Answer

Different tools count words slightly differently, particularly around hyphenated words, numbers and special characters. Paste your text here to see this tool's count. For official submissions, your institution's guidance may specify which tool to use for word counts.

Assignment Word Count Checker

Frequently Asked Questions

Assignment Word Count Checker

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tools