Guides
Practical, in-depth guides on speech writing, word counts, reading time and character limits. Each one explains the topic in full and links to the free tools that put it into practice.
How to Write a Speech That Fits the Time
A practical guide to writing a speech that fits its time slot: how many words per minute, how to structure it, typical lengths by occasion, and how to rehearse.
Word Count Guide: How Many Words Should You Write?
How many words should you write? A reference for essays, cover letters, blog posts, reports, dissertations and books, why each convention exists, and how words map to pages.
How Long Does It Take to Read? Reading Time and Speed Explained
How reading time is calculated, the science behind reading speed, how long it takes to read 500 to 10,000 words, and why publishers show a reading-time estimate.
Social Media Character Limits: The Complete Guide
Up-to-date character limits for X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and more, where text gets cut off, why the limits exist, and how to write within them.
How to Clean Up AI-Generated Text
Make AI writing sound human. The em dashes, stock phrases and assistant leftovers that give ChatGPT text away, with clean before-and-after examples and a fast workflow.
How Long Should a Resume Be?
How long a resume should be: one page for most people, two for senior roles, and the word count to aim for. Plus when a CV is different and how to cut to one page.
How to Write a Wedding Speech
How to write a wedding speech that lands: the right length, a simple structure that works, what to include by role, and the mistakes to avoid on the day.
How Long Should an Essay Be?
How long an essay should be: word counts for the five-paragraph essay, college application essays, university essays and dissertations, plus what counts toward the limit.