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The Best College Essay Length: How Long Should It Be?
College Essays
Figuring out your college essay can be one of the most difficult parts of applying to college. Even once you've read the prompt and picked a topic, you might wonder: if you write too much or too little, will you blow your chance of admission? How long should a college essay be?
Whether you're a terse writer or a loquacious one, we can advise you on college essay length. In this guide, we'll cover what the standard college essay length is, how much word limits matter, and what to do if you aren't sure how long a specific essay should be.
How Long Is a College Essay? First, Check the Word Limit
You might be used to turning in your writing assignments on a page-limit basis (for example, a 10-page paper). While some colleges provide page limits for their college essays, most use a word limit instead. This makes sure there's a standard length for all the essays that a college receives, regardless of formatting or font.
In the simplest terms, your college essay should be pretty close to, but not exceeding, the word limit in length. Think within 50 words as the lower bound, with the word limit as the upper bound. So for a 500-word limit essay, try to get somewhere between 450-500 words. If they give you a range, stay within that range.
College essay prompts usually provide the word limit right in the prompt or in the instructions.
For example, the University of Illinois says :
"You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program , and if you've selected a second choice . Each response should be approximately 150 words."
As exemplified by the University of Illinois, the shortest word limits for college essays are usually around 150 words (less than half a single-spaced page). Rarely will you see a word limit higher than around 650 words (over one single-spaced page). College essays are usually pretty short: between 150 and 650 words. Admissions officers have to read a lot of them, after all!
Weigh your words carefully, because they are limited!
How Flexible Is the Word Limit?
But how flexible is the word limit? What if your poignant anecdote is just 10 words too long—or 100 too short?
Can I Go Over the Word Limit?
If you are attaching a document and you need one or two extra words, you can probably get away with exceeding the word limit by such a small amount. Some colleges will actually tell you that exceeding the word limit by 1-2 words is fine. However, I advise against exceeding the word limit unless it's explicitly allowed for a few reasons:
First, you might not be able to. If you have to copy-paste it into a text box, your essay might get cut off and you'll have to trim it down anyway.
If you exceed the word limit in a noticeable way, the admissions counselor may just stop reading your essay past that point. This is not good for you.
Following directions is actually a very important part of the college application process. You need to follow directions to get your letters of recommendation, upload your essays, send supplemental materials, get your test scores sent, and so on and so forth. So it's just a good general rule to follow whatever instructions you've been given by the institution. Better safe than sorry!
Can I Go Under the Word Limit?
If you can truly get your point across well beneath the word limit, it's probably fine. Brevity is not necessarily a bad thing in writing just so long as you are clear, cogent, and communicate what you want to.
However, most college essays have pretty tight word limits anyways. So if you're writing 300 words for an essay with a 500-word limit, ask yourself: is there anything more you could say to elaborate on or support your points? Consult with a parent, friend, or teacher on where you could elaborate with more detail or expand your points.
Also, if the college gives you a word range, you absolutely need to at least hit the bottom end of the range. So if you get a range from the institution, like 400-500 words, you need to write at least 400 words. If you write less, it will come across like you have nothing to say, which is not an impression you want to give.
What If There Is No Word Limit?
Some colleges don't give you a word limit for one or more of your essay prompts. This can be a little stressful, but the prompts generally fall into a few categories:
Writing Sample
Some colleges don't provide a hard-and-fast word limit because they want a writing sample from one of your classes. In this case, a word limit would be very limiting to you in terms of which assignments you could select from.
For an example of this kind of prompt, check out essay Option B at Amherst :
"Submit a graded paper from your junior or senior year that best represents your writing skills and analytical abilities. We are particularly interested in your ability to construct a tightly reasoned, persuasive argument that calls upon literary, sociological or historical evidence. You should NOT submit a laboratory report, journal entry, creative writing sample or in-class essay."
While there is usually no word limit per se, colleges sometimes provide a general page guideline for writing samples. In the FAQ for Option B , Amherst clarifies, "There is no hard-and-fast rule for official page limit. Typically, we anticipate a paper of 4-5 pages will provide adequate length to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Somewhat longer papers can also be submitted, but in most cases should not exceed 8-10 pages."
So even though there's no word limit, they'd like somewhere in the 4-10 pages range. High school students are not usually writing papers that are longer than 10 pages anyways, so that isn't very limiting.
Implicit Length Guideline
Sometimes, while there's no word (or even page) limit, there's still an implicit length guideline. What do I mean by this?
See, for example, this Western Washington University prompt :
“Describe one or more activities you have been involved in that have been particularly meaningful. What does your involvement say about the communities, identities or causes that are important to you?”
While there’s no page or word limit listed here, further down on page the ‘essay tips’ section explains that “ most essay responses are about 500 words, ” though “this is only a recommendation, not a firm limit.” This gives you an idea of what’s reasonable. A little longer or shorter than 500 words would be appropriate here. That’s what I mean by an “implicit” word limit—there is a reasonable length you could go to within the boundaries of the prompt.
But what's the proper coffee-to-paragraph ratio?
Treasure Hunt
There is also the classic "treasure hunt" prompt. No, it's not a prompt about a treasure hunt. It's a prompt where there are no length guidelines given, but if you hunt around on the rest of the website you can find length guidelines.
For example, the University of Chicago provides seven "Extended Essay" prompts . You must write an essay in response to one prompt of your choosing, but nowhere on the page is there any guidance about word count or page limit.
However, many colleges provide additional details about their expectations for application materials, including essays, on FAQ pages, which is true of the University of Chicago. On the school’s admissions Frequently Asked Questions page , they provide the following length guidelines for the supplemental essays:
“We suggest that you note any word limits for Coalition or Common Application essays; however, there are no strict word limits on the UChicago Supplement essays. For the extended essay (where you choose one of several prompts), we suggest that you aim for around 650 words. While we won't, as a rule, stop reading after 650 words, we're only human and cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention indefinitely. For the “Why UChicago?” essay, we suggest about 250-500 words. The ideas in your writing matter more than the exact number of words you use!”
So there you go! You want to be (loosely) in the realm of 650 for the extended essay, and 250-500 words for the “Why UChicago?” essay.
Help! There Really Is No Guidance on Length
If you really can't find any length guidelines anywhere on the admissions website and you're at a loss, I advise calling the admissions office. They may not be able to give you an exact number (in fact, they probably won't), but they will probably at least be able to tell you how long most of the essays they see are. (And keep you from writing a panicked, 20-page dissertation about your relationship with your dog).
In general, 500 words or so is pretty safe for a college essay. It's a fairly standard word limit length, in fact. (And if you're wondering, that's about a page and a half double-spaced.) 500 words is long enough to develop a basic idea while still getting a point across quickly—important when admissions counselors have thousands of essays to read!
"See? It says 500 words right there in tiny font!"
The Final Word: How Long Should a College Essay Be?
The best college essay length is usually pretty straightforward: you want to be right under or at the provided word limit. If you go substantially past the word limit, you risk having your essay cut off by an online application form or having the admissions officer just not finish it. And if you're too far under the word limit, you may not be elaborating enough.
What if there is no word limit? Then how long should a college essay be? In general, around 500 words is a pretty safe approximate word amount for a college essay—it's one of the most common word limits, after all!
Here's guidance for special cases and hunting down word limits:
If it's a writing sample of your graded academic work, the length either doesn't matter or there should be some loose page guidelines.
There also may be implicit length guidelines. For example, if a prompt says to write three paragraphs, you'll know that writing six sentences is definitely too short, and two single-spaced pages is definitely too long.
You might not be able to find length guidelines in the prompt, but you could still hunt them up elsewhere on the website. Try checking FAQs or googling your chosen school name with "admissions essay word limit."
If there really is no word limit, you can call the school to try to get some guidance.
With this advice, you can be sure you've got the right college essay length on lockdown!
Hey, writing about yourself can even be fun!
What's Next?
Need to ask a teacher or friend for help with your essay? See our do's and dont's to getting college essay advice .
If you're lacking in essay inspiration, see our guide to brainstorming college essay ideas . And here's our guide to starting out your essay perfectly!
Looking for college essay examples? See 11 places to find college essay examples and 145 essay examples with analysis !
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Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.
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Home ➔ Essay Length Questions ➔ How Long Is a Short Essay?
How Long Is a Short Essay?
If you’re wondering how long a short essay should be in words or pages, you probably don’t have a specific length requirement. The words “short,” “brief,” “concise,” or “succinct” here can imply two things — based on what you’re supposed to write. It can be a usual essay they give in schools or a supplemental admissions response to a prompt. Let’s discuss the first case — the school assignment.
According to Janet D. Stemwedel, a philosophy professor at San Jose State University, the answer is:
A short essay is 500 words long , which is about two pages with double spacing and one page with single spacing.
That number is based on the assumption that you use Times New Roman font (12pt) with standard margins. Various formatting styles have different requirements for those elements. Hence, always check if you must adhere to a particular set of instructions before writing.
Let’s consider another example. Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences provides some short essay samples that are personal statements and application essays written by students who wanted to apply for various programs. After looking through them (link in the references section), you can see that all of them are pretty much the same — about 500 words. Within that limit, the applicants had to explain why they wanted to pursue their educational careers in that college.
As for a common short essay, it has a traditional structure: an opening (hook, thesis, etc.), a body section, and a conclusion. In 500 words, you can develop and present an idea adequately, which means your paper will consist of 3–5 paragraphs. That’s generally ample to give background information, incorporate one central point, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
5-Paragraph Short Essay
Usually, five paragraphs are an unspoken minimum for a short essay to accomplish its objectives. This number of sections allows you to introduce your topic or claim, discuss or prove it, and provide the reader with a rational conclusion.
Note: To find out more about the five-paragraph structure, see our article — How to Structure an Essay .
20-60-20 is the best ratio for each main element. Your opening and closing paragraphs should be about the same length. And, the largest chunk should be taken by three body paragraphs.
What About a Short Answer Essay?
You will typically have to write this as a brief supplemental essay when applying to college. It should be smaller than a normal brief essay with an average length of 150–250 words.
Often, you won’t find any precise requirements for short answer essays (like a clearly stated word limit). But, if you’re sending it online, the system won’t let you exceed the recommended number — you just won’t be able to submit it.
One paragraph is a standard length for your answer, and whoever is examining it should be able to read it in about sixty seconds. That’s why you need to make the most out of every word. If your answer is lacking in length, it won’t be meaningful, and if it’s longer, they may even skip reading it.
A “short” essay doesn’t imply worse quality or less effort. Conversely, you need to make every word count and pay special attention to grammar, style, punctuation, and tone.
If you’re allowed to write a 250-word answer, it means the school wants to know more about your personality. Be sure to make your writing compelling for that overworked admissions board officer who has already read hundreds of these answers.
What’s the most suitable length for a brief answer essay? Well, aim for 125–150 words if the instructions don’t implicitly say to write more. This range is enough to elaborate on one of the extracurricular activities or your personal experience.
When composing it, don’t overthink what to tell the board about — be yourself. The foremost goal of this small essay is to show who you truly are and what values you have. It’s easy to see when a person is dishonest. A story about volunteering will not necessarily have a stronger effect than a piece about your science fair project.
Differences Between a Short Essay and a Short Answer
The table below summarizes and compares a regular short essay and an application answer to a question.
Criteria | Short Essay | Short Answer |
---|---|---|
Target Audience | Usually, someone unfamiliar with the topic. | Admissions board officer or an expert in the subject. |
Length | 500–600 words or one double-spaced page | 150–250 words (one paragraph) |
Content | Focused on one particular issue. The data can be taken from different sources, but the author must show their analysis and understanding of the topic. | Succinct but engaging. Tells about one's personal experience or shows the author's expertise in a narrow field of knowledge. |
Format | Five paragraphs | One paragraph |
Final Tips on Succinct Essays
- Don’t overuse extensive quotes. First, such citations will take up lots of space in your essay, so might not have enough words left to write the actual piece. Express opinions of other people using your own words or use short quotes with further analysis.
- If you can pick the topic, don’t choose something that’s too broad — narrow it down so that you can write about adequately within the 500-word limit.
- Beware of plagiarism. Don’t disguise the viewpoints of others as your own. Besides getting a low grade, you also risk failing the entire course and being subjected to administrative penalties.
We hope now you have a better idea about short essays and their length. If you have more questions, try using our navigation or search bar.
A 5-paragraph structure would be the most common one for this word limit. Hence, to write a short essay, you can follow the guide we linked to earlier in the article. It describes in detail every step involved in essay writing, regardless of length.
It depends on your essay type. If you’re writing an admissions essay, they will give you one or several prompts. Otherwise, go for a topic the discussion of which can fit the word count.
When it comes to opinion pieces, the word “short” implies a broader range — somewhere between 200 and 2000 words. Some of the best short non-fiction essays are: “Phoning It In” by Stanley Bing, “Beer Can” by John Updike, “Of Revenge” by Francis Bacon, “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell, “Assassins of The Mind” by Christopher Hitchens, “A Dog’s Eye View of Man” by James Thurber.
The list of references
- Short Essay Guidelines — by Professor Stemwedel
- Short Essay Samples — Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
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How Long Is a Short Essay: How to Write a Short Essay
As a student, you have probably been in a position where you do not know how to write a specific essay given by your professor. Further, it can be pretty hectic if the deadline is fast approaching and you have not yet figured out how long the short essay needs to be.
You’re unsure how many paragraphs the short essay should have, how to write, and how many sentences this essay type has. Luckily we’ve done some research and compiled everything you need to know.
Here is how long a short essay is, plus other tips to help you create a good piece.
How Long Is a Short Essay
Generally, a short essay is a piece of writing typically between 300 and 500 words long, although it can go to 750 words. The length of the paper is dependent on the requirements of the assignment and its purpose.
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This means it will be two pages if double-spaced and one page if single-spaced, but all in Times Romans of 12pts font
Despite being short, there are no strict rules for the exact length. However, it should be written in simple language and contain only one main idea or argument developed in detail. It should also include several examples that support or illustrate the main idea and some key references and citations if needed.
Also see: Is it wrong to pay someone to write your essay?
In addition, it can also be as long as 1,000 words, but it’s unlikely that you’ll be asked to write an essay that long unless you are writing for a class in creative writing. For most college-level courses, you will be required to write shorter articles rather than longer ones. The length of an essay depends on your instructor’s preferences and what they expect from their students.
Overall, your instructor determines the length of your essay. They will ask you to stick with the 500 standard or go lower or exceed it.
How to Write a Short Essay
Short essays are brief, and their lengths are one of the challenges you will face because you have to balance each point, so you do not exceed the word count. However, here are some of the best tips on how to write a short essay;
Researching helps you gather the necessary information about your topic. You can use books, the internet, interviews, newspapers, or journals to get the information and data you need.
brainstorming helps you to refine your information. This is where you look at each piece of information and decide which to use because the essay cannot accommodate everything due to its length.
This step involves deciding how to arrange your essay. Generally, you will have an introduction, the body, and the conclusion.
The writing process involves developing the points into longer information. Depending on the length, each point can go into a separate paragraph so that readers aren’t confused.
The introduction will be a general overview of the piece and your thesis. The body includes every point you discuss, while the conclusion comprises a wrap-up of the entire essay.
As you write, ensure you use examples and evidence to support every claim and make your writing authoritative.
This is the last part of the writing process. It entails going over your writing to correct any mistakes. These errors may be grammatical, structure, and flow.
An important tip is to edit your work a day after writing, but if you are pressed for time, you can give yourself a few minutes before going back to edit your work.
Other tips that will help you in writing include;
- In the introduction, be specific, stay on point, and provide minimal contextual detail
- In the body, stay on topic and deal with points in their order of importance
- Remember to cite your sources where need be.
How Many Paragraphs in a Short Essay
The average length for a short essay is five to seven paragraphs long, comprising an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
In an academic setting, a paragraph is typically five to seven sentences long, but there are no hard rules about length. In general, shorter paragraphs are easier to read than longer ones, so keep them relatively short.
A good rule of thumb is that each paragraph should focus on one idea. This means that a reader will get one point in each paragraph. Following this procedure helps avoid confusing the readers.
How Many Sentences in a Short Essay
A short essay can have varying sentences, but typically it will have three to eight sentences per paragraph, with the entire paragraphs being five to seven.
However, the number of sentences depends on many factors, including the essay’s purpose and paragraph’s length.
The best way to determine how many sentences to include in your essay is to read other pieces written by experts or published online by reputable sources. This will give you an idea of how long an effective paragraph should be and how many paragraphs are necessary for each topic.
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How Long Should Your College Essay Be? What Is the Ideal Length?
What’s covered: , personal statement length vs. supplemental essay length, are college essay word limits hard, what if a college essay word count isn’t given, what if you need to submit a graded paper, where to get your essays edited.
Students often spend hours agonizing over the best topics for their college essays. While it’s natural to wonder whether your personal statement is original or compelling enough, there’s one aspect of the process that shouldn’t cause you undue stress—how many words should a college essay be? Fortunately, with a little research, you can uncover the ideal college essay length for all your applications.
Unlike high school assignments, which typically have a strict page requirement, most colleges provide a word limit or word range for their application essays. This practice helps ensure that essays are the same length regardless of font or formatting. A good guideline is that students should strive to get as close as possible to the upper limit of the word range without exceeding it. Keep reading to learn more about best practices for college essay length.
How many words should a college essay be? Personal statements are generally 500-650 words. For example, the Common Application , which can be used to apply to more than 800 colleges, requires an essay ranging from 250-650 words . Similarly, the Coalition Application , which has 150 member schools, features an essay with a recommended length of 500-650 words.
650 words is the most common limit for your personal statement, but some schools may ask students to write more or less. For example, ApplyTexas , a platform used to apply to Texas public universities and other select colleges, requests essays with requirements that vary by school. For example, students applying to UT Austin will need to submit an essay of 500-700 words, along with three short-answer questions of 250-300 words each.
On the other hand, the University of California (UC) application includes a Personal Insight section with eight prompts . Students are asked to respond to any four of these prompts, with each response topping out at 350 words.
Additionally, some schools request a few supplemental essays, which are typically shorter than a personal statement. These questions are designed to gain more information about a student’s interests and abilities, and may include topics like your reasons for wanting to attend their school, your desired major, or your favorite activity.
Most schools require 1-3 supplemental essays, though some may require more or none at all (see our list of top colleges without supplemental essays ). These essays tend to be around 250 words, but some may be just as long as your main essay. For example, Cornell requires applicants to write a second supplemental essay (of 650 words max) that is specific to the program they’re applying to. The exception to this is the Cornell College of Engineering, for which applicants are required to compose two supplemental essays of 250 words max each.
For best results, keep your essays within the word range provided. While you don’t have to hit the count exactly, you should aim to stay within a 10% difference of the upper limit—without including fluff or filler. For example, if the school requests 500 words, try to ensure that your essay is between 450 and 500 words.
For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn’t care enough to give your best effort. An essay shorter than 500 words won’t be long enough to truly share who you are and what matters to you.
Exceeding the word count isn’t an option—the application portal cuts off anything over the maximum number of allowed words. This is something you want to be particularly careful of if you’re drafting your essay in a Word or Google document and pasting it into the application.
Although most schools provide applicants with a specific word count, some offer more general guidelines. For example, a college may ask for a particular number of pages or paragraphs.
If you aren’t given a word count, try to adhere to the best practices and conventions of writing. Avoid writing especially short or overly long paragraphs—250 words per paragraph is generally a safe upper limit. If you’re asked to write a certain number of pages, single- or double-spaced, stick to a standard font and font size (like 12-point Times New Roman).
In the event that the college doesn’t offer any guidelines at all, aim for an essay length of around 500 words.
While essays are the most commonly requested writing sample, some colleges ask for additional pieces of content. For example, Princeton University requires students to submit a previously graded paper for evaluation .
Princeton offers guidelines that cover length, but if another school requests an old paper and doesn’t offer length requirements, a paper ranging from 3-5 pages should yield the best results. The goal is to select a paper long enough to showcase your writing skills and unique voice, but short enough that the admissions officer doesn’t get bored reading it.
Is your essay effective while staying within the required word count? It’s hard to evaluate your own writing, especially after rereading it numerous times. CollegeVine’s free Peer Essay Review provides an opportunity to have your essay reviewed by a fellow student, for free. Similarly, you can help other students by reviewing their essays—this is a great way to refine your own writing skills.
Expert advice is also available. CollegeVine’s advisors are prepared to help you perfect your personal statement and submit a successful application to your top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!
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How Long Should a College Essay Be? | Word Count Tips
Published on September 29, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on June 1, 2023.
Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit. If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.
You should aim to stay under the specified limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, if you write too little, it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a thoughtful and developed essay.
Table of contents
Word count guidelines for different application types, how to shorten your essay, how to expand your essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.
Each university has a different suggested or required word count depending on which application portal it uses.
Some application portals will allow you to exceed the word count limit, but admissions officers have limited time and energy to read longer essays. Other application portals have a strict limit and will not allow you to exceed it.
For example, in the Common App , the portal will not allow you to submit more than 650 words. Some colleges using the Common App will allow you to submit less than 250 words, but this is too short for a well-developed essay.
Application portal | Word count | Strict limit? |
---|---|---|
Common App | 250–650 | |
Coalition App | 500–650 | |
UC App | Four 350-word essays |
For scholarship essays , diversity essays , and “Why this college?” essays , word count limits vary. Make sure to verify and respect each prompt’s limit.
Don’t worry too much about word count until the revision stage ; focusing on word count while writing may hinder your creativity. Once you have finished a draft, you can start shortening or expanding your essay if necessary.
Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.
On some application portals, you can exceed the word limit, but there are good reasons to stay within it:
- To maintain the admissions officer’s attention
- To show you can follow directions
- To demonstrate you can write concisely
Here are some strategies for shortening your essay.
Stay on the main point
It’s good to use vivid imagery, but only include relevant details. Cut any sentences with tangents or unnecessary information.
My father taught me how to strategically hold the marshmallow pierced by a twig at a safe distance from the flames to make sure it didn’t get burned, ensuring a golden brown exterior.
Typically, my father is glued to his computer since he’s a software engineer at Microsoft. But that night, he was the marshmallow master. We waited together as the pillowy sugary goodness caramelized into gooey delight. Good example: Sticks to the point On our camping trip to Yosemite, my family spent time together, away from technology and routine responsibility.
My favorite part was roasting s’mores around the campfire. My father taught me how to hold the marshmallow at a safe distance from the flames, ensuring a golden brown exterior.
These college essay examples also demonstrate how you can cut your essay down to size.
Eliminate wordiness
Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay. If a word doesn’t add value, cut it.
Here are some common examples of wordiness and how to fix them.
Problem | Solution | |
---|---|---|
We had done a lot of advance planning for our science project. | We had done a lot of planning for our science project. | |
I didn’t know whether or not I should tell the truth. | I didn’t know whether I should tell the truth. | |
When I was a child, I came up with an imaginary friend named Roger to get away from my parents’ fighting. | When I was a child, I invented an imaginary friend named Roger to escape my parents’ fighting. | |
Unnecessary “of” phrases | The mother of my friend was Marissa, who was a member of our church. | My friend’s mother Marissa was a fellow church member. |
False subjects “There is/there are” | There are many large-scale farms in America, but there is a local sustainable farm preserved by my family. | America has many large-scale farms, but my family preserves a local sustainable one. |
Unnecessary qualifiers | I pretty much just wanted a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone from Baskin Robbins. | I wanted a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone from Baskin Robbins. |
Passive voice | Most of the German chocolate cake was eaten by me. | I ate most of the German chocolate cake. |
Unnecessary helping verbs | I am going to be attending my school’s annual carnival. | I will attend my school’s annual carnival. |
Use a paraphrasing tool
If you want to save time, you can make use of a paraphrasing tool . Within the tool you can select the “short” mode to rewrite your essay in less words. Just copy your text in the tool and within 1 click you’ll have shortened your essay.
If you’re significantly under the word count, you’re wasting the opportunity to show depth and authenticity in your essay. Admissions officers may see your short essay as a sign that you’re unable to write a detailed, insightful narrative about yourself.
Here are some strategies for expanding your essay.
Show detailed examples, and don’t tell generic stories
You should include detailed examples that can’t be replicated by another student. Use vivid imagery, the five senses, and specific objects to transport the reader into your story.
My mom cooks the best beef stew. | The sweet smell of caramelized onions and braised beef wafts from the kitchen. My mother attends to the stew as if it’s one of her patients at the hospital, checking every five to 10 minutes on its current state. |
The shepherd’s pie reminded me of familiar flavors. | Reminding me of the warm, comforting blanket from my childhood, the shepherd’s pie tasted like home. |
His hands were cracked and rough. | His hands were cracked and rough like alligator skin. |
Reveal your feelings and insight
If your essay lacks vulnerability or self-reflection, share your feelings and the lessons you’ve learned.
Be creative with how you express your feelings; rather than simply writing “I’m happy,” use memorable images to help the reader clearly visualize your happiness. Similarly, for insight, include the follow-up actions from your lessons learned; instead of claiming “I became a hard worker,” explain what difficult tasks you accomplished as a result of what you learned.
After my best friend Doug moved away, it was really hard. Before, we used to always talk about video games, barter snacks during lunch, and share secrets. But now, I’m solo. | Before my best friend Doug moved away, we used to do everything together. We would spend countless bus rides discussing and strategizing sessions. At lunch break, we would barter Oreos and Cheez-Its while confiding in each other about whom we wanted to ask to the school dance. But now, I’m Solo, like Han without Chewbacca. |
My mother’s death was difficult. My father’s grief made it difficult for him to take care of me and my brothers, so I took care of them. | After my mom passed, my grief was overwhelming, but my father’s was even deeper. At 13, I cooked, cleaned, and took care of my two younger brothers. Although the household responsibilities were tiring, I liked一and needed一the stability and purpose I derived from the new routine. |
If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Academic writing
- Writing process
- Transition words
- Passive voice
- Paraphrasing
Communication
- How to end an email
- Ms, mrs, miss
- How to start an email
- I hope this email finds you well
- Hope you are doing well
Parts of speech
- Personal pronouns
- Conjunctions
Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.
You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.
If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.
If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.
If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay.
You can speed up this process by shortening and smoothing your writing with a paraphrasing tool . After that, you can use the summarizer to shorten it even more.
There is no set number of paragraphs in a college admissions essay . College admissions essays can diverge from the traditional five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in English class. Just make sure to stay under the specified word count .
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What Is Short Essay Format?
Steps to writing a short essay, components of a short essay, six tips for successful short essay writing, how to write a short essay: step-by-step guide with useful tips.
Have you ever faced the daunting task of conveying a complex idea or argument in just a few hundred words? In academic and professional contexts, the ability to articulate thoughts succinctly is invaluable.
A short essay demands this very skill: to be clear, concise, and compelling, all within a limited word count.
This guide is designed to unlock the secrets of effective short essay writing. From understanding the format and components to mastering the writing process, this article will provide you with the tools needed for crafting essays that are both impactful and succinct.
A short essay typically ranges from 200 to 500 words, roughly equivalent to one single-spaced page or two double-spaced pages. Despite its brevity, a short essay must still fulfill the same requirements as a longer essay, including an introduction, a coherent structure, a body of several paragraphs, and a conclusion.
The key challenge is to present a complete argument or narrative within a compact framework. Understanding this format is crucial, as it shapes how you'll approach the writing process, ensuring you deliver your message clearly and effectively without veering off into unnecessary details.
Understanding the Prompt
The first step to writing an effective short essay is to fully understand the prompt. Take the time to read it carefully, identifying key words and what is being asked of you.
Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if anything seems ambiguous. A clear understanding of the task at hand is fundamental to choosing the right direction for your essay.
Research and Notes
Even for a short essay, research is vital. It helps to back up your points with facts, making your argument more credible. However, given the brevity required, your research must be focused and relevant.
As you research, take concise notes to help you remember key points and where you found them. This step ensures you have enough material to support your thesis without overwhelming the essay with unnecessary information.
Outline Creation
Creating an outline is your roadmap through the writing process. Begin with your thesis statement at the top, followed by bullet points for your introduction, each body paragraph, and conclusion.
Each body paragraph should have its main idea or argument, along with evidence to support it. With a short essay, being concise in your outline will help ensure you stay within the word limit.
Writing the Draft
With your outline in hand, begin drafting your essay. Aim to write clearly and directly, staying focused on your thesis and supporting points.
Each sentence should serve a purpose, whether it's introducing a point, providing evidence, or linking ideas together. Since the essay is short, avoid diverging into tangential subjects.
Revising and Editing
Revising and editing are where your essay truly takes shape. Initially, focus on the structure and flow of your essay—does each paragraph smoothly transition to the next? Is your argument or narrative clear?
Afterward, concentrate on word choice, grammar, and spelling. Be ruthless in cutting out unnecessary words or phrases to meet the word count, and ensure every sentence adds value to your essay.
A short essay, while concise, must still include the fundamental elements that constitute any effective essay. These components ensure that your essay has a clear message and structure.
Introduction
The introduction sets the stage for your entire essay. It starts with a hook that grabs the reader's attention—a question, a bold statement, or an interesting fact. Then, it narrows down to your thesis statement, which is the essence of your argument or main point. The thesis should be clear, concise, and reflective of the essay's content.
Body Paragraphs
The body of your short essay is where you develop your argument or narrative. Despite the limited length, strive to include at least two to three paragraphs, each dedicated to a specific point or piece of evidence supporting your thesis.
Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that signals the main idea of the paragraph. Follow this with evidence or examples, and conclude each paragraph by linking the point back to your thesis statement.
The conclusion is your opportunity to wrap up your essay by summarizing the main points and restating the thesis in light of the evidence you've presented. It should bring closure to your argument or narrative.
A powerful conclusion also leaves the reader with something to think about, extending the impact of your essay beyond its final word.
Writing a compelling short essay is an art form. Here are six tips to help you refine your craft:
- Stick to the Point : In a short essay, there's no room for meandering. Every sentence should serve a direct purpose. Avoid digressions or overly complex explanations that could distract from your main points.
- Be Concise : Wordiness can dilute the strength of your argument. Use clear and straightforward language, and choose words that convey your meaning effectively without adding unnecessary length.
- Use Simple Language : Complex vocabulary doesn't necessarily equate to a better essay. It's more important that your ideas are clearly communicated. Simple, clear language ensures that your reader understands your argument and evidence.
- Strong Introduction and Conclusion : These parts of your essay leave the most lasting impression. Spend extra time refining your introduction and conclusion to ensure they are impactful and concise.
- Edit Ruthlessly : Be prepared to cut out portions of your essay in the editing phase, even if you're attached to them. If a sentence or paragraph doesn't contribute directly to your thesis, it's likely a candidate for removal.
- Seek Feedback : Don't underestimate the value of outside perspectives. Share your drafts with peers, mentors, or instructors who can offer constructive feedback. Fresh eyes can catch issues you might overlook and suggest improvements to enhance your essay's clarity and persuasiveness.
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How Long Is an Essay? The Ultimate Essay Length Guide
It’s safe to say that most students struggle with the word limit within an essay. Sometimes, it’s hard to find ideas for a text and meet the word requirement for every part of the paper. With so many factors influencing essay length, it’s easy to get confused.
Luckily, our custom-writing team has your back. In this article, our custom-writing experts will answer all your questions regarding essay length. We will also help you write papers with an ideal number of words!
📜 Is Essay Length Important?
📏 essay parts: recommended length.
- 🤔 How to Make Essays Shorter or Longer
- 📑 Essay Length & Formatting
- ❓ Different Academic Levels FAQ
- 📚 Essay Length: Different Types
- ⭐ Other Aspects
- 📝 Essay Examples
🔍 References
Often, the phrase “word limit” causes panic among students. After all, if an essay is too long or too short, your grade will be lowered. However, in reality, there’s nothing to worry about. When it comes to words, limitations are beneficial for both the students and the professors.
Let’s see what exactly it means.
Many people believe that the longer an essay is, the better. However, according to Frontiers, research shows that it’s a bias that couldn’t be further from the truth. A perfect-length paper is one that allows students to express their ideas and showcase their knowledge fully while keeping it clean and simple.
What Influences Essay Length
Various factors determine the length of an essay. Here are the most important ones:
Some themes may require more explanations and supporting ideas to prove a point or convey a message to the reader. | |
For instance, if your topic is related to literature, you might need more words and descriptions to get the point across. Subjects such as science or management typically require shorter papers. | |
Usually, the more advanced the students are, the more complex their papers get. For example, high school essays differ from ones for college and university in terms of length and presentation. | |
Students may be asked to write various types of essays—such as short, extended, narrative, or persuasive—throughout their careers. The essay’s type reflects in both its outline and length. |
Let’s start with the essentials. Usually, assignment length is given as a number of words rather than pages. Unless your supervisor or instructor mentions any specific limitations, it’s acceptable to be 10% below or above the word limit.
It’s also worth knowing the 80/20 rule . According to it, the body should constitute 80% of the text, while the intro and the conclusion take up the remaining 20%.
Keep reading to learn more about the recommended length of each essay part. The main numbers are shown in the table below:
3-5 sentences (50-80 words) | |
5-8 sentences (80-200 words) | |
3-5 paragraphs | |
3-5 sentences (50-80 words) |
How Long Should an Introduction Be?
An introduction is the first section and the face of your essay. For that reason, it needs to be compelling and well-thought-out. Usually, it consists of 3 to 5 sentences or 50 to 80 words .
An introduction must have a hook, some background information, and a thesis statement. While the attention grabber and the thesis are usually brief, you may need 2 to 3 sentences for the background. To avoid going overboard, try to stay on topic and don’t add any filler.
How Long Is a Body Paragraph in an Essay?
The length of a body paragraph may vary. Sometimes, it can be limited to a single sentence. In other cases, it may take up a whole page. Usually, it’s recommended to have between 80 and 200 words (5-8 sentences) per body paragraph.
Since the paper’s body contains the most information, it’s necessary to explain and support your ideas properly. That’s why it’s no big deal if your body paragraphs go slightly over the word limit.
How Many Body Paragraphs Should Be in an Essay?
Like the word count, the number of paragraphs is determined by the type of paper and its topic. The minimum is 1. Generally, however, the body consists of 3-5 paragraphs , 1 for each argument.
To improve your paper’s structure, ensure that there are as many paragraphs as there are points in your thesis statement. Each one should have a purpose and support your arguments. If there’s any fluff, it’s better to get rid of it.
How Long Should a Conclusion Be?
Like the introduction, the conclusion consists of 50-80 words . It’s essential to keep it simple and only mention the central ideas. A weak concluding sentence may affect the reader’s understanding of the topic and spoil the overall impression of your paper.
🤔 How to Make Essays Shorter or Longer: Best Tips
Undoubtedly the essay’s content is more important than the number of words you use. But there are times when students go more than 10-15% below or over the limit. Is there a solution to this problem?
Yes, there is! In this section, we will share the most useful tips to help you stay on point with your paper’s word count.
How to Make Essays Longer
Since having enough words is essential for a good grade, we’ve collected the best tips that can help you lengthen your essay without teachers noticing:
- Use relevant quotations. You don’t need to litter your essay with citations, but using them whenever appropriate is a great idea. For instance, if you’re working on a book analysis, referencing a couple of direct quotes from the source text will make your essay more credible and increase the word count.
Original | Revision |
---|---|
In Indian culture, hair symbolizes self-respect, a sense of belonging, and pride. | In Indian culture, hair symbolized self-respect, a sense of belonging, and pride: ”Our mothers had taught us that only unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy.” |
- Give examples. Go through the claims in your paper and provide additional evidence where possible. It will make your essay longer and more informative.
Original | Revision |
---|---|
Directors considered the dark side of speed, driving, mobility, and all the other icons associated with the road. | Directors considered the dark side of speed, driving, mobility, and all the other icons associated with the road. Some well-known examples are movies such as (1969), (1963), and (1963-64). |
- Use transitional expressions. Adding transition words and phrases is a natural way of increasing the number of words. It will also improve your essay’s readability.
Original | Revision |
---|---|
The book’s author believes this is just a general misconception. | However, the book’s author believes this is just a general misconception. |
- Add more references. Providing references is always a good idea when writing a formal essay. That way, you will increase the number of words and make your paper more credible.
Original | Revision |
---|---|
It is believed that writing, reading, or reciting poetry positively affects our psychological well-being. | According to another article published in the in 2014, the practice of writing, reading, or reciting poetry positively affects our psychological well-being. |
- Work on your descriptions. If you struggle to develop new ideas, go over what you’ve already written and consider adding some descriptive words. It’s a great idea for creative essays to include more imagery.
Original | Revision |
---|---|
They believe that language is more than a communication tool and should be introduced in a playful way for most effectiveness. | They believe that language is more than a simple day-to-day communication tool and that it should be introduced in a pleasurable and playful way for the most effectiveness. |
How to Shorten an Essay
Another struggle of academic writing is cutting down the number of words in your essay to meet a set limit. We are here to tell you that it’s not that hard. Writing straightforwardly and keeping your sentences short is a key to concise content. Here are several strategies you may use to tighten a lengthy essay:
- Choose the active voice. It takes up less space than passive voice. Using it also makes your writing more professional and compelling.
Original | Revision |
---|---|
The research was conducted by . | conducted the research. |
- Remove needless transitions. Transitions can indeed maintain the flow of the paper. But some transitional phrases can be easily removed.
Original | Revision |
---|---|
Furthermore, it has been discovered that children who play violin have stronger visual and verbal pattern abilities. | Discoveries show that children who play violin have stronger visual and verbal pattern abilities. |
- Get rid of unnecessary adverbs and adjectives. Some students tend to overuse adjectives and adverbs. It adds wordiness to their writing.
Original | Revision |
---|---|
The whole article focuses on the mechanics of easily managing fear itself. | The article focuses on the mechanics of managing fear itself. |
- Avoid running starts. Some students like to start their sentences with long phrases like: “there are,” “it is believed,” or “the fact that.” Getting rid of them makes texts much more concise.
Original | Revision |
---|---|
The fact that the dialogue contains some Shakespearean elements emphasizes the protagonist’s longing for his lover. | Shakespearean elements in the dialogue emphasize the protagonist’s longing for his lover. |
- Delete “that.” In most cases, the word “that” can often be easily removed from texts.
Original | Revision |
---|---|
The idea that was expressed in the novel translated well into the live-action movie. | The idea expressed in the book translated well into the live-action movie. |
Another cool trick is to use our summarizing tool as essay shortener. Try it out!
📑 How Long Is an Essay Depending on Formatting?
As we mentioned earlier, the essay’s length is usually limited by the number of words. But sometimes, a teacher may ask you to write a specific number of pages. This is trickier because the amount of text you can place on the page depends on the formatting. By using the font size and spacing properly, it’s possible to make the paper visually longer or shorter. Let’s discuss it in more detail.
Essay Spacing: How Does It Affect the Length?
- Adjusting the spacing between lines. Try to make the changes as slight as possible. For instance, if you were asked to double-space the paper, use 2.1 or 2.2 spacing instead. Another option is to slightly extend spaces between paragraphs.
- Extending the margin size. You can increase the right and bottom margins by a quarter to make very subtle changes in length. For example, if the margins are 1 inch , you can set them at 1.25 inches instead.
- Increasing the spacing between characters. It is less noticeable than the line spacing. Still, try not to overdo it and keep the numbers between 1.2 and 1.5 .
- Adjusting the footer. Add a footer with page numbers to stretch the bottom margin even further.
- Lengthening the header. You can extend your header by adding your name, e-mail address, or other relevant information. Another option is double-spacing it.
Length of an Essay: Font and Size
- Using the right type of font. If your instructor didn’t specify which font you should use, go for the bigger ones. We suggest Arial, Bangla Sangam MN, Cambria, or Quicksand. They will make your text look longer without being too on the nose.
- Using a bigger font size. This is another technique that can come in handy. However, be careful and don’t increase your font by more than 0.1-0.5 pt.
- Increasing the size of periods and commas. This is one of the less noticeable tricks you can use. For instance, if your paper’s font is 12 pt. , increase it to 14 pt. only for punctuation marks. Italicizing periods and commas will also add several lines of length to your essay.
What to Do if There Are No Length Guidelines
Sometimes a teacher sets no word limit for a written work. What to do in that case? Well, first, you can ask your professor to confirm if they have simply forgotten to mention it. But if that’s not the case, here are a couple of helpful solutions:
- Think of the paragraph number. Sometimes, you may be given the number of paragraphs instead of words. In that case, you can decide on the number of words depending on how many paragraphs you have.
- Think about the topic’s complexity. The length of your paper is also directly dependent on the theme. If the topic is simple, 4-5 paragraphs will be enough. A more complex issue may require an in-depth explanation, so your essay can be 6-8 paragraphs long.
❓ Essay Length for Different Academic Levels FAQ
The length of the elementary school essay is usually short. Usually, a paper needs to have around 3-5 paragraphs, with 4-5 sentences per paragraph. Primary school essays can be 1-2 paragraphs long.
The word limit for a middle school essay is usually between 300 to 1000 words. The most common essay length is 500 words, which is about 5 paragraphs. However, it may differ from school to school.
The length of the high school essay may differ depending on the school and the complexity of the task itself. Usually, however, a paper can be between 300 to 1000 words long.
The length of the undergraduate college essay often falls within the range of 1500 to 2100 words. It translates into roughly 5-7 pages. 5 pages is the most common essay length at this level.
When it comes to the graduate school admission essay, the word limit is usually between 500 and 1000 words. It’s possible to go slightly over or below the set limit; however, it’s best to stick to the requirements as close as possible.
📚 How Long Should an Essay Be: Different Types
Now, let’s talk about different types of essays. How long should they be? Keep reading to learn about the length of college essays, short and extended ones, scholarship essays, and research papers.
How Long Is a College Essay?
When it comes to a college essay, it’s more important to stick to the word limit than with any other paper. Some teachers may refuse to read it unless it meets all the requirements.
The shortest limit for a college essay is about 250 words which is the shortest length of a Common App personal statement. It’s also rare to see a good college essay with over 650 words . So, an average piece usually has between 150 and 650 words ; you can go over or below the limit by 50.
How Long Is a Paragraph in College Essays?
A college essay usually consists of 4-5 paragraphs . One paragraph takes about 1/3 of the page, which is roughly 5 sentences . Each sentence corresponds with one of the following components:
- Topic sentence.
- Explanation.
- Transitions.
College Essay Length Requirements: Top 5 Schools
To understand the requirements for a college application essay even better, take a look at the table below. It showcases the top 5 schools and their length criteria for personal statements. Keep it in mind when writing your college essay:
HBS essay length | 900-word limit |
UC essay length | 350-word limit |
Chicago Booth essay length | 300-word limit |
UChicago essay length | 650 suggested word limit |
AMCAS essay length | 5300 characters (spaces included) |
How Long Is a Short Essay?
A short essay is usually 500 words long. Using 12pt Times New Roman font with standard margins and double spacing should result in about 2 pages of text.
Extended Essay Length
An extended essay is different from a short or a standard one. It requires extensive research and thorough explanation. That’s why the upper limit for this kind of essay is 4000 words . In this case, a typical essay length is 3500 words or 18 paragraphs .
Scholarship Essay Length
Generally, scholarship papers have a limit of 500 words , which is 1 page in length. Most scholarship programs provide additional requirements that indicate the minimum number of words or pages. If there are no set limitations, you can stick to the limit.
How Long Is a Research Paper?
Typically, a research paper is between 4000 and 6000 words long. Sometimes, there are shorter papers, which have around 2000 words, or in-depth ones with over 10000 words.
⭐ Other Aspects of Essay Length
When it comes to essay length, many different aspects come into play. Here, we’ve gathered all the essential information regarding an essay’s number of pages, paragraphs, words, and references.
How Many Paragraphs Are in an Essay?
Sometimes, it is more convenient to count paragraphs rather than words. Let’s now figure out how many paragraphs are in essays of different lengths. You may also check out the examples to see what such an essay looks like:
Words | Paragraphs | Example |
---|---|---|
250-word essay length | 4 | |
300-word essay length | 4-5 | |
500-word essay length | 6 | Water Cooling Tower Construction Site’s Problems |
600-word essay length | 7 | |
800-word essay length | 8-9 | |
1000-word essay length | 10 | |
2000-word essay length | 18-19 |
How to Count Paragraphs in an Essay Based on Word Count
You can also count the number of body paragraphs for your essay using the formula below:
Number of body paragraphs (average) = (TWC – TWC*0.16)/100
- TWC – total word count
- 0.16 – an average percentage of total word count for introduction and conclusion
- 100 – an average number of words per paragraph
How Many Pages Are in an Essay?
The number of pages in your essay may vary from subject to subject. But it’s still possible to determine the number of pages based on word count. Check out the numbers below to see the conversions with bonus examples:
Pages (Double-spaced) | Example | |
---|---|---|
How many pages is a 200-word essay? | 1 | Food Safety: A Policy Issue in Agriculture Today |
How many pages is a 250-word essay? | 1 | |
How many pages is a 300-word essay? | 1 | The Major Causes of the Great Depression |
How many pages is a 400-word essay? | 1,5 | |
How many pages is a 500-word essay? | 2 | |
How many pages is a 600-word essay? | 2 | Single-Parent Families: Source Analysis |
How many pages is a 700-word essay? | 2,5 | CytoGainer Overview: Purpose and Results |
How many pages is a 750-word essay? | 3 | Modeling Sustainable Food Systems |
How many pages is a 800-word essay? | 3 | |
How many pages is a 900-word essay? | 3,5 | |
How many pages is a 1000-word essay? | 4 | |
How many pages is a 1500-word essay? | 6 | |
How many pages is a 2000-word essay? | 8 | Advocacy Campaign: the Problem of Childhood Obesity |
You can also use a specialized calculator such as Word Counter to determine a number of pages in your essay.
What Does an Essay Look Like when Typed?
You might be wondering: what do essays of different lengths look like when typed? Well, here’s the table where you can find out the metrics for single- and double-spaced papers.
Single-spaced | Double-spaced | Example | |
---|---|---|---|
What does a 200-word essay look like? | 0,5 pages | 1 page | How Hate Took Hold of Him: Parrish Reflection |
What does a 250-word essay look like? | 0,5 pages | 1 page | What Social Factors Prevent Adolescents to Acquire Appropriate Education in Their Later Life |
What does a 300-word essay look like? | 0,5 pages | 1 page | “Racial Inequality, at College and in the Workplace” by Johnson |
What does a 500-word essay look like? | 1 page | 2 pages | |
What does a 600-word essay look like? | 1 page | 2 pages | “8 Million Have Slipped Into Poverty Since May as Federal Aid Has Dried Up” by Jason DeParle |
What does a 750-word essay look like? | 1,5 pages | 3 pages | Methods for Avoiding Relapse |
What does a 1000-word essay look like? | 2 pages | 4 pages | Heroin Distribution and Its Use Within the United States |
What does a 2000-word essay look like? | 4 pages | 8 pages |
How Many Pages Are in a Handwritten Essay?
In case you need to turn in a handwritten paper, you should check out the table below.
How many pages is 150 words handwritten? | 0,5 |
How many pages is 200 words handwritten? | 1 |
How many pages is 250 words handwritten? | 1 |
How many pages is 300 words handwritten? | 1,25 |
How many pages is 350 words handwritten? | 1,5 |
How many pages is 400 words handwritten? | 1,5-2 |
How many pages is 500 words handwritten? | 2 |
How many pages is 600 words handwritten? | 2 |
How many pages is 700 words handwritten? | 2,5 |
How many pages is 800 words handwritten? | 3 |
How many pages is 1000 words handwritten? | 4 |
Counting Words in a Handwritten Essay
If you don’t have enough time to count the words in your handwritten essay one by one, here’s what you can do:
- Count how many words there are in one line. Take the first and last lines and a line in the middle of a page. Let’s say there are 15, 14, and 15 words in them. Then, the average number of words per line is 15.
- Next, count how many lines there are on one page. Let’s say there are 17 lines on a page.
- Take the number of words per line and multiply it by the number of lines per page. In our case, we multiply 15 by 17. So, there are 255 words per page on average.
- Finally, multiply the number of words per page by the number of pages. If your essay has 3 pages, it is approximately 765 words long.
How Long Does it Take to Write an Essay?
It is crucial to know how long writing will take you, especially if you are working on an exam essay or just short on time. Note that you need to consider the time for typing and researching necessary to complete a piece. Research time may vary. Usually, it’s 1-2 hours for 200-250 words .
Below, we’ve gathered the average writing time for average and slower writing speed:
Time (Slow) | Time (Average) | |
---|---|---|
How long does it take to write 250 words? | 50 min | 6.3 min |
How long does it take to write 300 words? | 60 min | 7.5 min |
How long does it take to write 500 words? | 100 min | 12.5 min |
How long does it take to write 750 words? | 150 min | 18.8 min |
How long does it take to write 800 words? | 160 min | 20 min |
How long does it take to write 1000 words? | 200 min | 25 min |
How long does it take to write 1200 words? | 240 min | 30 min |
How long does it take to write 1500 words? | 300 min | 37.5 min |
How long does it take to write a 2000-word essay? | 400 min | 50 min |
And here are the results in pages:
Time (Slow) | Time (Average) | |
---|---|---|
How long does it take to write a 2-page paper? | 200 min | 25 min |
How long does it take to write a 3-page paper? | 300 min | 37.5 min |
How long does it take to write a 4-page paper? | 400 min | 50 min |
How long does it take to write a 5-page paper? | 500 min | 62.5 min |
How long does it take to write a 6-page paper? | 600 min | 75 min |
How long does it take to write a 7-page paper? | 700 min | 87.5 min |
How Many References Does an Essay Need?
Another essential part of any composition is the reference list. Different academic levels require different references. You’ll find out how many of them should be in your paper in the table below!
School | College | Bachelor | Master | Ph.D. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
How many references in a 200-word essay | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
How many references for a 500-word essay | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
How many references for a 1000-word essay | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 |
How many references for a 1200-word essay | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 |
How many references in a 1500-word essay | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 36 |
How many references for a 2000-word essay | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 | 48 |
How many references for a 4000-word essay | 32 | 48 | 64 | 80 | 96 |
How many references for a 5000-word essay | 40 | 60 | 80 | 100 | 120 |
📝 Essay Examples: Different Length
Finally, we’ve gathered some excellent sample essays of different lengths. Make sure to check them out!
200-word essay example | |
300-word essay example | Modifications of the Nomi Move |
400-word essay example | |
500-word essay example | |
600-word essay example | |
700-word essay example | Ethics, CSR, and Ignatian Values |
800-word essay example | |
900-word essay example | |
1000-word essay example | |
1500-word essay example | |
2000-word essay example | Research Critique: The Importance of Relationships in Mental Care |
3000-word essay example | |
4000-word essay example |
We also recommend you check out our free essay samples sorted by pages:
- 1-Page Essay Examples
- 2-Page Essay Examples
- 3-Page Essay Examples
- 4-Page Essay Examples
- 5-Page Essay Examples
- 10-Page Essay Examples
- 20-Page Essay Examples
- 30-Page Essay Examples
- 40-Page Essay Examples
- 50-Page Essay Examples
Now you know all about essay length, word limits, and ways to lengthen or shorten your text. If you know other interesting tricks, make sure to share them in a comment! Good luck with your writing assignments!
You may also like:
- How to Write a Process Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline
- How to Write a Precis: Definition, Guide, & Examples
- How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay: Examples & Guide
- How to Write a Narrative Essay Outline: Template & Examples
- How to Write a Formal Essay: Format, Rules, & Example
- Word Limits and Assignment Length: Massey University
- The Paragraph in the College Essay: California State University, Long Beach
- Introductions & Conclusions: The University of Arizona Global Campus
- How Long Should a Paragraph Be?: Daily Writing Tips
- Paragraphing (Length Consistency): Purdue University
- Hitting the Target Word Count in Your College Admission Essay: Dummies.com
- How Long Should Your College Essay Be? What is the Ideal Length?: College Vine
- Writing Personal Statements Online: Issues of Length and Form: Penn State University
- Pen Admissions: Essays: University of Pennsylvania
- Essay Questions: University of Michigan
- Essay Structure: Harvard University
- Components of a Good Essay: University of Evansville
- Write Your Essay: UNSW Sydney
- College Writing: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- 21 Helpful and Easy Tips to Make an Essay Longer: Seventeen
- How to Make a College Paper Longer: ThoughtCo
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How long should a college essay be? Whether you're a terse writer or a loquacious one, we can advise you on college essay length. In this guide, we'll cover what the standard college essay length is, how much word limits matter, and what to do if you aren't sure how long a specific essay should be.
There is no universal answer to what a short essay length is, but teachers generally assign short essays in the 250- to 750-word range, and occasionally up to 1,000 words. Just because the essays are short doesn’t mean the subjects must be simple.
A short essay is 500 words long, which is about two pages with double spacing and one page with single spacing. That number is based on the assumption that you use Times New Roman font (12pt) with standard margins. Various formatting styles have different requirements for those elements.
Table of Contents. How Long Is a Short Essay. How to Write a Short Essay. Research. Brainstorm. Outline. Write. Editing. How Many Paragraphs in a Short Essay. How Many Sentences in a Short Essay. As a student, you have probably been in a position where you do not know how to write a specific essay given by your professor.
A short essay will need a focused, specific topic and a clear, straightforward line of argument. A longer essay should still be focused, but it might call for a broader approach to the topic or a more complex, ambitious argument.
Avoid writing especially short or overly long paragraphs—250 words per paragraph is generally a safe upper limit. If you’re asked to write a certain number of pages, single- or double-spaced, stick to a standard font and font size (like 12-point Times New Roman).
Published on September 29, 2021 by Kirsten Courault. Revised on June 1, 2023. Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit. If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.
Some expect one longer essay, while others expect responses to multiple prompts using a shorter word count for each answer. However, that’s not always the case. If your institution doesn’t provide a specific word count, it’s best to keep your essay between the length established by the longer college admissions essay format: 250 to 650 words.
A short essay typically ranges from 200 to 500 words, roughly equivalent to one single-spaced page or two double-spaced pages. Despite its brevity, a short essay must still fulfill the same requirements as a longer essay, including an introduction, a coherent structure, a body of several paragraphs, and a conclusion.
How Long Is a Short Essay? A short essay is usually 500 words long. Using 12pt Times New Roman font with standard margins and double spacing should result in about 2 pages of text.