How to Manage Word Counts

1. Less is More: How to Manage Word Counts Certain rules apply to all written content. One such rule is the word count, which, as all editing services and proofreading services will tell you, is perhaps the most crucial aspect. Write within your word limit, and you are far more likely to share your message clearly and concisely. This is certainly true of content destined for publication: magazine and newspaper articles, for example, are often edited to ensure they fit their allotted space on a page or spread. Thus, it always pays to write with such a limitation in mind: salient points may be removed if the writer provides too much copy. As always, writers could consider employing editing services or proofreading services to review their work. Editors strive to improve flow and rhythm, which often means removing extraneous material so that only the most pertinent aspects remain. What is a word count? The word count is the required, or at least recommended, number of words in a piece of writing. The count is outlined in the style guide and can vary from single digits to tens of thousands.

2. Clarity Content must be clear. A good rule of thumb is to apply an approach used in journalism: make the content accessible to as many readers as possible without dumbing down the material for a more knowledgeable audience. A set word count is helpful because it forces the writer to focus. Wordy content often helps nobody because it lacks direction and buries the most relevant elements in a sludgy mess of half-baked ideas. Editing services and proofreading services will help remove any unclear or unhelpful material. For example, writers may unwittingly repeat themselves or fail to explain technical terms; editors will highlight or remove the former and ask the writer to expand on the latter and clarify the meaning. Concision Clear content is often concise content. Points are explained quickly and smoothly, and they have an accessible flow. Here, editing services and proofreading services can help by improving the text’s readability, either by introducing sentence or paragraph breaks to make wordy blocks of text easier to absorb or suggesting rewrites that achieve the same goal. It’s true what they say: why use ten words when one will suffice? Coherence Coherent text means the ideas are presented naturally with no noticeable gaps. For example, work with a clear thematic progression, a broad range of suitable terminology, varied sentence lengths and transitions such as ‘thus’ and ‘therefore’ give the content a human touch and make it more attractive to read. Editing services and proofreading services can help make copy more coherent by fixing such areas. Editors will suggest alternatives to repeated words or terms, break up long passages of text and subtly rework the content so it doesn’t confuse or alienate readers. In short, writers who make their work clear, concise and coherent stand a greater chance of reaching a wider audience and positioning themselves as credible sources of information. Read More: Use These Simple Steps to Quickly Improve Your Writing Follow These Steps to Improve Your Writing’s Coherence