Skills Hub Basics: Managing your word count
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First of all, note that a word count is the limit and not a target. On the other hand, if your
work contains considerably fewer words than the word count you should be concerned that
you may not have tackled all of the issues in the assignment.
Penalties for exceeding the limit
When you come to edit your work, you need to ensure that it fits within the specified word
count, 1 which will be set out in the relevant module outline and/or on moodle. You need to
state the number of words on the front sheet of your work before submitting.
KLS word count policy sets out the following penalties 2 for work that exceeds the specified
word limit by 10% or more:
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10% and over – a reduction of one point on the categorical marking scale;
20% and over – a reduction of two points on the categorical marking scale;
30% and over – a reduction of three points on the categorical marking scale;
40% and over – a reduction of four points on the categorical marking scale;
50% and over – a maximum of 20 marks will be awarded.
For example, suppose the word count is 2,000 words and you submit an essay 2,300 words
long (15% over the limit). If the marker would have given you a mark of 68, s/he will now
reduce your mark to 65 (one point on the categorical marking scale). If your word count was
2,400 words (20% over), s/he would reduce your mark to 62 (two points on the scale).
I’ve gone over the word count… HELP?!
If your work exceeds the word count here are some suggestions for cutting it down:
 The first sentences of paragraphs are often superfluous. Check that they are
necessary to the point you are making, and if they are not, then delete them.
 Quotations often use up an excessive number of words. Check that the quotation
is necessary to your argument, and, if it is, cut it back to as few words as possible.
 Check for superfluous words. All of us use some words out of habit, like ‘however’.
Check that you need each and every ‘however’ you have used.
 Be direct. Rather than write ‘this essay attempts to evaluate’ write ‘this essay
evaluates’ and drop phrases like ‘it could be argued that’ where possible.
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Note: the word count includes footnotes and quotations, but does not include the bibliography and
restatement of the question.
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Markers have discretion to reward a lesser penalty where the mark is 72 or above, or where the
application of the penalty results in the mark dropping below a classification boundary.
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Skills Hub Basics: Managing your word count
Managing footnotes
You may find that you’re exceeding the word count because your footnotes are too long. Try
to keep footnotes to a minimum. Use them to give references to cases and articles.
Footnotes are not the place for argument or examples. Argument and examples should
be in the body of your essay. If an argument or example doesn’t seem important enough to
place in the main body of the text, it probably isn’t important enough to be included at all.
You must always provide full references when using another person’s work or ideas in your
own work in order to avoid plagiarism, but there are tools for repeating citations. You can
save words in your footnotes using cross-references and Latin ‘gadgets’ like ibid. For
example, having given the full citation of Austin v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis
at note 23, 3 you can then refer to the case in later footnotes as Austin (n 23).
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i.e. [2009] UKHL 5, [2009] AC 564.
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See pages 5-7 in the OSCOLA style guide for further information.