Word Count for project.....

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 18 in AAT student discussion
hi there,

just a bit confused - i have been doing my report for the project and am aiming for the 4000 words that i have been told are required.

well i am about 2/3 of the way through and have just done a word count. 4592 so far, so now im worried that there will be too many words, maybe too much waffle, i dont want to bore the reader to sleep but i cant see how i can wittle it down without detriment to reaching all the criteria needed.

does anyone know of the maximum words acceptable, and also does this include words in appendices

i reckon my word count will easily be around 6500 by the time im finished.

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....

    Hi GG,

    I think the word count is around 3500 to 4000. Can you try using bullet points somewhere, that may take the count down. Have you used "shop" speak, will the reader recognise what you are saying or is it only relevant to your business?
    Don't forget appendices don't count. Can you point the reader in the direction of any appendices that speak for themselves?
    Hopefully that has been of some use?
    Mandy
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....

    Good old Mandy!

    I had the opposite problem, i didnt write enough, then i started waffling and finished with around 4500 words, so i just handed it in. it will be sent back from your college (i hope) if any adjustments need doing anyway, then you can amend it.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....

    Hi

    We were told from our tutor it could be + or - 10% (ie 3600 min or 4400 max) If it is any more or less you will have to amend it. Appendices do not contribute to the word count.

    Hope this helps!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....

    If you trust it - there's a tool within Microsoft Word which Auto Summarises a document.

    Click on Tools > Auto Summarise, choose the summary you want.

    Obviously, you had better compare the original document with the new summarised document to see if it has cut relevant secitons out, rather than cutting out the important babble.

    J
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....
    If you trust it - there's a tool within Microsoft Word

    I do make use of the Autosummarize function to highlight key phrases. If you set it to 95% of original length, Word will find (what it considers) the least relevant 5% of the document. I don't always agree with it, but it usually shows what can be trimmed or deleted.

    Another thing you can try is to find phrases that can be replaced without altering the meaning (much).
    Additionally, find phrases that can be replaced without altering the meaning (much).

    Word does have a built-in thesaurus. Try highlighting a phrase of three or more words and look for synonyms.

    I saved six words in the second version. Every little counts.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....

    Hi,

    You need to remember that it is the body of the report only that counts.

    Therefore the Introduction, Exec Summary etc don't count.

    This may bring down you word count.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....
    aat geek wrote:
    Hi,

    You need to remember that it is the body of the report only that counts.

    Therefore the Introduction, Exec Summary etc don't count.

    This may bring down you word count.

    I was told that the word count should be from the introduction to the conclusion.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....

    Have to agree with Chris here, I was on the understanding that it was only the appendices didn't count?? :? I submitted my project a couple of weeks ago and I'm waiting to hear back, it will be interesting to see if anything is said about the word count.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....

    Who thinks their marker (be it their tutor or whoever) is going to count every last word on every project they get?
    You just need to make sure it doesn't look too long or too short.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....

    I was told by my college that the word count was 4000 and only the appendices are not included.

    The easiest thing for you to do would be to continue writing the report and ignore the word count until you have finished. Once you have completed it and are satisfied you have covered everything then start looking where you can chop bits out. There is no point worrying until its finished as you may miss out important details if you try to skimp on words before it's complete.

    I wrote an essay for my History A Level - it was supposed to be 3000 words only, it the end it was over 4000 - I asked loads of different people to read it and take out bits until the word count was fine.

    Tip: Watch out for the word 'that' very often you do not need it e.g.
    It is very easy to say that word count is not important
    It is very easy to say word count is not important
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Word Count for project.....

    hi there,

    thanks everyone for your comments, i am very interested in trying out the auto summarise and thesaurus tips and will experiment with them when i get a chance!

    i am so looking forward to having this finished!!

    thanks again

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