Forums / About Writing /
Word Count?


  • mikhl
    Apr 7 8:00 AM
    Reply
    I submitted a story which had a word count of 2047, but when I submitted it said that it had 1740.

    Why does it narrow it down to that? I thought it would have rounded it to 2040 or 2000.

    Does yours do this, or do you know why it does this? I don't mind that it does it, I was just wondering why.

  • Barbara
    April 7 ↑
    Reply
    It has to do with the site and the line count. It takes a basis of so many words per line and then multiplies it by the lines you post. It's a ballpark figure, really.

    There's an 'official' post around here someplace about it... I'll see if I can find and link it to the topic

  • Barbara
    April 7 ↑
    Reply
    I couldn't find the topic, but I did find this in my notes of F.A.Q.:
    "The word count does not count words... it assumes an average of 6.1 letters per word across a story.(According to Kevin)"

    • tonialoise
      April 7 ↑
      Reply
      Hey, I had wondered about that a long time ago. I always assumed it didn't count little words like a and the. Hmmm... learn something new every day. Thanks!

    • mikhl
      April 8 ↑
      Reply
      Thaks for clearing that up. I'll hold Kevin to that.
      =]

      • Barbara
        April 8 ↑
        Reply
        It may have changed since then, though, so don't hold him to it.... especially since it's an average, and not a solid account.

  • Doom Bunny
    April 7 ↑
    Reply
    yes mine dose do that

  • Marta
    May 13 ↑
    Reply

    I hate word counting--I feel like a miser if I have to cut down a beautiful story because it doesn't fit the form or having to add words because it's too short. It's like how many jelly beans are in this jar thing--Gosh,can't I just eat the jellybeans and

  • :