How to Increase Word Count for Essay Draft

You might wonder how to increase word count for your draft. Students often try to solve this problem by rewriting the essay’s sentences, so they are more wordy or splitting contractions.

While these do increase word count, they tend to weaken the essay in the process. Changing it doesn’t have to be that way.

Luckily for you, we have the perfect solution.

Here are a few simple ways you can improve your writing by increasing the number of words in an essay.

1. Skim Your Essay

Take a look at your essay, asking for any examples you used to make a point. You should be able to provide additional examples that will make your essay stronger. It’s possible to do it by showing your comprehension of the topic while also increasing the number of words.

You can also go through the essay and look for statements where an example would support the statement.

Increase your word count and improve your essay at the same time by tackling different points of view. You have the chance to discuss how these alternative views differ from the conclusions you have reached. Hence, you can then explain why your conclusions are superior.

As a result, you have considered a range of opinions in coming to your conclusions. You can make your essay stronger while adding more words.

2. Clarify Your Statements

It’s indeed difficult to know how to increase word count. If putting an example into your writing does not make sense, clarifying the statement may do the trick. If the original statement does not appear clear on one or more specific statements can be added to clarify it.

For example, “Many philosophers find it important to consider alternative viewpoints to those that they reach.” Clarifying this statement as “to appreciate different viewpoints is one of the key philosophies of the 20th century” would make more sense.

If the original statement is not in your own words, ask yourself what it means and what it relates to. If you understand it in a certain way, state it clearly. For instance, if the original statement is “many philosophers find it important to consider”.

It’s important not to over-define statements or use them for every statement you write, as it will start to look like filler. However, using it sporadically throughout your essay can increase your word count and show you how full the essay is.

3. Find Additional Sources

Another way to improve your essay and increase your word count is to find sources that support your statements and conclusions. Most often, the more sources you have, the stronger your essay will become.

You can do this with a quote from a book your tutor recommends, or a piece of literature that supports your point. It’s okay to use more than one source to substantiate the same idea, but never just repeat something already written. Make sure you have the proper citation attached to any sources you add to the essay.

It’s a mistake to use only a couple of sources for all of your support. Try to find sources that support each point you are making. In addition to a source for just one statement that you’ve made. When you’re using sources that support an argument or conclusion, it’s also a good idea to make your own conclusions from your source. The best ways we’ve learned for doing this are to make inferences while reading, and to write down conclusions in your own words.

If you invest some time searching for additional sources to add to your essay, you are able to add quality content to it.

4. Insert Quotes

As an add-on to your essay, you can easily improve it if you find relevant quotations from experts in the field.

Quotations offer you a second level of expression and understanding of the expert that’s much different than simply taking someone’s word for it. Asking a question is one thing, but asking it in a convincing way is something else. While the question must be written within the confines of the assignment, it is crucial to understand the question and to do so convincingly. The first question you should always ask is, “Why do I want to learn how to do this?”.

Quotes give you facts to be able to back up your ideas more solid. The best source to go to for research on quotations from experts in the field is the library. It’s also a good idea to do some basic research on your topic on sites such as Wikipedia, and encyclopedias.

You can always add a brief quote at the end of your essay. Another option would be to add a short quote in the first paragraph. You should try to get quotes at the beginning of your essay so that you can introduce the main idea.

5. Insert Tables or Figures

In addition to your bibliography and footnotes, table, diagrams, and illustrations are usually included in the word count. Especially when they appear in the main body. Rather than providing purely illustrative content, make sure you have relevant items to insert.

For example, if you are writing a composition about a topic that involves the use of statistics, include a statistics table. It will be an invaluable addition to the text, drawing both additional information and interest from the reader.

You can also use the content of figures here to create transitions and a sense of flow in your essay. If the reader is left wondering, make the connection, and bring up your thesis statement.

In the case of tables insert your tables in the same order as they are listed in your bibliography. Illustrations can include screenshots from your computer, maps, charts, images, and anything you feel adds to the quality of your academic writing.

6. Expand Your Opening and Conclusion

Your thesis statement is the starting point for your writing. To achieve maximum impact, the opening paragraph of any academic paper should consist of a thesis statement. Consequently, it should go along with a mini-story that makes your claim, and supports it. Most students, even those in college, have never used this simple tool for writing.

Finally, you should add words in the Introduction and Conclusion. There are generally less critical parts in these paragraphs, so you may be able to padding them out.

This process can seem tedious and difficult, but it is critical to a good written paragraph. If you go through this step before you write your essay, you will have a great foundation. Even the best essay writers can get stuck at this step, if they aren’t careful. If you are, you will have a stronger foundation in your writing.

As much as possible, adorn your work with eloquent phrases and flamboyant words. You don’t have to always write long essays, but you can always increase the word count to make the most of your essay.

You can go about this a couple of different ways. The first includes expanding your opening and conclusion of your essay. You should also insert transitional phrases and use action verbs.