DigiKitTips for Writing to a Word Limit
A scholarship application wants 500 words, a product title must stay under 150 characters, a social post is cut off at a set length. Writing to a limit is harder than writing freely, but it often produces better text.
Write first, cut later
Watching the counter while you write breaks your flow. Write the first draft without thinking about the limit and get everything you want to say on the page. Then move to cutting. Trimming is much easier than producing a short text from a blank page.
The order of cutting
- Remove repetition. Find places where you say the same thing twice in different words and keep the better one.
- Delete filler. Phrases such as "I would like to point out that", "actually" and "in a way" take up space without adding meaning.
- Shorten long constructions. "I played an active role in the decision-making process" can often become "I made the decision", which is also stronger.
- Pick your examples. If you gave three, keep the most striking one and make it a little more concrete.
- As a last resort, drop a section. Removing one idea entirely sometimes makes the text clearer than trimming everything a little.
Words or characters?
Read the limit carefully. Is it words or characters? Do spaces count in a character limit? The difference can be large. Languages with long compound words or many suffixes can fit the same idea into fewer words but a similar number of characters.
Counters do not always agree
Different programs can count hyphenated words, numbers and abbreviations differently. If the submission system has its own counter, do the final check there and stay a few words under the limit; sitting exactly on it can get your text cut off when the system counts differently.
Read it aloud
Read the shortened text aloud once. Over-compressed sentences and abrupt transitions are easy to hear. The goal is not just to get under the limit but to leave a text the reader understands in one go.
The word counter shows words, characters and sentences as you type. Use the character counter for fields with a character limit, and the platform counters for social media.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a problem if I go slightly over the limit?
That depends on whoever set it. Some allow a margin, while some application forms will not accept text over the limit at all. If the rule is not spelled out, staying under is the safe choice.
Do the title and references count towards the word limit?
The institution or tutor usually says. If they do not, ask; guessing can lead you to cut text you did not need to, or to go over.
Is shorter always better?
No. The goal is to cut unnecessary words, not necessary information. An application far below the limit can suggest you left out things you could have said.