Story contest. 500 word-limit. Please tell me that's not counting every *single* word!

March 27, 2008 4:27 PM

When a writing contest puts a maximum of "500 words" for story length, should the count include "a" "an" or "the"?

How about other three-or-less lettered words -- are they excluded? Something in my memory wants me to think I should only count words 4 letters or more. But that may be a myth, wishful thinking, or varying with entities that host these things (the contest in question hasn't returned my inquiry). Anyone with experience in holding or entering these contests (or schoolteachers who grade papers, etc.) your input is appreciated.

posted by skyper to writing & language (24 comments total)

In my experience, editors will use their office software's "word count" feature, which doesn't make exceptions for short words.

Don't give them an easy reason to exclude your entry from the pool.
posted by svolix at 4:31 PM on March 27

wishful thinking :). Microsoft word will do a word count for you.
Though it's not impossible they would be slightly flexible about the limit, i.e, 514 is ok for a 500 word count limit - that you would have to check with the particular judges about.
posted by mdn at 4:32 PM on March 27

They're words, so yes, I'd say they count. Can you ask the contest organizers?
posted by rtha at 4:32 PM on March 27

From my limited experience of editors, if they tell you they want 500 words of something they mean 500 words, and are not interested in any quibbles over whether “the” counts, and they are just itching to find a reason to toss your submission aside and get to the next item on the pile. On the other hand if they really want to use something they’ll happily ignore any preconditions that they’ve laid down that it breaks.

People who run competitions may operate on different principles from regular editors.
posted by Artw at 4:33 PM on March 27

They want the word count according to something like Microsoft Word, unless otherwise specified in the contest instructions.
posted by limeonaire at 4:36 PM on March 27

Try removing all adjectives. You should have removed all adverbs already.
posted by Artw at 4:44 PM on March 27 [8 favorites]

Second mdn's comment, though you're not crazy - I remember being taught (in my younger years) to count 10 lines, omitting articles and conjunctions, and treat that as an average, but I think MS Word and its ilk have made getting an exact count too easy.

My experience with writing contests is that no one will sweat you on a few extra words, especially if it's good, but don't push it too far. Less is usually more.

(500 wds is usually a nice way of saying "keep it to one page please.")
posted by Prevailing Southwest at 4:52 PM on March 27

That bit you really need - what happens to the story if you remove it?
posted by Artw at 4:58 PM on March 27

Yep; things changed from any of the 4-letter stuff when MS word made it easy to count 'em.
posted by craven_morhead at 5:08 PM on March 27

Try removing all adjectives. You should have removed all adverbs already.

This is bad advice. Do not heed it. Instead, use adverbs and adjectives wisely.

Note that Microsoft Word's word count might be different than another editing program's word count, though Word's count is probably safe.
posted by Mo Nickels at 6:07 PM on March 27

In typing, every five keystrokes, including spaces, counts as a word.
posted by furtive at 6:25 PM on March 27

When you submit editorials to Op Ed pages in major newspapers, they ask you for a maximum word count as well. In my experience, if the submission is above the specified number of words - according to MS Word's "Word Count" feature - they will ask you to revise the piece and resubmit. The do not, except in exceptional circumstances (like you knowing the editor well), accept submissions that are above the specified word count by even a few words.

In light of that, I would say to make sure that you keep to under 500 words as counted by MS Word.
posted by gemmy at 6:41 PM on March 27

Depends how you're submitting it. If on paper, nobody is going to sit there and count your words (at least, initially.) Too much of a PITA. They're going to give it an about right/seems long quick glance and read what it says. Maybe they'll use it as one of the eliminators when they get down to the last few finalists.

If you're submitting electronically, better go with MS Word's count. It's too easy for them to check right off the bat to pre-screen without even reading.
posted by ctmf at 7:05 PM on March 27

On a PC? Ctrl-a, alt-t, w.
posted by salvia at 8:32 PM on March 27

If it helps, when I'm paid by the word I always use whatever count the word processor (or Unix's "wc" command) gives me. No special rules for short words.
posted by lore at 9:06 PM on March 27

Try removing all adjectives. You should have removed all adverbs already.
This is bad advice. Do not heed it. Instead, use adverbs and adjectives wisely.

Don't remove your sense of humor.

Yes, articles count.
posted by rokusan at 1:53 AM on March 28 [1 favorite]

You might, and I stress might, get away with + 5 or 10% ie 525 - 550... but generally if it says 500, it means 500, and definitely no trying to game it by missing out the itty-bitty words.
Cut it to the bone then cut it again.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:26 AM on March 28

Five hundred words = 500 words. If it is on the page, it counts (no pun). Me, I'd nail it if I could, or go slightly under -- wouldn't go over.

Mo Nickels is right about adjectives / adverbs, BTW. They are in the language for a reason: use them, but do not abuse them.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 6:36 AM on March 28

Editing is one of the great joys of writing.
Write 1000 words. Cut it down to 498.
You'll be surprised.
posted by bru at 7:31 AM on March 28

On a PC? Ctrl-a, alt-t, w.

Now the last word of the previous line has been transposed with the first word of the current And!

linew it ends with a w!
posted by rlk at 7:32 AM on March 28

Yes. When I ran an online writing contest, we used a cms that automatically kicked out any entries over a certain word limit. At (for example) 1501 words, they wouldn't even show up in the reviewing queue.
posted by gyusan at 8:59 AM on March 28

Yes. i know nothing about this particular contest, but all words count as "words." I wouldn't even ask about this if I were you. Certainly no editor I've ever hear of excludes certain kinds of words.

(This is to your advantage if you ever sell a by-the-word piece, though, think of it that way.)
posted by lackutrol at 9:41 AM on March 28

Word count includes any group of letters separated by spaces, so hyphenated words count as one word, and tiny words also count as one word. ;)
posted by Xianny at 1:05 PM on March 28

Now the last word of the previous line has been transposed with the first word of the current And!

linew it ends with a w!

Don't know what happened to you! :) I'm running ms word 2002, and for me this does:

Ctrl-A = Select All
Alt-t = Tools (opens drop down menu)
W = Word count
posted by salvia at 1:09 PM on March 28