1. Online Application Workshop 4
Working with word count

2. Working With Word Count
Most important piece of advice:
Do not ignore requirements!

3. 2 Situations
Word count is too big
Word count is too small
The question is brief, but you are given a page to answer it
The question has several parts, but you are limited to 250 words.

4. Facing a big word count
Fill at least 75% of the space provided (or 100%)
Don’t start to write right away
Brainstorm ideas on a separate piece of paper
Organize your thoughts
Take time to figure out order of importance
Dig deep into your involvement
Don’t simply give a step by step process of your involvement
Talk about how your involvement/experience has changed you, influenced your views, motivated you to move further, etc.

5. Facing a small word count
Write your first draft and disregard the word count
Read what you have written
For every sentence, ask yourself:
Is this necessary?
Does this add to my argument?
Have I already said this?
How can I shorten this without altering the message?

6. Writing concisely: Using strong verbs
Passive: It is believed by the candidate that a ceiling must be placed on the budget by Congress.
Active: The candidate believes that Congress must place a ceiling on the budget.
Passive: It was earlier demonstrated that heart attacks can be caused by high stress.
Active: Brown earlier showed that high stress can cause heart attacks
Joseph Williams, Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace. 3rd ed. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1989.

7. Writing concisely: Using strong verbs
Put the action of the sentence in the verb. Don't bury it in a noun or blur it across the entire sentence.
a. An evaluation of the procedures needs to be done.
b. The procedures need to be evaluated.
c. We need to evaluate the procedures.
Joseph Williams, Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace. 3rd ed. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1989.

8. Writing concisely: Statement Concise version Has knowledge of 
Is taking
Are indications
Are suggestive
Joseph Williams, Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace. 3rd ed. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1989.

9. Writing concisely: Statement Concise version Has knowledge of  Knows
Is taking
Takes
Are indications
Indicates
Are suggestive
Suggests
Joseph Williams, Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace. 3rd ed. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1989.

10. It was her last argument that finally persuaded me.
Use expletive constructions (like "It is," "There is," "There are") sparingly.
It was her last argument that finally persuaded me.

11. Use expletive constructions ("It is," "There is," "There are") sparingly.
It was her last argument that finally persuaded me.
Revised
Her last argument finally persuaded me.

12. Use expletive constructions ("It is," "There is," "There are") sparingly.
There are likely to be many researchers raising questions about this methodological approach.

13. Use expletive constructions ("It is," "There is," "There are") sparingly.
There are likely to be many researchers raising questions about this methodological approach.
Revised
Many researchers are likely to raise questions about this methodological approach.

14. Helpful links for concise writing
count-try-these-editing-tricks/
target-word-count-in-your-college-admi.html
Direct_Sentences.pdf

15. Additional Notes: Email Cleanup