The Writing Blog
Word counts, writing tips, college essay guides, and grammar advice — paired with our free Word Counter tool.
📝Open Free Word CounterNewest Words Added to the Dictionary in 2018
From 'mansplain' to 'biohacking,' the most notable new dictionary additions of 2018 and what they say about modern language.
Top Writing Tools All College Students Should Use
The best writing tools for college students — word counter, grammar checker, citation generator, distraction blocker, and more.
Facebook Posts: Why Less Is More
Facebook posts under 80 characters get 66% more engagement than longer ones. Here's how to write shorter, sharper updates.
How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
The ideal cover letter is 250–400 words on a single page. Recruiters spend less than a minute on each — here's how to make those seconds count.
15 Essential Email Etiquette Tips for Every College Student
Fifteen rules for professional email — clear subject lines, salutations, signatures, and the etiquette that gets faster replies.
Compare and Contrast College Essay Topics
Fifty compare-and-contrast prompts that actually invite analysis instead of surface-level comparison. Plus a quick structure guide.
101 Standout Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas
101 argumentative essay prompts grouped by category — tech, education, ethics, society, science — that are actually debatable, not stale.
100 Narrative Essay Topics for Your Next Assignment
One hundred narrative essay prompts grouped by theme — moments, decisions, identity, family, and challenges — for any school level.
Words and Phrases to Avoid in Your College Essays
Twenty words and phrases that quietly weaken college essays — and the stronger replacements admissions readers prefer.
8 Ways to Expand Your Writing Vocabulary
Vocabulary growth is a craft skill, not a memorization exercise. Eight habits that grow active vocabulary fast.
13 Ways to Improve Your Writing Level
Thirteen concrete habits that move writers from competent to confident. No vague advice — just exercises and rules you can apply today.
How to Find Your Individual Writing Voice
Writing voice is not a personality trait — it's a craft you develop. Four exercises that build distinctive voice in any writer.
How to Write Essay Titles and Headers
Strong essay titles do three things: signal the topic, hint at the angle, and invite the reader in. Here are the rules and 30 examples.
The 4 Different Types of Essays
Narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive — the four essay types every student should know, with structure and examples for each.
The Ultimate College Application Guide
Month-by-month timeline for college applications: from junior-year groundwork to spring decisions. Everything you need in one guide.
College Application Essay FAQ
Answers to the 12 most common questions about the Common App essay, supplemental essays, length, topic choice, and revision.
Writing a Standout College Admissions Essay
Admissions officers read 50 essays a day. Here's exactly what separates a memorable college essay from a forgettable one.
How to Increase Your Essay's Word Count (Without Padding)
Short on words? Don't pad — deepen. Six legitimate ways to extend an essay without weakening the argument or annoying the grader.
What's a Good Word Count for a Thesis Statement?
Strong thesis statements are usually 25–45 words. Too short signals vagueness; too long means you're doing two paragraphs of work in one sentence.
What's a Good Word Count for a College Application Essay?
Common App allows 250–650 words. Use the full 650, but only if every word earns its place. Here's how to hit the sweet spot.
The Top 6 Most Common Thesis Statement Mistakes
Six thesis mistakes that quietly cap your essay grade — vague claims, list theses, fact theses, and more. Each with a fix.
Common Writing Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Essay
Ten subtle writing mistakes that quietly tank essay grades — and the quick fixes that solve each one in under five minutes.
How to Outline a College Essay
A working college essay outline saves hours of revision later. Use this 5-step method to plan a 650-word essay before you write a single sentence.
How to Write a Strong Conclusion Paragraph
A great conclusion synthesizes, doesn't summarize. Use this 3-step framework to write essay endings that resonate long after the last line.
How to Write a Strong Introduction Paragraph
A great introduction does three things: hook, context, thesis. Follow this proven 3-step formula to write openings that pull readers in.
Word Count in Microsoft Word: Complete Guide
Microsoft Word displays the word count on the bottom status bar. Press Ctrl+Shift+G or open Review → Word Count for a detailed breakdown.
Word Count in Google Docs: Complete Guide
Open the word count tool in Google Docs with Ctrl+Shift+C (Cmd+Shift+C on Mac), or from Tools → Word count. Full guide here.
How Many Words per Page?
A standard page holds 500 words single-spaced or 250 words double-spaced. Learn how font, margins, and spacing change page count.
How Many Words Is a 5-Minute Speech?
A 5-minute speech is approximately 650–750 words at a normal speaking pace of 130–150 words per minute.
How Many Words Does the Average Person Know?
Adult native English speakers know 20,000–35,000 words actively. See how vocabulary grows with age and education.
How Many Words Are in the English Language?
The Oxford English Dictionary lists 273,000+ headwords. The actual total is closer to 1 million when technical terms are included. Here's why.
How Many Words Are in the Bible?
The King James Bible contains about 783,137 words. See exact word counts for the Old and New Testaments and the longest individual books.
How Many Words Are in Harry Potter?
The Harry Potter series totals about 1,084,170 words across all 7 books. See the exact word count per book and how the series grew.
How Many Words Are in a Novel Chapter?
The average novel chapter is 3,000–5,000 words. See how chapter length varies by genre, pacing strategy, and what works for modern readers.
How Many Words Are in a Novel?
Most novels run 70,000 to 100,000 words. Discover the typical word count for novels by genre, plus tips for hitting your target length.