How long is 250 words?

What 250 words is usually for

Two hundred and fifty words is one double-spaced page, and that is the whole point of the number. It exists because a page is the smallest unit anyone can hand over, so it turns up wherever someone wants a sample rather than an argument.

At this length you get a claim and its support. There is no space for a preamble, and any attempt to build toward a point will consume the words the point needed. Open with the answer.

In practice this length covers a short-answer exam response, a news brief, one paragraph of a personal statement, or an abstract.

Shaping it

Forget the introduction-body-conclusion shape entirely. Two hundred and fifty words is one paragraph of thinking, possibly two. Lead with your strongest sentence and spend the rest earning it.

When you are over

If you are over, the first casualties are qualifying phrases. It could be argued that, in many cases and to some extent cost you fifteen words and add nothing a reader cannot infer.

Paste the paragraph into the word counter to see exactly where you stand.

Nearest lengths: 500 words. Other common targets: 750 words, 1,000 words, 1,500 words, or the full word count reference.

Common questions