Video: How Strict are Journals About Word Count Limits?

Maintaining word count limits during research paper submissions can be challenging. At times, exceeding the limit could lead to desk rejections. However, journals could be flexible in some instances.

In this video, our expert Bonnie Dixon (Academic Editor) breaks down everything you need to know about word count limits and how they impact your submission. A few key points to note:

• Word count rules vary from journal to journal.
• Some journals include figure legends in the total word count; others only limit the number of figures you can include.
• It is best to stay within the recommended limit especially during initial submissions.
• A few journals might allow you to slightly exceed the word count for complex topics or technical explanations.
• If, after peer review, the reviewer asks you to expand sections of your manuscript (e.g., abstract), you can push the word count over the limit and justify this by clarifying it in the response letter.