What is included in APA 7 word count

Are references included in my word count

For publication purposes, the current APA manual states that all of the words in your document - including the reference list, all tables and figures, and appendices - count towards your word count unless otherwise stated by the publisher (previous editions didn't mention word limits at all, but left that up to the publishers' advice to authors). Generally speaking, assignments at JCU only require everything between the title of your assignment and the reference list. Your lecturer may specify something else, in which case you should follow the instructions given in your subject outline.

All assignments specify a word count. An assignment that is within 10% of the specified word count (either more or less) will usually not be penalised, however, check your unit guide as this rule does not apply in all units including for Psychology. If you submit an assignment that does not follow the specified word count, your grade will be penalised.

Whether you're submitting an assignment or a manuscript for publication, adhering to the word limit is one of your responsibilities as an author. You can assume that you should include your in-text citations in your word count; however, if you're unsure of what's expected of you, please check with your instructor or publishing editor for clarification.

Where in my paper do I include the word count in APA format

While different styles may give you advice for whether or not to include references in your Word Count (for example, APA recommends including everything - even the headers and footers), this is actually a matter for your markers to answer, as it is normally a decision made by the College.

If you are not expected to include in-text citations in the word count for your document, try using the to check the word count. The Writer's Diet Test gives automated feedback on sentence-level conciseness for a selection of 100-1000 words, as well as noting the word count for the selection. The test's default setting excludes anything in parentheses, though you can adjust the settings in the "Advanced" tab.

Since in-text citations are essential in academic writing to acknowledge sources of information and prevent plagiarism, including them in the word count aligns them at the same level of importance as the rest of the information in the work. If you are unsure of the expectations for your work, please check with your instructor or publishing editor for direction.

Often (but not always) markers will count everything in the body of your assignment (including quotes and in-text citations), but will not include the reference list in their calculations. However, this might not be the case for your course.