Counting the numbers

Some students (and I pity them) are instructed to include a word-count at the end of an essay or term paper.

What a dreadful measure.

Consider any text of value or statement of worth. Solemn vows. A Mary Oliver poem. A prayer of gratitude. A peace treaty. A manifesto.

“Yes, but how many words?”

No one cares! Rather, no one should care. If you’ve communicated what’s necessary, if you’ve found clarity in your message, if you’ve achieved your purpose, if the work has done what it wants to do … then it doesn’t matter if it’s five words or five thousand words.

Word count — unless it’s used as an upper constraint to challenge the verbose — is an ineffective, lazy proxy for measuring value.

(125 words)