1. 123456789

    123456789 Contributor Contributor

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    Rounding down word count?

    Discussion in 'Agent Discussion' started by 123456789, Feb 1, 2017.

    To those with agent querying experience,

    How taboo is it if I report my word count, which is hovering at about 109, 800 words, as 109,000 words, instead? Do those sort of things piss off agents? Obviously, the correct thing to do is to round up, but I think 109,000 looks a lot better. Thanks in advance for advice.
     
  2. LachlanMM

    LachlanMM New Member

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    Not an agent, but was a magazine editor. It'd piss me off, but then I had very little wiggle room for column inches, so would prefer the closest possible rounding so I could plan the page. Agents may differ.
     
  3. 123456789

    123456789 Contributor Contributor

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    Looks like I might have found the answer.

    I took my 109.9k words and put it into a different program with a different word counter. Wala, 109.3K.


    Considering the variation in word counters, I would be surprised if agents were actually sticklers about this.
     
  4. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

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    [​IMG]
     
  5. 123456789

    123456789 Contributor Contributor

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    It matters, ***.
     
    matwoolf likes this.
  6. NiallRoach

    NiallRoach Contributor Contributor

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    If you're in novel range, a few hundred words is neither here nor there. A couple of pages, tops.
    Obviously for short stories it matters a lot more.

    What percentage of 109k is 800? That should give you very you some idea of the significance.
     
    123456789 likes this.
  7. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    I hesitate. Nitpick or not nitpick? Is it an inside joke I don't know about or is it an error? Would I nitpick on a non-writing forum? No. But this is a writing forum.

    So I nitpick: "Voila."
     
    Catrin Lewis and 123456789 like this.
  8. 123456789

    123456789 Contributor Contributor

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    I made an error. Instead of making a big deal of it, you could have just tactfully used the correct spelling in a new sentence.
     
    Spencer1990 likes this.
  9. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    OK, so you don't want to be told when you make a writing error. Noted.
     
    Adam Kalauz likes this.
  10. Catrin Lewis

    Catrin Lewis Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Community Volunteer

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    No, he wants to be shown. :supergrin:
     
    Brindy likes this.
  11. joe sixpak

    joe sixpak Banned

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    I would give the correct count. Why not edit again and tighten up the book. Couldn't you still chop another 800 words while improving it?
     

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