how many references should a 5000 word essay have

The Critical Turkey

Essay Writing Hacks for the Social Sciences

How many sources should I use in my essay?

Possibly the most frequently asked question when it comes to social science essay writing (certainly in first and second year courses) is how many sources should be used in an essay. This is a very legitimate question, especially if you don’t have much essay writing experience to start with. But the answer is not very straightforward. It depends. Rather than providing a fixed number, this blog post lays out what it depends on, and what kinds of parameters play a role in determining the number of readings.

The purpose of referencing

First, however, a short reflection on why you need to use references in the first place. Anchoring this discussion to its purpose will help you gain a deeper understanding of the issue, and the rest will make more sense. It is tempting to see this as a tick-box exercise of a specific number of readings you need to cover. But providing references goes deeper than that.

What distinguishes academic writing from other forms of writing is that indeed, it builds on what others have written before, and makes explicit reference to it. This is because social science is ever-evolving. When we write about social class today, we stand on the shoulders of giants , scholars like Marx, Weber, or more recently, Pierre Bourdieu. And those are only the big names. Hundreds of other authors have dedicated their scholarly lives to academic research, and added bits and pieces to an ever-evolving body of knowledge, be it on social class or any other topic we write about.

Providing references to their work pays tribute to this. It is a sign of respect for the work of others. But it also a way of showing your own awareness of the different debates and different perspectives in the field. And it is a way of showing where your position is. For example, if your analysis of class follows a Marxist tradition, this will show in the readings you use, as you will be drawing primarily on authors that have also followed this tradition (and probably some original Marx as well).

Rather than this being a tick-box exercise, then, referring to the work of others has a deeper meaning. It is about who you are, and where you see yourself, as a budding scholar. And you might not think of yourself as a budding scholar (yet?), but hey, we all have to start somewhere.

Parameter 1: Your ambition

And this brings us to the first parameter, your ambition. If all you want is write a reasonably well-informed essay that achieves a solid pass and a not unreasonable grade (a perfectly legitimate ambition. In our school this corresponds to a grade in the 50s range), fewer sources will do. You still need to demonstrate you have read, and are building on the literature, but there is less emphasis on integrating, for example, different perspectives. If, however, you want to demonstrate that you really know some stuff, and are aware of at least some of the different perspectives (in our school, a 60s essay), you will typically use a few more sources, integrate a few more perspectives, and a little more data and evidence. If you are aiming for those really high grade ranges (in our school, 70 and above), you want to show more of an ‘overview of the topic’, an awareness of a slightly bigger part of the body of knowledge that exists, which will result the use of additional sources, and an extended bibliography.

Okay, I know you want numbers. Here we go then. Let’s say this is a typical 1,500 to 2,000-word essay, first or second year, Social and Political Science at Edinburgh University (if you’re at another school or university this might be different. Even some individual courses might be different. Always check for local conditions): a typical 50s essay here will probably use four or five sources; in the 60s, it tends to be around five to ten, and typical 70s or above essays use probably somewhere between eight and 15 substantive sources. These are rough estimates, though. And importantly, these numbers are not deterministic. You could write a brilliant essay based on just five or six sources and still get that first. Or you could use 15 sources in your essay, but if your argument is off, or your writing is incomprehensible, or the sources aren’t very good, you might still only get a 50s grade.

Parameter 2: The kind of question

The second parameter to consider is the kind of question you are addressing. There are two main distinctions to make here: first, whether the question is mostly on a specific theory or on a topic. More theoretical questions tend to need fewer readings. For example, it could ask about a specific concept by a specific author, say Foucault’s concept of power/knowledge, or Mead’s idea of the Self. Rather than looking at several different viewpoints, this kind of essay question is asking you to engage in detail with only one author’s perspective. This means there is less importance on breadth of reading (expressed in a higher number of readings). However, this does not necessarily make things easier, as there is instead more emphasis on depth of reading. You need to engage thoroughly with that one text, more that you would otherwise. And even though the emphasis is on one author’s theory, depending on your ambition, you still want to consult additional literature, and see how other authors have interpreted and contextualised this particular theory.

If the essay question is on a specific topic, on the other hand, say globalisation, gender inequalities or social class, there is usually more of an emphasis on the breadth of reading, and of you demonstrating awareness of different perspectives and interpretations. This tends to result in a higher number of bibliography entries.

The second aspect of the ‘kind of question’ parameter you need to consider is how many dimensions the question has. In the above example, if the question is about one theorist, you will typically need fewer readings than if the question is asking you to compare theories, for example, compare Foucault’s notion of how power and knowledge are connected to what Marx and Engels wrote about the issue. Both might be 2,000 word essays, but the number of readings is likely to be twice as many if you add this comparison.

The same goes for topic questions. These, too, can involve several dimensions. A question that asks about the impact of globalisation on cultural practices in Japan is more likely to be focused on a selected number of core readings. If a similar question asks about the impact of globalisation on culture, the economy and politics in Japan, this multitude of dimensions will require additional readings for the additional dimensions.

Parameter 3: Quality of sources

Another parameter that determines the number of sources you need to use is the quality of your sources, and the kinds of sources you use. Once again, two distinctions are important here. First, there is a difference between core readings, and ones that are more peripheral. The core readings should indeed provide the core of your argument, and the basis for the essay to build on. They are usually provided in the course material, either as essay readings, or for the respective lectures or course units the essay builds on. The decisive point, however, and what defines these as core readings for the purpose of your essay, is that they touch on the core of what the essay is about. Peripheral readings are ones that provide examples, additional material, data and illustration. They help your essay branch out, and cover just that little bit more ground. The point, however, is that they are additional, and if push comes to shove, you could probably do without them. The core readings, in contrast, are indispensable.

This distinction is important for how you count your number of readings. Core readings count fully; peripheral readings, not quite so much. This can become a problem if your bibliography is overly weighted towards peripheral readings. If you have, say, ten readings in your bibliography, but only one or two are on the core of the topic, this will be insufficient, despite the relatively high number of readings. If we take the above example of the effects of globalisation on Japanese culture, if only one or two readings are on globalisation, and ten others on examples, this might leave the core a little hollow, and the discussion of globalisation in a more general sense might just not have sufficient substance. I have used the word ‘might’ here, because this does depend on the kinds of readings, and there is a chance that this bibliography actually does work. The important point is that this is something you need to pay attention to, and ultimately it is your judgment call.

The second distinction of the kinds of sources is between academic and non-academic sources. As a rule of thumb, you should be very careful about using non-academic sources in the first place. All of the above is written on the assumption that we are talking about academic (i.e. peer-reviewed) journal articles and books. Under certain circumstances, however, it is possible to use non-academic sources, such as news articles or blogposts, mostly to provide current examples and illustration of whatever you are writing about. If you do use such sources, however, they should never be seen as a replacement for academic sources. And when you count how many sources you have used, you should simply take these out of the equation. If you have used, say three academic sources and 15 non-academic sources, in the eyes of your marker (at least if I am that marker) you have only used three sources, plus some additional, peripheral, illustrative material. This is not to say that this additional material cannot also be very useful. But as discussed above, academic essay writing starts with an acknowledgment of what is already out there in terms of academic literature and research, and is based on the body of knowledge that has evolved over time on a specific topic, not on yesterday’s news.

Parameter 4: specific instructions

The last parameter to consider can throw the entire calculation over board. It is whether the essay question comes with specific instructions. Such instructions could be, for example, that an essay in social theory really only needs to engage with this one theory. This gives you permission to limit the number of readings. However, be careful here, as this can be a false friend. Reading additional secondary literature on the theory might actually help you understand it better.

Or you might be encouraged to use news articles to provide examples for your discussion. This can potentially lead to a much higher number of bibliography entries. But as discussed above, this should not replace academic literature, and the latter should always form the basis and core of your discussion.

These four parameters are what I think are the most relevant determinants for the number of readings you need to use in your essay. But maybe I missed something? What other considerations do you think are important? Or maybe you disagree with some claim made in this article? Do let me know in the comments below.

3 thoughts on “How many sources should I use in my essay?”

These articles are so, so helpful. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much! This helps me a lot : )

This is so helpful and clear, thanks a lots

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

HTML Text How many sources should I use in my essay? / The Critical Turkey by blogadmin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0

Plain text How many sources should I use in my essay? by blogadmin @ is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0

Report this page

To report inappropriate content on this page, please use the form below. Upon receiving your report, we will be in touch as per the Take Down Policy of the service.

Please note that personal data collected through this form is used and stored for the purposes of processing this report and communication with you.

If you are unable to report a concern about content via this form please contact the Service Owner .

How to Write a 5000 Word Essay: Structure, Examples, and Page Count

If you think that a 5000-word essay is a lengthy one, you’re right. This word count is typical for term papers that assess your knowledge gained during a study course. Moreover, it is common for graduate school assignments. But do not panic! The 5000 words are manageable with valuable insights we have prepared for you!

In this article, we will discuss the format and structure of an essay of 5000 words . As a bonus, you will receive some helpful tips and examples!

📝 What Does a 5000 Word Essay Look Like?

📃 5000 word essay in pages, ✍️ how to write a 5000 word essay.

• ✔️ Bonus Writing Tips

📋 5000 Word Essay Example

📚 5000 word essay topics, 🔗 references.

Let’s look at the structure of an essay and its body paragraphs to give you a general idea of what a 5000-word essay looks like.

5000 Word Essay Structure

A 5000-words essay structure is similar to that of shorter papers. Yet, due to the large number of words, such writings should be carefully organized using headings and subheadings. Besides, this word count implies a thorough examination of the subject, so you may need appendices to include additional information.

Here are the main elements of a 5000-word essay.

5000 Words Paragraph

A compelling body paragraph clarifies, proves, and supports your thesis statement. Here are the main elements of an effective paragraph:

• A topic sentence. Begin by summarizing the central idea of a paragraph to direct the reader through your argument. Ensure your topic sentence is connected to your thesis.
• An explanation of the topic sentence. If your topic sentence needs some explication, add 1-2 sentences to clarify it.
• Evidence. Integrate your evidence (facts, quotes, statistics, etc.) in the text smoothly. Don’t just drop in the quotation without introducing its author and tying it to your argument.
• An explanation of the evidence. First, unpack your proof to show you understand its meaning. Then, demonstrate how this evidence supports your topic sentence or thesis statement.
• Concluding sentence. Finish with a closing statement that explains how this paragraph contributes to the overall development of your argument.

Look at a 5000-words paragraph example taken from an essay “ Alternative Fuel Sources in Aviation ” to see how these elements work in practice:

[Topic sentence] Replacing aviation kerosene with biodiesel has the highest potential to achieve reductions in aviation carbon dioxide emissions . [Explanation] This is important because this fuel type can be used in existing aircraft. It can be added to tanks and mixed with jet fuel or kerosene. [Evidence] Kim et al. (2019, p. 317) report that “due to high R&D costs and long lifecycle of aircraft, drop-in biofuels stand as a promising solution for addressing aviation’s environmental sustainability.” [Explanation] There is already a proven safe technology that gives effective results. The difficulty today lies in the fact that only a few plants produce bio-aviation fuel, while more than a hundred new processing plants are needed every year. [Concluding sentence] So, the industry is yet quite far from the figures for the required number of deliveries.

The number of pages that take up 5000 words depends on the font and document settings. Let’s dive in and learn how many pages a 5000-word essay is with different formatting options!

5000 Words Single-Spaced

The page count of a 5000-word research paper depends on the font size, margins, etc. If we choose the 12-point Times New Roman font, set single spacing, and 1-inch margins, then 1 page will be approximately 550 words. As a result, 5000 words with such parameters will take about 9 single-spaced pages.

5000 Words Double-Spaced

The most commonly used settings for academic essays are double spacing, the 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font, and 1-inch margins on all sides. With these parameters, 1 page will take 275 words on average. Accordingly, a 5000-word essay will take slightly more than 18 double-spaced pages.

Have you ever struggled with structuring your writing? Then we have something for you! Let’s look at how to write each part of a 5000-word essay.

Introduction

An introduction grabs readers’ attention, provides the context of the topic, and presents the essay’s purpose and direction. It often begins with an outline of the basic concepts of the subject and then gives specific ideas that will be explored in the body.

Here are some crucial components of the introductory paragraph:

• Hook. The hook is an opening statement that helps make a strong first impression. You can use quotes, anecdotes, facts, etc., to drive your readers in.
• Background information. Background information establishes a general backdrop for the paper by informing readers of everything they need to know before reading the essay’s body. It should start with broad thoughts and then narrow to one precise, focused idea.
• Thesis statement. The thesis statement should reveal the author’s motivation for writing, express the core idea of the essay, and provide a direction for the main body.

A 5000-word essay introduction takes 10% of the total word count, that is, 500 words. Since one paragraph usually contains 100-200 words, an introduction can take 3-4 paragraphs.

The main body of a 5000-word essay contains 20-40 well-developed paragraphs. We have already discussed their structure above. Now, let’s look at how to organize this large number of paragraphs in a logical sequence!

A conclusion does not just restate your arguments or your research problem but also synthesizes your essential ideas.

A solid conclusion should do the following:

• Restate your argument. It is crucial to reiterate the paper’s thesis to remind readers of your claims at the beginning of the essay.
• Summarize your main points. An effective conclusion will connect the central ideas and relate them to one another.
• Clarify the context of your argument. Ensure that your readers understand the broader implications of your topic.

Like the introduction, the conclusion takes 10% of the word count — about 500 words — and can be divided into 3-4 paragraphs.

✔️ 5000 Words Essay: Bonus Writing Tips

We know how to make the writing process smoother and more manageable! Check out the tips below and use them while drafting your 5000-word essay:

• Create an outline . Outlining will help you organize ideas logically and thoughtfully and plan the use of sources to support your main points.
• Make informative section headings. Organize the body into sections with well-worded headings that represent the topic discussed.
• Keep the essay question in mind. If you have been given an assignment question, always bear it in mind while writing your essay to ensure you don’t stray from the subject.
• Use links between paragraphs. Make logical transitions between paragraphs to increase the readability and coherence of your writing.
• Take breaks . Don’t try to write your paper in one day or night. It is okay to take breaks and compose it over several days.

We suggest you check out a 5000-words example entitled “ Importance of Checklists in Veterinary Practice. ” Here, we’ll examine the structure of this paper.

• Alcohol use during pregnancy and a child’s behavioral disorders.
• Comparing the relations of church and state in Europe.
• Applications of cloud technologies in bioinformatics.
• Copyright infringement and artificial neural networks.
• The perception of male beauty in the English-speaking world.
• Causes and effects of rising cybercrime rates during COVID-19.
• Doomsday scenarios in different cultures and their importance.
• Extremism on social media: Sentiment analysis of textual evidence.
• Mandatory recycling: Is it a feasible solution to environmental issues?
• The impact of homeschooling on socio-emotional development.
• Grief, loss, and suffering at the end of life: Masters in palliative care.
• Ecological thinking and transformative learning.
• Challenges of project management.
• Operational practices of the UAE-based businesses.
• Siemens energy: Renewable energy system.
• Every child matters: The UK government green paper.
• The higher education institution: Organizational justice.
• Marine Environmental High-Risk Areas: Definition.
• An improved strategy as an implication of an EBP study.
• Rockville case: Prevention and enforcement analysis.
• Management theories in the Coca-Cola Company.
• Learning English as a second language by Arabic speakers.
• Data gap analysis in America’s community bankers.
• Critique of the negotiation theory: Distributive bargaining.
• Prenuptial agreements and Islamic women’s rights in the US and the UK.
• Psychological perspectives and behaviors in childhood.
• Unilever Group’s supply chain and management.
• Strategic management plan: GrowthDC.
• Super Greens Organic Food Restaurant’s business plan.
• Business networking strategies for collaboration.
• Tenet Healthcare Corporation: Training and development.
• Thai-Lay Fashion Ltd.: Leadership and motivation.
• The culture of music consumption: The changing trends and indie label management.
• The oil industry and supply chain management.
• Remote sensing and image processing: Examining privacy and data protection issues.
• The impact of PEG feeding on patients’ and carers’ daily lives.
• Louvre and Abu Dhabi museums’ design innovation.
• Driving forces for changes in special education.
• Leadership and organizational change.
• Strategic shipping operations management: Liquefied natural gas.
• Speaker recognition: Multispeaker.
• Heritage visitor attractions in Malta.
• Russian cyberterrorism and the United States election of 2016.
• The British Petroleum Company Plc: Corporate governance.
• The PepsiCo Company’s strategic management.
• Institutions and their effect on economic performance.
• Male and female executives in the United States.
• Habermas: Rescuing the public sphere.
• Organizational justice: Effects on organizational citizenship behavior.
• Vaccination issues concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

❓5000 Word Paper: FAQ

How many pages is 5000 words.

A 5000-word essay takes approximately 20 double-spaced pages or 10 single-spaced pages. You may see different results if you use unusual formatting or margins. Still, with standard word processor default settings and a 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font, your output should be close to the mentioned one.

Is a 5000-Word Essay Long?

At first glance, 5,000 words may seem quite a lot. That is why such a word count is usually typical for graduate-level writing. For example, many master’s degree course papers must be 15 to 20 pages long. A thesis or capstone project can be even lengthier.

How Long Is a 5000 Word Essay?

With a paragraph length of 100-200 words, an essay in 5000 words may have 26-48 paragraphs:

• 3-4 for the introduction;
• 20-40 for the main body;
• 3-4 for the conclusion.

How Long Does It Take to Write a 5000 Word Essay?

Depending on your typing speed, it takes 100 to 200 minutes to type 5000 words on a keyboard. However, an academic paper also requires much time for researching, outlining, writing, and proofreading. As a result, you may spend from 2-5 hours to several days on a 5000-word essay.

How Many References for a 5000 Word Essay?

A rule of thumb is to have 1 source for each page assigned. So, a 20-page paper containing 5000 words will require around 20-30 references. Each paragraph will typically have 2–3 citations. Remember that no source should appear only once in your paper or be cited so frequently that it seems you only have one.

• Graduate-Level Writing Tips: Definitions, Do’s and Don’ts | Purdue University
• Writing at Masters’ Level | University of Reading
• Tips for Writing Graduate School Essays | Oklahoma State University
• Organization Strategies | University of Illinois, Springfield
• Essays and Term Papers | PennState
• Patterns of Organization | University of Washington
• Organizing Your Writing | Writing for Success
• Strong Body Paragraphs | University of Washington
• Share to Facebook
• Share to LinkedIn

You might also like

4000 word essay writing guide: how to structure & how many pages is it, greek life 101: fraternities and sororities explained, how to write a 1500 word essay: structure, length, & examples.

How to Reference in an Essay (9 Strategies of Top Students)

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Learn about our Editorial Process

Are you feeling overwhelmed by referencing?

When you’re first asked to do referencing in an essay it can be hard to get your head around it. If it’s been a while since you were first taught how to reference, it can be intimidating to ask again how to do it!

I have so many students who consistently lose marks just because they didn’t get referencing right! They’re either embarrassed to ask for extra help or too lazy to learn how to solve the issues.

So, here’s a post that will help you solve the issues on your own.

Already think you’re good at referencing? No worries. This post goes through some surprising and advanced strategies for anyone to improve no matter what level you are at!

In this post I’m going to show you exactly how to reference in an essay. I’ll explain why we do it and I’ll show you 9 actionable tips on getting referencing right that I’m sure you will not have heard anywhere else!

The post is split into three parts:

• What is a Reference and What is a Citation?
• Why Reference? (4 Things you Should Know)
• How to Reference (9 Strategies of Top Students)

If you think you’ve already got a good understanding of the basics, you can jump to our 9 Advanced Strategies section.

Part 1: What is a Reference and What is a Citation?

What is a citation.

An in-text mention of your source. A citation is a short mention of the source you got the information from, usually in the middle or end of a sentence in the body of your paragraph. It is usually abbreviated so as not to distract the reader too much from your own writing. Here’s two examples of citations. The first is in APA format. The second is in MLA format:

• APA: Archaeological records trace the original human being to equatorial Africa about 250,000–350,000 years ago (Schlebusch & Jakobsson, 2018) .
• MLA: Archaeological records trace the original human being to equatorial Africa about 250,000–350,000 years ago (Schlebusch and Jakobsson 1) .

In APA format, you’ve got the authors and year of publication listed. In MLA format, you’ve got the authors and page number listed. If you keep reading, I’ll give some more tips on formatting further down in this article.

And a Reference is:

What is a Reference?

A reference is the full details of a source that you list at the end of the article. For every citation (see above) there needs to be a corresponding reference at the end of the essay showing more details about that source. The idea is that the reader can see the source in-text (i.e. they can look at the citation) and if they want more information they can jump to the end of the page and find out exactly how to go about finding the source.

Here’s how you would go about referencing the Schlebusch and Jakobsson source in a list at the end of the essay. Again, I will show you how to do it in APA and MLA formats:

• APA: Schlebusch, C. & Jakobsson, M. (2018). Tales of Human Migration, Admixture, and Selection in Africa. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics , 11 (33), 1–24.
• MLA: Schlebusch, Carina and Mattias Jakobsson. “Tales of Human Migration, Admixture, and Selection in Africa.” Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics , vol. 11, no. 33, 2018, pp. 1–24.

In strategy 1 below I’ll show you the easiest and fool proof way to write these references perfectly every time.

One last quick note: sometimes we say ‘reference’ when we mean ‘citation’. That’s pretty normal. Just roll with the punches. It’s usually pretty easy to pick up on what our teacher means regardless of whether they use the word ‘reference’ or ‘citation’.

Part 2: Why Reference in an Essay? (4 Things you Should Know)

Referencing in an essay is important. By the time you start doing 200-level courses, you probably won’t pass the course unless you reference appropriately. So, the biggest answer to ‘why reference?’ is simple: Because you Have To!

Okay let’s be serious though … here’s the four top ‘real’ reasons to reference:

1. Referencing shows you Got an Expert’s Opinion

You can’t just write an essay on what you think you know. This is a huge mistake of beginning students. Instead this is what you need to do:

Top Tip: Essays at university are supposed to show off that you’ve learned new information by reading the opinions of experts.

Every time you place a citation in your paragraph, you’re showing that the information you’re presenting in that paragraph was provided to you by an expert. In other words, it means you consulted an expert’s opinion to build your knowledge.

If you have citations throughout the essay with links to a variety of different expert opinions, you’ll show your marker that you did actually genuinely look at what the experts said with an open mind and considered their ideas.

This will help you to grow your grades.

2. Referencing shows you read your Assigned Readings

Your teacher will most likely give you scholarly journal articles or book chapters to read for homework between classes. You might have even talked about those assigned readings in your seminars and tutorials.

Great! The assigned readings are very important to you.

You should definitely cite the assigned readings relevant to your essay topic in your evaluative essay (unless your teacher tells you not to). Why? I’ll explain below.

• Firstly, the assigned readings were selected by your teacher because your teacher (you know, the person who’s going to mark your essay) believes they’re the best quality articles on the topic. Translation: your teacher gave you the best source you’re going to find. Make sure you use it!
• Secondly, by citing the assigned readings you are showing your teacher that you have been paying attention throughout the course. You are showing your teacher that you have done your homework, read those assigned readings and paid attention to them. When my students submit an essay that has references to websites, blogs, wikis and magazines I get very frustrated. Why would you cite low quality non-expert sources like websites when I gave you the expert’s article!? Really, it frustrates me so, so much.

So, cite the assigned readings to show your teacher you read the scholarly articles your teacher gave to you. It’ll help you grow your marks.

3. Referencing deepens your Knowledge

Okay, so you understand that you need to use referencing to show you got experts’ opinions on the topic.

But there’s more to it than that. There’s actually a real benefit for your learning.

If you force yourself to cite two expert sources per paragraph, you’re actually forcing yourself to get two separate pieces of expert knowledge. This will deepen your knowledge!

So, don’t treat referencing like a vanity exercise to help you gain more marks. Actually view it as an opportunity to develop deeper understandings of the topic!

When you read expert sources, aim to pick up on some new gems of knowledge that you can discuss in your essays. Some things you should look out for when finding sources to reference:

• Examples that link ideas to real life. Do the experts provide real-life examples that you can mention in your essay?
• Facts and figures. Usually experts have conducted research on a topic and provide you with facts and figures from their research. Use those facts and figures to deepen your essay!
• Short Quotes. Did your source say something in a really interesting, concise or surprising way? Great! You can quote that source in your essay .
• New Perspectives. Your source might give you another perspective, angle or piece of information that you can add to your paragraph so that it’s a deep, detailed and interesting paragraph.

So, the reason we ask you to reference is at the end of the day because it’s good for you: it helps you learn!

4. Referencing backs up your Claims

You might think you already know a ton of information about the topic and be ready to share your mountains of knowledge with your teacher. Great!

So, should you still reference?

Yes. Definitely.

You need to show that you’re not the only person with your opinion. You need to ‘stand on the shoulders of giants.’ Show what other sources have said about your points to prove that experts agree with you.

You should be saying: this is my opinion and it’s based on facts, expert opinions and deep, close scrutiny of all the arguments that exist out there .

If you make a claim that no one else has made, your teacher is going to be like “Have you even been reading the evidence on this topic?” The answer, if there are no citations is likely: No. You haven’t.

Even if you totally disagree with the experts, you still need to say what their opinions are! You’ll need to say: “This is the experts’ opinions. And this is why I disagree.”

So, yes, you need to reference to back up every claim. Try to reference twice in every paragraph to achieve this.

Part 3: Strategies for How to Reference in an Essay (9 Strategies of Top Students)

Let’s get going with our top strategies for how to reference in an essay! These are strategies that you probably haven’t heard elsewhere. They work for everyone – from beginner to advanced! Let’s get started:

1. Print out your Reference Style Cheat Sheet

Referencing is hard and very specific. You need to know where to place your italics, where the commas go and whether to use an initial for full name for an author.

There are so many details to get right.

And here’s the bad news: The automated referencing apps and websites nearly always get it wrong! They tell you they can generate the citation for you. The fact of the matter is: they can’t!

Here’s the best way to get referencing right: Download a referencing cheat sheet and have it by your side while writing your essay.

Your assignment outline should tell you what type of referencing you should use. Different styles include: APA Style, MLA Style, Chicago Style, Harvard Style, Vancouver Style … and many more!

You need to find out which style you need to use and download your cheat sheet. You can jump onto google to find a cheat sheet by typing in the google bar:

Download a pdf version of the referencing style cheat sheet, print it out, and place it on your pinboard or by your side when writing your essay.

2. Only cite Experts

There are good and bad sources to cite in an essay.

You should only cite sources written, critiqued and edited by experts. This shows that you have got the skill of finding information that is authoritative. You haven’t just used information that any old person popped up on their blog. You haven’t just gotten information from your local newspaper. Instead, you got information from the person who is an absolute expert on the topic.

Here’s an infographic listing sources that you should and shouldn’t cite. Feel free to share this infographic on social media, with your teachers and your friends:

3. Always use Google Scholar

Always. Use. Google. Scholar.

Ten years ago students only had their online university search database to find articles. Those university databases suck. They rarely find the best quality sources and there’s always a big mix of completely irrelevant sources mixed in there.

Google Scholar is better at finding the sources you want. That’s because it looks through the whole article abstract and analyses it to see if it’s relevant to your search keywords. By contrast, most university search databases rely only on the titles of articles.

Use the power of the best quality search engine in the world to find scholarly sources .

Note: Google and Google Scholar are different search engines.

To use Google Scholar, go to: https://scholar.google.com

Then, search on google scholar using keywords. I’m going to search keywords for an essay on the topic: “What are the traits of a good nurse?”

If you really like the idea of that first source, I recommend copying the title and trying your University online search database. Your university may give you free access.

4. Cite at least 50% sources you found on your Own Research

Okay, so I’ve told you that you should cite both assigned readings and readings you find from Google Scholar.

Here’s the ideal mix of assigned sources and sources that you found yourself: 50/50.

Your teacher will want to see that you can use both assigned readings and do your own additional research to write a top essay . This shows you’ve got great research skills but also pay attention to what is provided in class.

I recommend that you start with the assigned readings and try to get as much information out of them, then find your own additional sources beyond that using Google Scholar.

So, if your essay has 10 citations, a good mix is 5 assigned readings and 5 readings you found by yourself.

5. Cite Newer Sources

As a general rule, the newer the source the better .

The best rule of thumb that most teachers follow is that you should aim to mostly cite sources from the past 10 years . I usually accept sources from the past 15 years when marking essays.

However, sometimes you have a really great source that’s 20, 30 or 40 years old. You should only cite these sources if they’re what we call ‘seminal texts’. A seminal text is one that was written by an absolute giant in your field and revolutionized the subject.

Here’s some examples of seminal authors whose old articles you would be able to cite despite the fact that they’re old:

• Education: Vygotsky, Friere, Piaget
• Sociology: Weber, Marx, C. Wright Mills
• Psychology: Freud, Rogers, Jung

Even if I cite seminal authors, I always aim for at least 80% of my sources to have been written in the past 10 years.

6. Reference twice per Paragraph

How much should you reference?

Here’s a good strategy: Provide two citations in every paragraph in the body of the essay.

It’s not compulsory to reference in the introduction and conclusion . However, in all the other paragraphs, aim for two citations.

Let’s go over the key strategies for achieving this:

• These two citations should be to different sources, not the same sources twice;
• Two citations per paragraph shows your points are backed up by not one, but two expert sources;
• Place one citation in the first half of the paragraph and one in the second half. This will indicate to your marker that all the points in the whole paragraph are backed up by your citations.

This is a good rule of thumb for you when you’re not sure when and how often to reference. When you get more confident with your referencing, you can mix this up a little.

7. The sum total of your sources should be minimum 1 per 150 words

You can, of course, cite one source more than once throughout the essay. You might cite the same source in the second, fourth and fifth paragraphs. That’s okay.

But, you don’t want your whole essay to be based on a narrow range of sources. You want your marker to see that you have consulted multiple sources to get a wide range of information on the topic. Your marker wants to know that you’ve seen a range of different opinions when coming to your conclusions.

When you get to the end of your essay, check to see how many sources are listed in the end-text reference list. A good rule of thumb is 1 source listed in the reference list per 150 words. Here’s how that breaks down by essay size:

• 1500 word essay: 10 sources (or more) listed in the reference list
• 2000 word essay: 13 sources (or more) listed in the reference list
• 3000 word essay: 20 sources (or more) listed in the reference list
• 5000 word essay: 33 sources (or more) listed in the reference list

8. Instantly improve your Reference List with these Three Tips

Here’s two things you can do to instantly improve your reference list. It takes less than 20 seconds and gives your reference list a strong professional finish:

a) Ensure the font size and style are the same

You will usually find that your whole reference list ends up being in different font sizes and styles. This is because you tend to copy and paste the titles and names in the citations from other sources. If you submit the reference list with font sizes and styles that are not the same as the rest of the essay, the piece looks really unprofessional.

So, quickly highlight the whole reference list and change its font to the same font size and style as the rest of your essay. The screencast at the end of Step 8 walks you through this if you need a hand!

b) List your sources in alphabetical order.

Nearly every referencing style insists that references be listed in alphabetical order. It’s a simple thing to do before submitting and makes the piece look far more professional.

If you’re using Microsoft Word, simply highlight your whole reference list and click the A>Z button in the toolbar. If you can’t see it, you need to be under the ‘home’ tab (circled below):

You’ve probably never heard of a hanging indent. It’s a style where the second line of the reference list is indented further from the left-hand side of the page than the first line. It’s a strategy that’s usually used in reference lists provided in professional publications.

If you use the hanging indent, your reference list will look far more professional.

Here’s a quick video of me doing it for you:

9. Do one special edit especially for Referencing Style

The top students edit their essays three to five times spaced out over a week or more before submitting. One of those edits should be specifically for ensuring your reference list adheres to the referencing style that your teacher requires.

To do this, I recommend you get that cheat sheet printout that I mentioned in Step 1 and have it by your side while you read through the piece. Pay special attention to the use of commas, capital letters, brackets and page numbers for all citations. Also pay attention to the reference list: correct formatting of the reference list can be the difference between getting the top mark in the class and the fifth mark in the class. At the higher end of the marking range, things get competitive and formatting of the reference list counts.

A Quick Summary of the 9 Top Strategies…

Follow the rules of your referencing style guide (and that cheat sheet I recommended!) and use the top 9 tips above to improve your referencing and get top marks. Not only will your referencing look more professional, you’ll probably increase the quality of the content of your piece as well when you follow these tips!

Here’s a final summary of the 9 top tips:

Strategies for How to Reference in an Essay (9 Strategies of Top Students)

• Print out your Reference Style Cheat Sheet
• Only cite Experts
• Always use Google Scholar
• Cite at least 50% sources you found on your Own Research
• Cite Newer Sources
• Reference twice per Paragraph
• The sum total of your sources should be minimum 1 per 150 words
• Instantly improve your Reference List with these Three Tips
• Do one special edit especially for Referencing Style

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 15 Inspiring & Fun Teacher Desk Setup Ideas
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 26 Dorm Room Decoration Ideas (for Inspiration)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 25 Study Desk Aesthetic Ideas
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 25 Thoughtful Ways to Greet your Students

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• +44 (0) 207 391 9032

Recent Posts

How long should a thesis statement be.

• How to Write a Character Analysis Essay
• Best Colours for Your PowerPoint Presentation: How to Choose
• How to Write a Nursing Essay
• Top 5 Essential Skills You Should Build As An International Student
• How Professional Editing Services Can Take Your Writing to the Next Level
• How to Write an Effective Essay Outline
• How to Write a Law Essay: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples
• What Are the Limitations of ChatGPT?
• How to Properly Write an Essay Outline Using ChatGpt
• Academic News
• Custom Essays
• Dissertation Writing
• Essay Marking
• Essay Writing
• Essay Writing Companies
• Model Essays
• Model Exam Answers
• Oxbridge Essays Updates
• PhD Writing
• Significant Academics
• Student News
• Study Skills
• University Applications
• University Essays
• University Life
• Writing Tips

How often should you reference?

(Last updated: 14 February 2019)

Since 2006, Oxbridge Essays has been the UK’s leading paid essay-writing and dissertation service

We have helped 10,000s of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students to maximise their grades in essays, dissertations, model-exam answers, applications and other materials. If you would like a free chat about your project with one of our UK staff, then please just reach out on one of the methods below.

Essay referencing can be a headache at university. How many references do you need? When should you use a reference? Should you use references even when you haven't used a direct quotation? How many references are too many? By knowing how to reference properly, you can reduce the stress involved in your essay writing .

To help make essay referencing easier, we've tackled a few of those niggling questions that should make the process a little smoother.

Why does referencing matter?

Including references in your essay is your way to show your markers that you've truly engaged with your subject matter. It is also important as it proves that you've read the key sources which relate to your topic. They additionally show that you've thought carefully about how each source relates to the subject you're writing about. The more helpful references you include, the more well-informed you appear to be about your topic. It’s not always about quantity, either. Quality sources which really inform your essay are really worth including.

Including a bibliography is good academic practice. If you go on to study further, write more about your subject or publish your work, giving kudos to the writers whose work you took information and inspiration from is essential. A bibliography also provides a helpful resource you can go back to and use for future work.

How many references is too many references?

Of course, it is possible to use too many references . If you are using references just to show off all the books you've read, this will be obvious and will not impress your markers. You need to choose the sources which really contribute to your essay; supporting your argument, contesting it or prompting interesting, relevant questions.

Remember, markers also want to see evidence of your own, original thinking. Using too many references does not leave much room for your personal standpoint to shine through. As a general rule, you should aim to use one to three, to support each key point you make. This of course depends on subject matter and the point you are discussing, but acts as a good general guide. It can be useful to have a best practice breakdown of your essay to help you work out how many references to use. Here's a rough guide to help you get the balance right for any piece of academic work:

Introduction

• Your introduction should make up approximately 10% of your essay. You may want to use one or two references to define your topic in this section, depending on your word count.
• The main body of your essay (which will include the key points in your argument ) should make up approximately 75% of your essay. For example: In a 2000 word essay, you will have 1500 words to use. Each main point you make should typically use 1-3 paragraphs, which should average around 200-400 words in total. This will give you room for around 5 key points, each supported by 2 or 3 references. Try and use direct or primary references where possible. Sometimes you’ll need to use in-text references, too.
• Your conclusion should account for around 15% of your essay. You may wish to use 1-3 references to lend authority to your concluding statements. Of course, it is really hard to suggest exactly how many references your essay should include. This depends totally on the subject matter and word count. A Philosophy essay, for example, may have a lot of critical thinking and be quite theory-heavy, and for this reason you may need more references than a typical English Literature Essay. This is just an example – you’ll need to consider your own subject matter and topic.

When to use references

References aren't just used to give credit for quotations. They can be used to indicate that an idea, concept, fact or theory has come directly from a particular reference. Other instances when references must be used include:

• Illustrations

And if you've used any information or ideas from:

• Computer programmes
• Any external source

Essay exams: how to answer ‘To what extent…’

How to write a master’s essay

• academic writing
• dissertation writing
• essay writing
• writing tips

Writing Services

• Essay Plans
• Critical Reviews
• Literature Reviews
• Presentations
• Dissertation Title Creation
• Dissertation Proposals
• Dissertation Chapters
• PhD Proposals
• Journal Publication
• CV Writing Service
• Business Proofreading Services

Editing Services

• Proofreading Service
• Editing Service
• Academic Editing Service

Additional Services

• Marking Services
• Consultation Calls
• Personal Statements
• Tutoring Services

Our Company

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Become a Writer

Terms & Policies

• Fair Use Policy
• Policy for Students in England
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• [email protected]
• Contact Form

Payment Methods

Cryptocurrency payments.

How Many References Should I have in an Essay?

Some teachers provide suggested guidelines for how many sources they want to see cited needed in an essay. If this is the case, students should follow this strictly. If teachers haven’t mentioned anything specifically, students should aim to hit around 6-8 references for every 1,000 words of content. This works to about 1 reference for every 200 words or roughly about 1 reference in each paragraph.

However, this is a general rule and should be considered the bare minimum. We’re not saying that every single paragraph of your assignment should have at least 1 reference. Instead, you need to consider the focus of references based on the subsection of the paper. It is important that you do not stuff in your references all in one place. You shouldn’t also make a conscious effort spread them throughout every section of your paper either . You should add in references organically where it would be needed by putting yourself in the shoes of the reader.

For instance, the literature review section is almost always going to need a higher focus on references . This is because the aim of this section is to establish existing ideas within your chosen topic. This in turn requires citations to the existing sources.

On the other hand, the findings, discussions, and conclusion sections are only going to need a moderate focus on references . These sections require you to make your own inferences based on the material you have researched. You should have partially covered the theoretical background for these in the previous sections. Hence there is a relatively lower need to cite sources here unless you are trying to further support your own findings and conclusions.

As we have mentioned in our guide on how to make introduction and conclusions for assignments, the conclusion section must not have new information that you haven’t covered (even if just partially) in the other sections. Instead, you should use this section to go over the key points to emphasize their implications further. In other words, you should not have any external references in the conclusions section .

Table of Contents

Can you use too many references in an essay?

Yes, having an excessive amount of references in-text dilutes the quality of your paper. Doing this is going to make your paper seem like a very long literature review. Instead, your professors want to see that you have read through existing literature and engaged with it to form your own ideas. We cover in this some detail in our guides on how to prepare a literature review and how to critically analyze information.

Having said that, it is generally better to have too many references as compared to too few sources cited. While both approaches are not ideal, in case of over-citing with proper interlinking of the points from different sources), it shows that you have taken the effort to look up multiple sources. So, while you would have fewer original ideas in this case, the actual content should be of a high quality.

On the other hand, having too few references gives the impression that you probably wrote the paper at the last minute. When we don’t rely on enough external sources, we are likely to end up with generic statements or going off on a tangent.

So, to get an idea of how many citations is too many, you should ask yourself the question of whether you have been able to include enough original content of your own as well. If you’re dealing with a topic which has multiple viewpoints with arguments and counterarguments for each, then it is fine to even have even two or three references clustered together in consecutive sentences. However, just make sure that you follow up these consecutive referenced sentences with what you have inferred from them.

How many times can you cite one source?

You can cite the same source multiple times, as long as you do it the right way, without making it seem like you have relied too heavily on the same source. Teachers expect to see that you have tried to explore different viewpoints on an issue. Simply citing the same sources over and over could make you susceptible to the same biases of those authors.

How do you reference the same author multiple times?

If you’re following the standard Chicago style , when citing the same source consecutively, the use of the word ‘Ibid’ is typically recommended. This word comes from the Latin word ‘ibidem’ which conveys the meaning of ‘in the same place’.

However, it is worth noting that the Chicago 17 th Edition does not favor the use of ‘Ibid’ and instead recommends shortened citations.

Other referencing styles like Harvard and MLA do not recommend the use of ‘Ibid’ and instead encourage shortened references instead. In the APA style, there is no specific recommendation to use ‘Ibid’ either. If you’re following one of these three referencing styles, then you don’t necessarily have to repeat the in-text reference for the source in each sentence. You just need to make it clear that you’re referencing the same source again.

Should Ibid be italicized?

The general consensus in academic circles at present is that foreign words which are used commonly do not need to be italicized. This includes Latin words like ibid., et al., passim, fait accompli and de facto, so you do not need to italicize these words.

Is there a comma after Ibid?

You should follow up the word ‘Ibid’ with a comma and include the page number if you have to be referencing different pages of the same source. If not, then there’s no need to have a comma after Ibid.

Can you have two citations in one sentence?

Yes, you can have two or more citations in one sentence. However, if you if do this, take care to phrase the sentence properly. To avoid making the sentence too long, you can break up the citations as shown below. Alternatively, you can potentially combine the references in parentheses as explained in the next section.

How do you cite two or more references within the same parentheses?

If you want to cite multiple references within the same parentheses, you should separate them by using a semi colon (;) in between. This is shown in the following example in which two closely related points from different sources are combined together.

Calculator for number of References Needed

Here’s a calculator to get a ballpark estimate of the number and type of references which you need for your assignment. Please follow the instructions below to get an idea of how to use this calculator.

Nandakumar, M. K., Ghobadian, A., & O’Regan, N. (2010). Business‐level strategy and performance: The moderating effects of environment and structure.  Management Decision . 48(6), 907-939.

Porter, M. E. (1979). How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy. Harvard Business Review [Online]. Available from: https://hbr.org/1979/03/how-competitive-forces-shape-strategy [Accessed 14 November 2021]

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Privacy Overview

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• How long is an essay? Guidelines for different types of essay

How Long is an Essay? Guidelines for Different Types of Essay

Published on January 28, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The length of an academic essay varies depending on your level and subject of study, departmental guidelines, and specific course requirements. In general, an essay is a shorter piece of writing than a research paper  or thesis .

In most cases, your assignment will include clear guidelines on the number of words or pages you are expected to write. Often this will be a range rather than an exact number (for example, 2500–3000 words, or 10–12 pages). If you’re not sure, always check with your instructor.

In this article you’ll find some general guidelines for the length of different types of essay. But keep in mind that quality is more important than quantity – focus on making a strong argument or analysis, not on hitting a specific word count.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Essay length guidelines, how long is each part of an essay, using length as a guide to topic and complexity, can i go under the suggested length, can i go over the suggested length, other interesting articles.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

In an academic essay, the main body should always take up the most space. This is where you make your arguments, give your evidence, and develop your ideas.

The introduction should be proportional to the essay’s length. In an essay under 3000 words, the introduction is usually just one paragraph. In longer and more complex essays, you might need to lay out the background and introduce your argument over two or three paragraphs.

The conclusion of an essay is often a single paragraph, even in longer essays. It doesn’t have to summarize every step of your essay, but should tie together your main points in a concise, convincing way.

The suggested word count doesn’t only tell you how long your essay should be – it also helps you work out how much information and complexity you can fit into the given space. This should guide the development of your thesis statement , which identifies the main topic of your essay and sets the boundaries of your overall argument.

A short essay will need a focused, specific topic and a clear, straightforward line of argument. A longer essay should still be focused, but it might call for a broader approach to the topic or a more complex, ambitious argument.

As you make an outline of your essay , make sure you have a clear idea of how much evidence, detail and argumentation will be needed to support your thesis. If you find that you don’t have enough ideas to fill out the word count, or that you need more space to make a convincing case, then consider revising your thesis to be more general or more specific.

The length of the essay also influences how much time you will need to spend on editing and proofreading .

You should always aim to meet the minimum length given in your assignment. If you are struggling to reach the word count:

• Add more evidence and examples to each paragraph to clarify or strengthen your points.
• Make sure you have fully explained or analyzed each example, and try to develop your points in more detail.
• Address a different aspect of your topic in a new paragraph. This might involve revising your thesis statement to make a more ambitious argument.
• Don’t use filler. Adding unnecessary words or complicated sentences will make your essay weaker and your argument less clear.
• Don’t fixate on an exact number. Your marker probably won’t care about 50 or 100 words – it’s more important that your argument is convincing and adequately developed for an essay of the suggested length.

In some cases, you are allowed to exceed the upper word limit by 10% – so for an assignment of 2500–3000 words, you could write an absolute maximum of 3300 words. However, the rules depend on your course and institution, so always check with your instructor if you’re unsure.

Only exceed the word count if it’s really necessary to complete your argument. Longer essays take longer to grade, so avoid annoying your marker with extra work! If you are struggling to edit down:

• Check that every paragraph is relevant to your argument, and cut out irrelevant or out-of-place information.
• Make sure each paragraph focuses on one point and doesn’t meander.
• Cut out filler words and make sure each sentence is clear, concise, and related to the paragraph’s point.
• Don’t cut anything that is necessary to the logic of your argument. If you remove a paragraph, make sure to revise your transitions and fit all your points together.
• Don’t sacrifice the introduction or conclusion . These paragraphs are crucial to an effective essay –make sure you leave enough space to thoroughly introduce your topic and decisively wrap up your argument.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, July 23). How Long is an Essay? Guidelines for Different Types of Essay. Scribbr. Retrieved August 12, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/length/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples, how to conclude an essay | interactive example, how to write a statement of purpose | example, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

5000 Word Essay Examples & Topic Ideas

Education system in saudi arabia.

• Subjects: Education Study Courses and Education Programs
• Words: 5446

Pentagon 9/11, Actions and Durations

• Subjects: Terrorism Warfare
• Words: 5403

Greener Pastures

• Subjects: Business Case Study
• Words: 5388

Factors Affecting the Consumption of Men’s Cosmetic Products

• Subjects: Business Marketing
• Words: 5385

Mitigation of Delayed Projects in the UAE

• Subjects: Business Management
• Words: 5443

Social Science and Elementary Teaching Methods

• Subjects: Education Learning Challenges
• Words: 5165

How power and politics play their role in context with consumers

• Subjects: Business Business Ethics
• Words: 5192

The Decision Process in Operations

• Subjects: Business Decision Making
• Words: 5003

What were the implications of Germany’s reunification for France and how did Francois Mitterrand respond to it

• Subjects: History Western Europe
• Words: 5287

Human Trafficking between Africa and Europe: Security Issues

• Subjects: Slavery Sociology
• Words: 5322

The Agricultural Policy in European Union and the United State of America

• Subjects: Agriculture Sciences
• Words: 5019

Sustainability of Trade Relationship Between EU and China

• Subjects: Economics International Trade Policy
• Words: 5064

Key Highlights of the Human Career

• Subjects: Anthropology Sciences
• Words: 5010

Strategic Thinking and Strategic Leadership

• Words: 5481

Emirate Airline General Business Model

• Subjects: Business Strategy
• Words: 5499

Gate Gourmet International Business and Management

Emotional intelligence and gender in leadership.

• Words: 5284

Physical Education Curriculum

• Subjects: Curriculum Development Education
• Words: 5011

Five Year Peace and Security Action Agenda

• Subjects: International Relations Politics & Government
• Words: 5035

The American Empire’s Public Affairs Strategy

• Subjects: Government Politics & Government
• Words: 5480

Compare and Evaluate Reform in One Policy Sector in Two Countries

• Words: 5009

Reinhard Heydrich’s Role in the Holocaust

• Subjects: Nazi Germany Warfare
• Words: 5463

The Death Penalty Debate in the United States of America

• Subjects: Capital Punishment Debates Politics & Government
• Words: 5442

A Just Humanitarian War: Kosovo 1999

• Subjects: Modern Warfare Warfare
• Words: 5370

The Relationship Between Religion and Politics in Somalia

• Subjects: Political Culture Politics & Government
• Words: 5415

United States-Iran Relations, 1930-1945

• Subjects: History United States
• Words: 5027

Service Corporation International

• Words: 5459

Hofstede Labels the Chinese as a Collectivist Culture

• Words: 5037

Avix Car Rentals Company Analysis

• Subjects: Business Company Analysis
• Words: 5174

Unemployment in Saudi Arabia

• Subjects: Economic Systems & Principles Economics
• Words: 5399

Criminology: The CSI Effect Among Jurors

• Subjects: Criminology Law
• Words: 5479

CSI Effect: Crime-Related Shows and Judicial System

• Words: 5104

The Case of Etisalat Company

• Words: 5495

Polymer Based on Ethylene Glycol – Chemistry

• Subjects: Chemistry Sciences
• Words: 5450

Zamil Air Conditioners (ZAC) strategic analysis

• Words: 5408

Risk Management in Construction Projects

• Subjects: Business Risk Management
• Words: 5341

Insanity, Its Nature, Treatment, and Attitudes

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Psychiatry
• Words: 5012

European Court of Justice and Regional Integration

• Subjects: International Organizations Politics & Government

Hammond Aerospace: Company Leadership

• Subjects: Business Leadership Styles
• Words: 5076

Single Parenthood: History and Economic Implication

• Subjects: Sociological Issues Sociology
• Words: 5423

Has Post-Marxist and Critical Theory Strengthened Marxism?

• Subjects: Politics & Government Social & Political Theory
• Words: 5015

The Z Centre for Educational Research

• Subjects: Business Organizational Management
• Words: 5036

Boeing Company: Strategic Alternatives and Recommendations

• Words: 5494

Femme Fatales in Mulvey’s “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”

• Subjects: Art Film Studies
• Words: 5025

Forming Partnerships in Education

• Subjects: Education Education System
• Words: 5290

Food Texture Research for Healthcare

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthy Nutrition
• Words: 5410

The US Government vs. the US Airways

• Subjects: Business & Corporate Law Law
• Words: 5044

Ronald Reagan as a President and a Person

• Subjects: American Ex-Presidents History
• Words: 5358

Modern Algeria

• Subjects: Countries Studies Sciences
• Words: 5466

Women’s Status in the Workforce and Its Evolution

• Subjects: History Women Studies
• Words: 5048

“Plaza Suite” by Neil Simon

• Subjects: Literature Plays
• Words: 5024

Coca Cola’s Business Policy in Zambia and El Salvador

• Words: 5051

Emirates Airlines: Reservation Issues

• Subjects: Project Management Tech & Engineering
• Words: 5489

Strategic Audit: Home Depot Inc.

• Words: 5493

Entrance and Expansion of KFC in China

• Words: 5465

Chipotle Mexican Grill Company’s Management Strategies

• Words: 5032

My Lai Massacre During Vietnam War

• Subjects: Asia History
• Words: 5109

Steve Jobs’ Role at Apple

• Words: 5428

Concepts of Speech: Critique

• Subjects: Communications Sociology
• Words: 5321

Good Governance in IMF member Countries

• Words: 5248

Christian Ethics in Jane Austen’s “Mansfield Park”

• Subjects: British Literature Literature
• Words: 5261

Moral Panic: James Bulger and Mary Bell Cases

• Subjects: Socialization Sociology
• Words: 5105

Bankruptcy and the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005

• Subjects: Big Economic Issues Economics
• Words: 5080

Survey on CMMI Framework.

• Words: 5454

Public Policy & Planning: Inclusionary Zoning in Los Angeles

• Subjects: Politics & Government Public Policies
• Words: 5311

Food Merchandising Corporation’s Conflict Management

Mp3 vs satellite radio in the united states.

• Subjects: Entertainment & Media Media and Society
• Words: 5369

Voice Over IP Technology Review

• Subjects: Internet Tech & Engineering
• Words: 5078

Telefonica Spain’s Consumer Analysis Plan

America: the hands that helped to build her.

• Subjects: Immigration Sociology
• Words: 5200

RNA Interference Exploration Importance

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthcare Research
• Words: 5151

Luxury Boats Product Marketing in Singapore

• Subjects: Business Product Marketing
• Words: 5336

World Literature. Where Does Evil Come From?

• Subjects: Literature on Religion Religion
• Words: 5252

Warsha: Company Analysis, Personnel and Marketing Plan

• Words: 5175

Ford Motor Company During the Great Depression and Today’s Economic Crisis

• Words: 5167

Marriage Differences in Botswana

• Subjects: Family, Life & Experiences Marriage

Secondary and Primary International Market Research

• Words: 5286

K9 Program: Effective Perception of Law Enforcement

• Subjects: Education Educational Resources

“The Wasteland” by Thomas Eliot

• Words: 5204

Senior Housing and Its Future in the US

• Subjects: Economics Housing
• Words: 5418

Children’s Aromatic Library as Intellectual Property

• Subjects: Intellectual Property Law
• Words: 5063

Financial Analysis: ADNOC vs. ENOC

• Subjects: Business Financial Management
• Words: 5008

Apple Company: Strategic Analysis and Recommendations

• Words: 5402

Capital Punishment in Modern American History: Lists of Capital Crimes That Varied From Region to Region

• Subjects: Criminal Law Law
• Words: 5207

Airline Mergers and the Case Between BMI and Lufthansa

• Subjects: Business Industry
• Words: 5077

Analogue to Digital Sound Effect Processor

• Subjects: Other Technology Tech & Engineering
• Words: 5052

Motor Industry: Forklift Market Analysis

• Words: 5236

Human Behavior Effect on the Results of Organization’s Projects

• Words: 5216

Computer Network: Electronic Mail Server

• Subjects: Computer Science Tech & Engineering
• Words: 5456

Current Laws and Acts That Pertain to Computer Security

• Subjects: Computer Security Tech & Engineering
• Words: 5452

Security Solutions for MANETs

• Subjects: Cyber Security Tech & Engineering
• Words: 5014

Process of Pharmaceutical Manufacture of Tablets

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Pharmacology
• Words: 5112

Global Finance Inc.: Assets Risks and Mitigation

• Words: 5340

Life Cycle Assessments of Flooring Cover Materials

• Subjects: Construction Design
• Words: 5198

Retail Stores Managerial Aspects

• Subjects: Business Company Structure
• Words: 5431

Post-Classical Hollywood

• Subjects: Art Cinema Art
• Words: 5267

Nursing Retention: Kanter’s and Neuman’s Theory

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Nursing
• Words: 5071

Education System in Iceland

• Subjects: Education Education Abroad

Under the Influence Problem in the City of Albuquerque

• Subjects: Law Transportation Law
• Words: 5233

Antitrust Law Violation in the Market

Saudi arabian amiantit fiberglass industries analysis.

• Words: 5488

Managing Procurement and Supply

• Words: 5179

Bacterial Biofilms and Infections

• Subjects: Biology Sciences
• Words: 5039

United States Coast Guard’s Leadership Styles

• Words: 5201

Parents’ Perception of Attending an ADHD Clinic

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthcare Institution
• Words: 5042

Empirical and Theoretical Studies Own-Race Bias

• Subjects: Social Movements Sociology

Territorial Claims of Antarctica and the Antarctic Treaty

• Words: 5458

The Park Hyatt Sydney Dining Room Project Refurbishment

• Words: 5384

McLaughlin & Harvey Firm’s Cement Procurement Strategy

• Words: 5121

The Future of Car Markets in Dubai

• Words: 5368

7-Eleven Inc.’s Corporate Analysis

• Words: 5082

Improving Patient Outcomes by Reducing Avoidable Interruptions

Goodman fielder company extensive valuation, a diversity of a workforce: millennial generation.

• Subjects: Business Workforce
• Words: 5266

Child Labour Policies in Business

• Words: 5411

Strategy as a Practice and Leadership

• Words: 5330

The Impact of International Regimes

Van doesburg and the international avante-garde: constructing a new world.

• Subjects: Art Art Movement
• Words: 5173

Pedagogy: The Learning of English as a Foreign Language

• Subjects: Education Pedagogy
• Words: 5364

The Safe Drinking Water Act 1974: Overview

• Subjects: Environmental Law Law
• Words: 5441

Writing a 5000-word essay may seem overwhelming at first, as this word count presupposes composing a paper at least 17-18 pages long. That’s pretty much for a beginner.

With proper planning and thorough research, such an assignment is still manageable. You may need to write a paper of this length if you’re assigned to:

• A research paper (1,500+ words)
• A lengthy report (2,000+ words)
• A term paper (2,500+ words)
• A thesis (5,000+ words)

As you can see, essays of this word count are pretty rare, though still possible. On this page, we’ve collected the top 5000-word paper examples and topics. If you’re looking for more samples, check the IvyPanda free essays page!

• 🔥 Hot Topics for 2024
• 👔 Business Essay Examples
• ✏️ How to Write a 5000 Words Paper
• 🎓️ Paper Examples on Education

💭 5000 Word Paper Prompts

• 📘 Research Paper Examples
• 🌍 International Affairs Paper Topics
• 🏺 History Paper Examples
• 👨‍🏫 Thesis Topic Ideas

🔥 Hot 5000-word Paper Topics for 2024

• Employee data security in the era of cybercrime.
• Approaches to increasing the social responsibility of mass media influencers.
• Methods for overcoming stigma around HIV.
• Role of advertising in the formation of consumerist cultures.
• Tech advancements for early forest fire detection.
• Scale and magnitude of industrial pollution in India.
• The effect of pesticides on consumer health.
• Modern art promotion strategies.
• EU security threats resulting from the conflict in Ukraine.
• Internet advancements as a tool for fairer electoral procedures.
• Child labor prevention policies in Asia.
• Climate change’s impacts on the residents of Bangladesh.
• The destiny of traditional cultural practices in the 21st century.
• Molecular science advancements and cancer treatment.
• The far-reaching implications of modern genome research.

👔 5000 Word Research Papers on Business & Management

• Nelson Mandela Leadership Style Mandela’s fight for democracy and fulfilment of the majority will was also seen in his efforts to reconcile Libya with the rest of the world.
• IKEA Company Analysis It is one of the major retailers of furniture and house wares in the world. The company blends the four components of the marketing mix in order to identify the target market to penetrate.
• New Energy Drink Marketing Strategy The Mission of the company is to be a leader in the manufacturing and marketing of healthy, nutritious beverages in the USA and to satisfy consumers’ needs while at the same time enhancing the individual […]
• International Market Entry Strategies Besides, the international market can also attract consumers from the adjacent countries, thereby widening the marketing portfolio further Nonetheless, this form of direct investment is underpinned by one main challenge in the sense that the […]
• Management Skills in the 21st Century The report also delves in discussing the fundamental skills that the managers and executives of the 21st century need to be equipped with so that they are able to position their organizations at a competitive […]
• Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategies Therefore the success of firm in this industry will depend on the intensity of market research conducted so as to identify the most appropriate product to supply in the market.
• Total Quality Management: A Path to Sustainable Growth and Improvement The considerations include but are not limited to: the identification of the business opportunity, development of the product or service, evaluations of the suppliers, clients and business environment and market analysis among others.
• Global Business Cultural Analysis: Japan The ability to address changes lies on business members’ wish to embrace the goals of the business and the level of the sense of togetherness.
• Hospitality Strategic Management and Marketing The school puts an underscore on the importance of an entity with regard to the context in which the entity operates.asserts that the environment is essential as it is referred to while testing the viability […]
• Achieving Competitive Advantage Through Talent Management in Etisalat It is the assumption of this study that talent management and retaining employees are inherently connected to job satisfaction, as well as the degree development and the number of new tasks associated with a job […]
• Mitigation of Delayed Projects in the UAE Some of the causes of delays in the construction industry and especially in the UAE include delay in the approval of drawings, inadequate and late planning, and slow decision-making for the part of the owners. […]
• Fair Trade as an Alternative to Free Trade The failure of the conventional trade system has forced people to reconsider the assumption that free trade is the best way to create wealth and benefit all of humanity.
• Factors Affecting the Consumption of Men’s Cosmetic Products The main aim of this study was to determine the factors that affect the consumption of cosmetic products in the male population.
• E-Marketing For Small Businesses The urban centers are also attractive to both the small-scale and large firms because of the purchasing power in the towns. This affects the ability of the small-scale firms to adopt e-commerce at a speed […]
• Marketing in Various Areas The Next Generation Management gives the learner the opportunity to expand their mindset to look at the business and economy as part of the globe and the entire global society and therefore initiate solutions that […]

✏️ How to Write a 5000 Word Paper

As you may see from the large word count of a 5000-word assignment, it should be well-structured and organized to maintain readability and coherence. Here are some vital tips for organizing an essay or research paper of this length.

5000-Word Essay Structure

Given the length of this essay assignment, you will need to divide the paper into sections to allow readers to navigate through the content and find appropriate sections with ease.

As a rule, such papers include:

• An introduction
• A literature review that shapes the theoretical basis for further analysis
• An actual analysis
• A conclusion

You may also have a separate methodology section if you’ve applied some systematic approach to data selection or analysis, but it’s a rare occurrence in essays.

As for paragraphs, your 5000-word essay may have from 25 to 50+ paragraphs (if we count the number of paragraphs by a standard word count from 75 to 200 words each).

If this looks too challenging, you might want to use the free outline generator we’ve developed.

5000-Word Essay Introduction

The standard approach to introduction writing is to allocate 10% for papers of 1,500+ words in length and 10-20% for smaller papers. Since we have a 5,000-word assignment, 10% will be enough. This means that you will need to dedicate 1.5-2 pages to your introductory section – around 500 words long. Here, you should introduce your subject, specify the problem you’re going to discuss further, and formulate a thesis statement for 1-2 sentences with your main argument and points on the chosen subject.

Try using the research introduction maker to get a sample introduction for a paper on your topic. Two more instruments that you’ll probably find helpful are a hook sentence generator and a thesis statement tool .

5000-Word Essay Conclusion

Similar to the introductory section, your conclusion should be 10% of the word count – roughly 500 words in this case. It will recap the essay’s main points and arguments you’ve discussed in the body of your paper, focusing on your progress throughout the research and your key insights derived from it. Don’t forget to reformulate the thesis statement, voice a call to action, and make broader conclusions about the significance of your study.

Consider using a closing sentence generator to quickly wrap up the content of your paper.

How Many References Should I Use in a 5000 Word Paper?

It’s hard to estimate the right number of references for this project, as the standard for essay papers is 8-12 references for every 1,000 words. Thus, following this rule, you might need anywhere from 40 to 60 sources for this assignment if the professor doesn’t indicate otherwise.

If you want to quickly generate a reference list for your essay of 5000 words, try the works cited generator we’ve developed.

🎓️ 5000 Word Paper Examples on Education

• Emergency Nursing Disaster Preparedness: Teaching Plan The topic that will be covered in the teaching session is “Emergency Nursing Disaster Preparedness”, and the time allocated to cover the topic is 30 minutes.
• First-Year Students and Issues to Cope with Procrastination in the studying process is not the choice; it is no longer the norm to do the task in the last minute such as the night before it is due.
• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children The paper will look at the applicability of the instrument for assessing the cognitive abilities of children giving special attention to how the freedom for distractibility index is applied.
• The Effects of Self-Directed Learning The featured research questions revolves around the impacts that online learning practices would tend to have on self directed learning; the types of learning skills which students are likely to achieve through online learning practices; […]
• Forming Partnerships in Education Therefore, it is the responsibility of individuals, organisations and governments to ensure that learning processes in schools and colleges are effective.
• Innovation Development in Dubai Schools The following are the research objectives for this study: To explore different factors of innovation development in Dubai schools and how effective they are;
• Teaching: Stressful Activity and Its Implications In other words, it is proposed that a teacher gains the skill of coping with different stress situations in the course of the program.
• Peer Assessment as a Teacher’s Motivating Strategy According to Wadesango & Bayaga, the fact that motivation can drop among high ability students in the process of the intervention points at the necessity to introduce the set of activities that would keep the […]
• Identification and Provision for Mathematically Gifted Students Secondary research is preferred over primary research methods since the core of the study is to appraise already available literature and existing theories on the topic to determine their reliability to the area of study.
• Social Science and Elementary Teaching Methods Holmes and Holmes postulate that teachers, “face the responsibilities and pressures of the accountability movement where the lessons they plan must continue the momentum of the curriculum required by the state, district, school and classroom […]
• Education System In Saudi Arabia To ensure the smooth running of education in the country the government formed the General Directorate of Education. The government recognizes the importance of technical education to improve the skills of the labor force hence […]

Importance of Keeping Appointments 5000 Words

Discuss the importance of being punctual and respectful at all appointments people make in their personal and professional lives. Talk about the consequences of being chronically late and the impact of such conduct on personal and business relationships. Propose actionable strategies to help people improve time management skills and become more punctual.

5000 Word Dissertation Proposal

Five thousand words is the optimal size for a dissertation proposal on any topic. Make sure to cover all essential aspects of your dissertation research in this paper, starting from the introduction of the problem, the research scope, the methodology you’re planning to use, expected outcomes, and the theoretical and practical value of your study for your academic area.

5000 Word Essay on Respect

Respect is a broad, abstract concept that can be researched in depth in a 5,000-word assignment. You can consider respect from the differing perspectives of various cultures and examine its expression in various life domains (family, friendship, relationship, or workplace).

Personal Statement 5000 Words

This word count is pretty much for a personal statement, and it’s not typical to receive such an assignment from an employer or academic institution. However, if you have been assigned to this project, make sure to make it structured, attention-grabbing, and informative. Discuss your educational or professional pathway and mention your key relevant achievements, skills, and future plans.

📘 5000 Word Research Paper Examples

• The Benefits of Being Bilingual in a Global Society And, it represents the matter of crucial importance for educators to be able to adopt a proper perspective onto the very essence of bilingualism/multilingualism, as it will increase their ability to design teaching strategies in […]
• Key Highlights of the Human Career Discovered in the region of Hoxne, the tools that the scientists found and considered the evidence of the people development in the Stone Age, these instruments signify the ancient people moving to Europe from the […]
• Cyber Security Technologies The technology is regularly designed to alter the attack surface of a network, making it hard for attackers to access a system and reducing the susceptibilities and predictabilities available at any time.
• Human Trafficking between Africa and Europe: Security Issues This situation is usually made possible by the fact that the traffickers are usually criminal groups that have a potential to do harm to the victims and to the family of the victims.
• How Public Participation Is Affecting Service Delivery In the UK, the notion of public participation has gained favour, owing to its ability to affect democracy and flexibility in the delivery of public services.
• Conflict Resolution Within an Organization There has been renewed interest on conflict in the organization context in the past decade which can be evidenced by establishment of the International Association for Conflict Management which facilitates in the research and development, […]
• Pentagon 9/11, Actions and Durations The following are the objectives of my study: To find out the major loopholes that was exploited by the terrorists in the attack To find out the measures that can be put in place to […]
• The Relationship between Stress Management and Criminal Recidivism Employment tends to increase the social capital of individuals, what is usually referred to as the networks of shared norms and values, which augments the access to the much-needed necessities.
• How Infographics Make it Easier to Receive Information Some of the limitations to the use of images in infographics include the visual impairment of the intended subjects, lack of clarity in the presentation of the message, and existing personal viewing preferences such as […]

🌍 5000 Word International Affairs Paper Topics

• Consequences of rising China for the USA.
• Origins and political motivations of Al Qaeda.
• Evolution of the US foreign policy in the past 30 years.
• The world’s path to multi-polar politics.
• The role of anti-dumping laws in international trade.
• Can soft power still help in 21st-century regional conflict resolutions?
• The evolution of the global security concept since the 2010s.
• The impact of war in Ukraine on international politics.
• Dynamics of international politics during globalization.
• The American trace in South Sudan civil war.
• The UN as a global governance body – analysis of efficiency.
• Are humanitarian interventions always justified from the viewpoint of international politics?
• The US engagement with Middle East politics – the oil question.
• The Turkey-Afghanistan political tension.
• International affairs from constructivist vs. realist perspectives.

🏺 5000 Word History Paper Examples

• The History of Rice in Japan Towards the end of the 1930s, the government took control of the rice markets and licensed all the brokers as well as rice dealers.
• Women’s Status in the Workforce and Its Evolution However, I was interested in taking a historical excursion into the evolution of the position of women in the labor market and understanding how women of the last century felt in the labor market and […]
• Ronald Reagan as a President and a Person He was against the ideas of communism, and he thus worked hard to ensure that communism did not find a place in Hollywood.
• The US Military Experience in Films He dips a cloth in the water at the bottom of the shell hole and touches it to the wounded Frenchman’s mouth.
• United States-Iran Relations, 1930-1945 The American’s mission was to refurbish Iranian army, to reorganize gendarmerie in Iran; they also had financial mission and smaller missions to the police department and Ministry of Food and Supply in Iran.
• Poverty and Inequality in Jacksonian America One of the reactions of the leaders and most especially the presidents under this period was to impose a policy of non-intervention by the federal government.

👨‍🏫 5000 Word Thesis Topic Ideas

• The impact of global warming and climate change on the Dead Sea ecosystem.
• Homeschooling vs. public education: a longitudinal study of schoolers’ career prospects.
• Long-term impact of Tourette’s syndrome on the person’s life.
• Market analysis adjustments for digital businesses.
• Career prospects of over-qualified staff in business administration.
• Perceived impact of socio-economic status on happiness.
• AI use in healthcare diagnostics: a step forward?
• Biodiversity conservation challenges in East India.
• VR tools for student assessment.
• Pedagogical work with youth subcultures.
• Business development in compliance with ESG principles: a modern business challenge.
• Predictive modeling of financial crises.
• Marketing strategies for small businesses in the post-COVID era.
• The principles of reflex branding.
• Impact of feedback on employee performance and self-esteem in the nursing workplace.

📌 5000 Word Essay: Answers to the Most Pressing Questions

📌 5000 word essay is how many pages.

How many pages is a 5000-word essay? It depends on the line spacing. A paper of this length will take 10 pages (single-spaced) or 20 pages (double-spaced). The exact length of your 5000 words will depend on the citation style used, the footnotes, and the bibliography.

📌 How Many Paragraphs Is 5000 Words?

How much is 5000 words in paragraphs? A typical academic paragraph contains 100 to 150 words. So, a 5000-word essay will consist of 34-37 paragraphs.

📌 How Many Sentences Is 5000 Words?

How many sentences is a 5000-word essay? A typical sentence in academic writing consists of 15-20 words. So, 5000 words are not less than 250-253 sentences.

📌 How to Outline a 5000-Word Essay?

A 5000-word paper requires a very thorough approach to researching, outlining, and writing. You’ll rarely need to write an essay of such a length. 5000-word volume is more suitable for a term paper, research paper, or scholarly article. Apart from the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, you can be required to include other parts like an abstract, literature review, methodology, results, and discussion. The details will depend on the exact requirements.

📌 How Long Does It Take to Write 5000 Words?

How long does it take to write a 5000-word essay? It will take you 2-3 hours to type 5000 words on your keyboard (the total time will depend on your typing speed). Writing an academic paper will take more time because you’ll have to research, make an outline, write, format, and edit your text. It would be best if you planned to spend a little over 16 and a half hours for a 5000-word paper.

📌 How to Reduce Word Count in a 5000-Word Essay?

The easiest way to do that is to get rid of the less important arguments you consider in your 5000-word essay. Rank your arguments and eliminate those weaker. Another idea is to edit your paper in order to make sentences shorter. For instance, you can remove some of the adverbs.

• Dissertation Writing Service
• Write My Dissertation
• Research Paper Writing Service
• Essay Writing Service
• Buy Assignment
• Do My Assignment
• Do My Homework
• Coursework Writing Services
• Case Study Help
• Lab Report Help
• Buy Personal Statement
• Business Assignment Help
• Management Assignment Help
• Nursing Assignment Help
• Law Assignment Help
• MBA Assignment Help
• Accounting Assignment Help
• HR Assignment Help
• Marketing Plan Help
• Financial Analysis Help
• HND Assignment Help
• English Homework Help

Essay Referencing Guide

Writing an essay is never a walk in the park, especially if you are a freshman. Many students are surprised at first when they need to write an essay, because of all the demands that go with it. We are not just talking about doing research and writing at a very high level, but also about essay referencing. In the beginning, it’s difficult to wrap your head around a concept like that. Also, it can still seem pretty daunting if it’s been a while since you’ve done it.

Poor essay referencing is one of the main reasons why students lose points on their essays and receive lower grades, despite the strength of their arguments and their writing chops. Referencing your sources is a must in academic circles, because everything else is considered plagiarism. This means that every time you use a piece of data, images, graphics, or words from someone else’s paper or dissertation, you need to provide a citation and its matching reference. With that in mind, let’s take a look at our essay referencing guide that will help master the skill of referencing once and for all. Keep on reading to find out more.

What Is Referencing And Why Is It Important?

Essay referencing enables you to acknowledge the authors and their contributions, which have been used in your own work. Every essay ever written is underpinned by ideas, research, or finding of other writers, which is why it’s crucial that your essay contains proper citations. There are several reasons why referencing is so important. The most important ones are:

• You avoid plagiarism - this is probably the most obvious reason why you should reference the original authors. It’s perfectly fine to use someone else’s work and findings to act as a basis for your own writing, but if you fail to cite your sources, it is considered a very serious academic offense. Not only is it considered unethical, but you are also violating a number of intellectual property rights every author is entitled to. Pretty much every academic institution has a clear, and usually very strict, policy on plagiarism.
• It provides credibility to your work - regardless of what your essay topic is, there will be a whole raft of previous works available on it. Being able to do your research and pick the most relevant and compelling ones is a skill in itself, which is why essay referencing also gives additional credibility to your writing. It also allows you to bolster your own data with similar research already done by another author, which is something that essay writing service professionals adhere to at all times.
• It shows that you acknowledge research that was done previously - not only is this respectful to other authors, but also shows that you haven’t picked your sources randomly, and that you are well familiar with the subject matter and capable of extracting data that is the most useful and relevant to your essay.

Essay Referencing Systems

Referencing is required for just about every single piece of academic writing, and that includes essays. Now, unfortunately for students, there is no universal referencing system. Instead, there are several different ones that are used in the academic community. Ideally, you get to choose which one to use, but in most cases, the choice is made for you by a specific publication or academic institution you are attending. The most common essay referencing systems are:

Lately, Harvard, which is also knowns as the Author Date system, has been the most prevalent system for essay referencing. It uses short citations inside the text itself, unlike most of the other systems which rely on footnotes at the end of the paper.

When to Use References

Generally speaking, you always need to cite the original author of the work you are using, be it a book, industry publication, or even a website. Now, in order to avoid confusion as to what qualifies as using someone else’s work, we have put together a short list that lets you know when you should reference. You should reference in case you are:

• Directly quoting someone else’s work, regardless of the publication type
• Using a famous quotation
• Paraphrasing someone else’s writing and findings
• Summarizing data points and ideas from someone else’s paper, book, or article
• Using charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, images, or statistical data published by another author
• Using someone else’s idea

That pretty much covers all cases where essay referencing is required. Now, if you are writing from your own experience, using personal anecdotes, opinions, or experiments, you won’t need to reference anything. The same goes for stuff that is common knowledge or a generally accepted fact.

How to Reference

One of the most common mistakes students make when it comes to essay referencing is to write a list of references at the very end of the writing process. In that case, you will need to go through the entire paper and try and find the works which you have cited, which can take a lot of time, and can be very tedious. Instead, try writing down your references as you go along. That way, by the time you are done writing, you will have a complete list of references, and you won’t have to worry about missing any of them, and getting accused of plagiarism.

For every reference, you will need the following details:

• Name of the original author
• The edition, in case it’s not the first
• The year the work was published, as well as the city
• Publisher’s name
• Name of the article if it’s an article, page numbers, or numbers
• In case it’s an online resource, provide the address, as well as the date you accessed the source
• Page number if you are quoting the source directly

Obviously, each referencing system has its own specifics, but for the most part, this is what you should expect to provide for each reference.

How Many References Do You Need?

While there are no strict rules when it comes to the number of references in your essay, there are some general essay referencing guidelines that you’ll want to follow. For example, you might want to include one unique citation per every 150 words of your essay. Of course, you can cite one source more than once, but you should also aim to get data from multiple sources in order to make it more diverse and compelling. Also, you’ll want to include different opinions and view the topic from multiple angles when coming up with your own conclusion.

Depending on essay length, you’ll want to include the following number of references in the reference list:

• 1500-word essay - 10 references or more
• 2000-word essay - 13 references or more
• 2500-word essay - 16 references or more
• 3000-word essay - 20 references or more
• 3500-word essay - 23 references or more
• 4000-word essay - 26 references or more
• 5000-word essay - 33 references or more

While putting together a list of references for your essay requires a lot of work and focus, once you learn all the ins and out of essay referencing, it becomes much easier. We hope that you have found our guide helpful, and that you will start implementing the tips we have shared when writing your next essay.

Written by Michael Writer

Publish Date: August 19, 2022

Michael Writer

Related posts, how long does it take to write different types of assignments, criminology dissertation ideas, marketing dissertation topic ideas, please, login.

How Long Is an Essay? The Ultimate Essay Length Guide

It’s safe to say that most students struggle with the word limit within an essay. Sometimes, it’s hard to find ideas for a text and meet the word requirement for every part of the paper. With so many factors influencing essay length, it’s easy to get confused.

Luckily, our custom-writing team has your back. In this article, our custom-writing experts will answer all your questions regarding essay length. We will also help you write papers with an ideal number of words!

📜 Is Essay Length Important?

📏 essay parts: recommended length.

• 🤔 How to Make Essays Shorter or Longer
• 📑 Essay Length & Formatting
• ❓ Different Academic Levels FAQ
• 📚 Essay Length: Different Types
• ⭐ Other Aspects
• 📝 Essay Examples

🔍 References

Often, the phrase “word limit” causes panic among students. After all, if an essay is too long or too short, your grade will be lowered. However, in reality, there’s nothing to worry about. When it comes to words, limitations are beneficial for both the students and the professors.

Let’s see what exactly it means.

Many people believe that the longer an essay is, the better. However, according to Frontiers, research shows that it’s a bias that couldn’t be further from the truth. A perfect-length paper is one that allows students to express their ideas and showcase their knowledge fully while keeping it clean and simple.

What Influences Essay Length

Various factors determine the length of an essay. Here are the most important ones:

Let’s start with the essentials. Usually, assignment length is given as a number of words rather than pages. Unless your supervisor or instructor mentions any specific limitations, it’s acceptable to be 10% below or above the word limit.

It’s also worth knowing the 80/20 rule . According to it, the body should constitute 80% of the text, while the intro and the conclusion take up the remaining 20%.

Keep reading to learn more about the recommended length of each essay part. The main numbers are shown in the table below:

How Long Should an Introduction Be?

An introduction is the first section and the face of your essay. For that reason, it needs to be compelling and well-thought-out. Usually, it consists of 3 to 5 sentences or 50 to 80 words .

An introduction must have a hook, some background information, and a thesis statement. While the attention grabber and the thesis are usually brief, you may need 2 to 3 sentences for the background. To avoid going overboard, try to stay on topic and don’t add any filler.

How Long Is a Body Paragraph in an Essay?

The length of a body paragraph may vary. Sometimes, it can be limited to a single sentence. In other cases, it may take up a whole page. Usually, it’s recommended to have between 80 and 200 words (5-8 sentences) per body paragraph.

Since the paper’s body contains the most information, it’s necessary to explain and support your ideas properly. That’s why it’s no big deal if your body paragraphs go slightly over the word limit.

How Many Body Paragraphs Should Be in an Essay?

Like the word count, the number of paragraphs is determined by the type of paper and its topic. The minimum is 1. Generally, however, the body consists of 3-5 paragraphs , 1 for each argument.

To improve your paper’s structure, ensure that there are as many paragraphs as there are points in your thesis statement. Each one should have a purpose and support your arguments. If there’s any fluff, it’s better to get rid of it.

How Long Should a Conclusion Be?

Like the introduction, the conclusion consists of 50-80 words . It’s essential to keep it simple and only mention the central ideas. A weak concluding sentence may affect the reader’s understanding of the topic and spoil the overall impression of your paper.

🤔 How to Make Essays Shorter or Longer: Best Tips

Undoubtedly the essay’s content is more important than the number of words you use. But there are times when students go more than 10-15% below or over the limit. Is there a solution to this problem?

Yes, there is! In this section, we will share the most useful tips to help you stay on point with your paper’s word count.

How to Make Essays Longer

Since having enough words is essential for a good grade, we’ve collected the best tips that can help you lengthen your essay without teachers noticing:

• Use relevant quotations.  You don’t need to litter your essay with citations, but using them whenever appropriate is a great idea. For instance, if you’re working on a book analysis, referencing a couple of direct quotes from the source text will make your essay more credible and increase the word count.

• Give examples.  Go through the claims in your paper and provide additional evidence where possible. It will make your essay longer and more informative.

• Use transitional expressions.  Adding transition words and phrases is a natural way of increasing the number of words. It will also improve your essay’s readability. 

• Add more references.  Providing references is always a good idea when writing a formal essay. That way, you will increase the number of words and make your paper more credible.

• Work on your descriptions.  If you struggle to develop new ideas, go over what you’ve already written and consider adding some descriptive words. It’s a great idea for creative essays to include more imagery. 

How to Shorten an Essay

Another struggle of academic writing is cutting down the number of words in your essay to meet a set limit. We are here to tell you that it’s not that hard. Writing straightforwardly and keeping your sentences short is a key to concise content. Here are several strategies you may use to tighten a lengthy essay:

• Choose the active voice.  It takes up less space than passive voice. Using it also makes your writing more professional and compelling.

• Remove needless transitions.  Transitions can indeed maintain the flow of the paper. But some transitional phrases can be easily removed.

• Get rid of unnecessary adverbs and adjectives.  Some students tend to overuse adjectives and adverbs. It adds wordiness to their writing.

• Avoid running starts.  Some students like to start their sentences with long phrases like: “there are,” “it is believed,” or “the fact that.” Getting rid of them makes texts much more concise.

• Delete “that.”  In most cases, the word “that” can often be easily removed from texts.

Another cool trick is to use our summarizing tool as essay shortener. Try it out!

📑 How Long Is an Essay Depending on Formatting?

As we mentioned earlier, the essay’s length is usually limited by the number of words. But sometimes, a teacher may ask you to write a specific number of pages. This is trickier because the amount of text you can place on the page depends on the formatting. By using the font size and spacing properly, it’s possible to make the paper visually longer or shorter. Let’s discuss it in more detail.

Essay Spacing: How Does It Affect the Length?

• Adjusting the spacing between lines.  Try to make the changes as slight as possible. For instance, if you were asked to double-space the paper, use 2.1 or 2.2 spacing instead. Another option is to slightly extend spaces between paragraphs.
• Extending the margin size.  You can increase the right and bottom margins by a quarter to make very subtle changes in length. For example, if the margins are 1 inch , you can set them at 1.25 inches instead. 
• Increasing the spacing between characters.  It is less noticeable than the line spacing. Still, try not to overdo it and keep the numbers between 1.2 and 1.5 . 
• Adjusting the footer.  Add a footer with page numbers to stretch the bottom margin even further.
• Lengthening the header.  You can extend your header by adding your name, e-mail address, or other relevant information. Another option is double-spacing it.

Length of an Essay: Font and Size

• Using the right type of font.  If your instructor didn’t specify which font you should use, go for the bigger ones. We suggest Arial, Bangla Sangam MN, Cambria, or Quicksand. They will make your text look longer without being too on the nose.  
• Using a bigger font size.  This is another technique that can come in handy. However, be careful and don’t increase your font by more than 0.1-0.5 pt.  
• Increasing the size of periods and commas.   This is one of the less noticeable tricks you can use. For instance, if your paper’s font is 12 pt. , increase it to 14 pt. only for punctuation marks. Italicizing periods and commas will also add several lines of length to your essay. 

What to Do if There Are No Length Guidelines

Sometimes a teacher sets no word limit for a written work. What to do in that case? Well, first, you can ask your professor to confirm if they have simply forgotten to mention it. But if that’s not the case, here are a couple of helpful solutions:

• Think of the paragraph number.  Sometimes, you may be given the number of paragraphs instead of words. In that case, you can decide on the number of words depending on how many paragraphs you have. 
• Think about the topic’s complexity.  The length of your paper is also directly dependent on the theme. If the topic is simple, 4-5 paragraphs will be enough. A more complex issue may require an in-depth explanation, so your essay can be 6-8 paragraphs long.

❓ Essay Length for Different Academic Levels FAQ

The length of the elementary school essay is usually short. Usually, a paper needs to have around 3-5 paragraphs, with 4-5 sentences per paragraph. Primary school essays can be 1-2 paragraphs long.

The word limit for a middle school essay is usually between 300 to 1000 words. The most common essay length is 500 words, which is about 5 paragraphs. However, it may differ from school to school.

The length of the high school essay may differ depending on the school and the complexity of the task itself. Usually, however, a paper can be between 300 to 1000 words long.

The length of the undergraduate college essay often falls within the range of 1500 to 2100 words. It translates into roughly 5-7 pages. 5 pages is the most common essay length at this level.

When it comes to the graduate school admission essay, the word limit is usually between 500 and 1000 words. It’s possible to go slightly over or below the set limit; however, it’s best to stick to the requirements as close as possible.

📚 How Long Should an Essay Be: Different Types

Now, let’s talk about different types of essays. How long should they be? Keep reading to learn about the length of college essays, short and extended ones, scholarship essays, and research papers.

How Long Is a College Essay?

When it comes to a college essay, it’s more important to stick to the word limit than with any other paper. Some teachers may refuse to read it unless it meets all the requirements.

The shortest limit for a college essay is about 250 words which is the shortest length of a Common App personal statement. It’s also rare to see a good college essay with over 650 words . So, an average piece usually has between 150 and 650 words ; you can go over or below the limit by 50.

How Long Is a Paragraph in College Essays?

A college essay usually consists of 4-5 paragraphs . One paragraph takes about 1/3 of the page, which is roughly 5 sentences . Each sentence corresponds with one of the following components:

• Topic sentence.
• Explanation.
• Transitions.

College Essay Length Requirements: Top 5 Schools

To understand the requirements for a college application essay even better, take a look at the table below. It showcases the top 5 schools and their length criteria for personal statements. Keep it in mind when writing your college essay:

How Long Is a Short Essay?

A short essay is usually 500 words long. Using 12pt Times New Roman font with standard margins and double spacing should result in about 2 pages of text.

Extended Essay Length

An extended essay is different from a short or a standard one. It requires extensive research and thorough explanation. That’s why the upper limit for this kind of essay is 4000 words . In this case, a typical essay length is 3500 words or 18 paragraphs .

Scholarship Essay Length

Generally, scholarship papers have a limit of 500 words , which is 1 page in length. Most scholarship programs provide additional requirements that indicate the minimum number of words or pages. If there are no set limitations, you can stick to the limit.

How Long Is a Research Paper?

Typically, a research paper is between 4000 and 6000 words long. Sometimes, there are shorter papers, which have around 2000 words, or in-depth ones with over 10000 words.

⭐ Other Aspects of Essay Length

When it comes to essay length, many different aspects come into play. Here, we’ve gathered all the essential information regarding an essay’s number of pages, paragraphs, words, and references.

How Many Paragraphs Are in an Essay?

Sometimes, it is more convenient to count paragraphs rather than words. Let’s now figure out how many paragraphs are in essays of different lengths. You may also check out the examples to see what such an essay looks like:

How to Count Paragraphs in an Essay Based on Word Count

You can also count the number of body paragraphs for your essay using the formula below:

Number of body paragraphs (average) = (TWC – TWC*0.16)/100

• TWC – total word count
• 0.16 – an average percentage of total word count for introduction and conclusion
• 100 – an average number of words per paragraph

How Many Pages Are in an Essay?

The number of pages in your essay may vary from subject to subject. But it’s still possible to determine the number of pages based on word count. Check out the numbers below to see the conversions with bonus examples:

You can also use a specialized calculator such as Word Counter to determine a number of pages in your essay.

What Does an Essay Look Like when Typed?

You might be wondering: what do essays of different lengths look like when typed? Well, here’s the table where you can find out the metrics for single- and double-spaced papers.

How Many Pages Are in a Handwritten Essay?

In case you need to turn in a handwritten paper, you should check out the table below.

Counting Words in a Handwritten Essay

If you don’t have enough time to count the words in your handwritten essay one by one, here’s what you can do:

• Count how many words there are in one line. Take the first and last lines and a line in the middle of a page. Let’s say there are 15, 14, and 15 words in them. Then, the average number of words per line is 15.
• Next, count how many lines there are on one page. Let’s say there are 17 lines on a page.
• Take the number of words per line and multiply it by the number of lines per page. In our case, we multiply 15 by 17. So, there are 255 words per page on average.
• Finally, multiply the number of words per page by the number of pages. If your essay has 3 pages, it is approximately 765 words long.

How Long Does it Take to Write an Essay?

It is crucial to know how long writing will take you, especially if you are working on an exam essay or just short on time. Note that you need to consider the time for typing and researching necessary to complete a piece. Research time may vary. Usually, it’s 1-2 hours for 200-250 words .

Below, we’ve gathered the average writing time for average and slower writing speed:

And here are the results in pages:

How Many References Does an Essay Need?

Another essential part of any composition is the reference list. Different academic levels require different references. You’ll find out how many of them should be in your paper in the table below!

📝 Essay Examples: Different Length

Finally, we’ve gathered some excellent sample essays of different lengths. Make sure to check them out!

We also recommend you check out our free essay samples sorted by pages:

• 1-Page Essay Examples
• 2-Page Essay Examples
• 3-Page Essay Examples
• 4-Page Essay Examples
• 5-Page Essay Examples
• 10-Page Essay Examples
• 20-Page Essay Examples
• 30-Page Essay Examples
• 40-Page Essay Examples
• 50-Page Essay Examples

Now you know all about essay length, word limits, and ways to lengthen or shorten your text. If you know other interesting tricks, make sure to share them in a comment! Good luck with your writing assignments!

You may also like:

• How to Write a Process Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline
• How to Write a Precis: Definition, Guide, & Examples 
• How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay: Examples & Guide
• How to Write a Narrative Essay Outline: Template & Examples
• How to Write a Formal Essay: Format, Rules, & Example
• Word Limits and Assignment Length: Massey University
• The Paragraph in the College Essay: California State University, Long Beach
• Introductions & Conclusions: The University of Arizona Global Campus
• How Long Should a Paragraph Be?: Daily Writing Tips
• Paragraphing (Length Consistency): Purdue University
• Hitting the Target Word Count in Your College Admission Essay: Dummies.com
• How Long Should Your College Essay Be? What is the Ideal Length?: College Vine
• Writing Personal Statements Online: Issues of Length and Form: Penn State University
• Pen Admissions: Essays: University of Pennsylvania
• Essay Questions: University of Michigan
• Essay Structure: Harvard University
• Components of a Good Essay: University of Evansville
• Write Your Essay: UNSW Sydney
• College Writing: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 21 Helpful and Easy Tips to Make an Essay Longer: Seventeen
• How to Make a College Paper Longer: ThoughtCo
• Share to Facebook
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

Do you dream of being successfully admitted to college? Well, you probably know that admission is a long process that includes many challenging steps. One of them is a recommendation letter: a document written on your behalf that describes your characteristics as a student. If done well, such a letter...

Almost everyone feels insecure when they start working on their first resume. Suddenly there are lots of questions that need to be answered. What should I write? How should I write it? What should I include in my resume to make it more appealing? If you’re looking for answers to...

What’s the first thing we do when facing the unknown? We Google it, of course! Google is fundamental to our experience of the Internet. According to the statistics, more than 100 000 people press “search” on Google every second! At first glance, the process is straightforward. You type in what...

Ever heard of a smart egg tray? Welcome to 2024! Today, there are gadgets for everything, and the variety of intelligent devices available increases every day. Some of them can improve your life. Others seem a bit useless. Will a smart egg tray actually add value to your life, or...

Dorms become like a second home to many students during their university experience. And while dorm life can mean making new friends and having exciting adventures, adjusting to new routines is not always easy. Since most students who come to the dorms have no prior experience living outside their parents’...

Imagine you’ve just written a paper. You’re going to proofread it, right? But is proofreading enough to ensure the absence of any factual errors or unfounded conclusions? Can you say with 100% certainty that you cited every reference correctly? If you want to learn how to fact-check like a pro,...

Every year, millions of U.S. students decide which university they want to attend. Around 20% of students rely on college rankings to make their final decision. Over the last two decades, such rankings have significantly grown in popularity. But are these lists reliable? Which criteria can be trusted? And which...

Have you ever seen someone else’s success and thought to yourself: “Why can’t I do the same?” What was your thought process like? Perhaps you believed you lacked some innate quality. Or did you think you could have achieved the same thing if you had put in enough effort? The difference in these attitudes is defined by two distinct mindsets—growth or fixed. You will read all about them in this article by Custom-Writing.org. You’ll also...

Are you interested in having a side hustle? If you have a hobby you are passionate about, look no further. A hobby-based side hustle is a great way to spend time doing something you love, a great source of income, and a way to boost your resume! In this article by Custom-Writing.org, you will find: a list of 7 inexpensive hobbies available to anyone; ways to monetize them; their benefits for...

In 2024, online education remains one of the most searched terms. Not only can you undertake short courses, but it is now commonplace to get Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees online. Is this the right fit for you? Keep reading to find out! In this article, our custom writing team will:...

What is the number one reason for becoming a volunteer? You may already know that charitable organizations help people in need and allow everyone to make a difference. However, there are some material benefits as well. Volunteer experience can boost your career prospects: it increases your chances of getting into...

Are you excited about grammar? Have you ever read the dictionary for fun? Do you become enthralled by your textbooks? Whether you are a language nerd or not, crossword puzzles are here to help. In this article, you will find dozens of exciting puzzle resources to support your learning. You...

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

How many references should be included in the bibliography of a Master thesis?

Surprisingly, I have not found a similar question to mine - all I found was a question about the maximum number of citations per sentence.

However, I am more interested in the total number of citations that is considered normal for a paper (to be more specific, a Master Thesis, which in my case will be around 60 pages of content.)

I heard that about 1 - 1.5 multiplied with page count would be a good number of sources cited.

I am asking because I am a little worried that I might have cited too many sources.

• publications

• 2 What is your field? –  Wrzlprmft ♦ Commented Aug 8, 2014 at 11:07
• 15 Cite as many as you have to. Some papers have referred to no references and some have referred to more than fifty or sixty. There is no general rule. –  enthu Commented Aug 8, 2014 at 11:31
• 3 Swedish has a very appropriate word for it: lagom . Just the right amount. –  Davidmh Commented Aug 8, 2014 at 12:41
• 1 A simple example to show why this is not possible to answer: Compare a paper about some original research to a survey about a new field of research. Both of those are perfectly fine to write about, both will get accepted by journals and to some degree you can write master theses about both (well you can, I don't say you should). But the number of citations you'll have for both of those will be at opposite sides of a rather large spectrum. –  Voo Commented Aug 8, 2014 at 16:04
• 4 I might have cited too many sources. — This is simply not possible. The only possible point of concern is whether you've cited each of those sources appropriately . –  JeffE Commented Aug 10, 2014 at 22:24

4 Answers 4

There is no definite answer. It really depends on how much previous literature exists, how much of it you have reviewed and cited appropriately, and (loosely) what the word count of the document is. Page count can misleading, as some theses have many more figures and tables than others.

No one is going to skip to the bibliography, think negative thoughts, and say "you have too many references!" without reading the document. If no individual part of the thesis could be considered as having too many citations, then the thesis as a whole has an appropriate number of citations.

These related questions have answers as to how you can decide if a particular part of the thesis has too many citations.

• Maximum number of citations per sentence?
• Is there such thing as too many references for one paper?

In addition to the other answer, this question is based on some slightly questionable premises, as seen in the sentence "the total number of citations that is considered normal for a paper (to be more specific, a Master Thesis, which in my case will be around 60 pages of content.)":

• In the communities of CS that I am familiar with, a Master Thesis of some 60 pages is not a paper . A paper is usually a document that concisely describes something on typically 5 to 15 pages (depending both on the paper type (short, full, journal, poster abstract, ...) and the layout. Hence, a Master Thesis is not comparable to a paper .
• Papers published in conferences (and maybe to a somewhat lesser extent, in journals) are usually bound to a very strict upper page count limit. When you have lots of interesting stuff to tell, there is only so much space left for references and you often have to skip citing some sources that you would have liked to include. Such a restriction usually doesn't exist in graduation theses such as Bachelor or Master theses. There may be a rough guideline for the expected number of pages, but exceeding that by a moderate amount (in the case you presented, I'd frankly say 80 pages instead of 60 is ok) if the content is worth it is not necessarily a problem - least of all if the extra length is caused by "additional info" such as the appendix or references rather than the core document.
• Lastly, there is no normal number of references because each topic is different. For some Master Thesis tasks, there may be a number of default works that should always be listed in the initial exposition of the general topic, which in itself already fill a page of references, whereas other Master Thesis tasks might not have such a "default list"; the general exposition is done with very few or without any references.

I just completed an M.A. thesis in English literature, and I mean just. I tend to be light on the number of sources I use and I like to have favored sources and work it to exhaustion.

My thesis is about 30,000 words, about 50 percent more than the minimum at my institution. I have 27 secondary sources and six primary sources. The institution requires 20 sources, I don't if that's 20 secondary or 20 total, but what I did will give you and idea what you need to do.

I'm not just out college. In fact, I am senior citizen age. My writing ability is equal to that the people who write the journal article and equal to that of a professional historian too. Reading the journal articles I have had to read to do my seminar papers and my thesis, I have seen many that are excessively heavy on sources. Some are light on sources but seem nevertheless to be good articles.

How you primary sources you cite might depend on your topic. It could be only one. Conceivably, it could be none. For a master's thesis in literature, the minimum might be one secondary source for each thousand word. In imagine, in that case, that it might be double than many for a doctoral disseration. In that case, the number secondary sources for doctoral thesis would have to be around 150.

How many source might depend on the individual and how that persons works their sources. But I would still say, expect to be required to have 150 sources or close to it.

My thesis was low on sources in part because I first outlined a theory and then applied that theory to the characters of four novels without much reference to outside sources.

The number should be N, where N is the exact number of papers that you have really read, understood and (mostly) relevant to your thesis.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged publications thesis writing ..

• Featured on Meta
• Bringing clarity to status tag usage on meta sites
• We've made changes to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy - July 2024
• Announcing a change to the data-dump process

Hot Network Questions

• Can police offer an “immune interview”?
• Tax mitigation for payment received under an employment separation agreement
• Did the United States have consent from Texas to cede a piece of land that was part of Texas?
• Where will the ants position themselves so that they are precisely twice as far from vinegar as they are from peanut butter?
• What can cause a 24 volt solar panel to output 40 volt?
• Sci-fi book about humanity warring against aliens that eliminate all species in the galaxy
• MOSFETs keep shorting way below rated current
• Garage door not closing when sunlight is bright
• Why do these finite group Dedekind matrices seem to have integer spectrum when specialized to the order of group elements?
• Is it possible to use wi-fi on phone while tethered to MacBook Pro?
• On airplanes with bleed air anti-ice systems, why is only the leading edge of the wing heated? What happens in freezing rain?
• Ancestry & FTM- unknown names
• Why in QM the solution to Laguerre equations are ONLY Laguerre polynomials?
• How to fix a bottom bracket shell that has been cut from outside?
• UART pin acting as power pin
• Is it mandatory in German to use the singular in negative sentences like "none of the books here are on fire?"
• What's the sales pitch for waxing chains?
• Stabilizing an offset wood bunk bed
• when translating a video game's controls into German do I assume a German keyboard?
• Function to find the most common numeric ordered pairings (value, count)
• How can I prove both series are equal?
• What is the translation of point man in French?
• What is the origin and meaning of the phrase “wear the brown helmet”?
• Fitting the 9th piece into the pizza box

How Many References Should a Research Paper Have? Study of 96,685 Articles

I analyzed a random sample of 96,685 full-text research papers, uploaded to PubMed Central between the years 2016 and 2021, in order to answer the question:

How many references should you cite when writing a research article?

I used the BioC API to download the data (see the References section below).

Here’s a summary of the key findings

1- The average number of references for a research paper is 45 , with 90% of research papers having between 8 and 102 references. However, this number depends a lot on study design . For instance, a systematic review typically has 49 references while a case report has only 24.

2- As a rule of thumb, consider citing 1 reference for every 95 words (or 4 sentences) .

3- The more research you do will be reflected in the number of references you use in your paper, since high-quality articles usually have 5 more references than the median .

How many references does a typical article have?

The histogram below shows that most research papers have between 25 to 50 references, and only a few exceed 100:

Because the distribution has a right tail, the median number of references becomes a more reliable metric than the mean. Here are a few other numbers that summarize the data:

From this table we can conclude that:

The median research paper has 39 references, and 50% of papers have between 25 and 56 references. An article can have as few as 1 reference as a minimum, and 911 references as a maximum.

Next, let’s see if the number of references depends on the study design.

Should the study design influence the number of references you use?

The table below shows that:

1- Secondary study designs (systematic reviews and meta-analyses) have the highest number of references (median = 49), which is to be expected as these articles review a large body of information.

2- Experimental, quasi-experimental and analytical designs typically have between 35 and 39 references.

3- Descriptive designs (case reports and case series) have the lowest number of references (median ≈ 25), which also makes sense as these describe the clinical story of a single (or a few) patient(s) and generally have a very short literature review section.

How often should you cite in a research paper?

Some journals may specify the maximum number of citations allowed. For instance, Nature allows articles to have at most 30 references in the main text [ Source ]. So make sure to check the authorship guidelines of the journal where you want to submit.

That being said, often is the case where we ask ourselves: am I taking too much information from outside sources? or maybe too few? So I would argue that it would be useful to know, for a given article size, how many references to cite.

If we measure the length of all the articles in our dataset combined and divide it by the total number of references, we get the following numbers:

On average, 1 reference is cited for every 95 words, that is 1 reference for every 4 sentences. In terms of paragraphs, an article has approximately 1.5 references for each paragraph.

Here’s a table that shows the median number of references cited for each word count category:

Does using more references make your article better?

Hypothesis 1: It is well-known that citing more resources is usually associated with more in-depth research, therefore, we would expect high-quality articles to include a higher number of references.

Hypothesis 2: Some experts believe that a good writing habit is to keep the number of references to a minimum (see: Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers by Mimi Zeiger), so according to this hypothesis, high-quality articles should have, on average, fewer references.

Let’s find out what researchers are doing in practice and which hypothesis our data support.

In order to answer the question, I collected the journal impact factor (JIF) for 71,579 articles and divided the dataset into 2 groups:

• research papers published in low impact journals (JIF ≤ 3): this subset consisted of 34,758 articles
• research papers published in high impact journals (JIF > 3): this subset consisted of 36,821 articles

After controlling for study design, the group with JIF ≤ 3 had a median number of references of 37, while the group with JIF > 3 had a median of 44.

Remember that the median article overall had 39 references (as we saw above), so based on these results, we can conclude that:

High-quality articles, in general, have about 5 more references than the median article. So a comprehensive literature review and a more in-depth discussion section can make the difference between a good and an excellent research article.

• Comeau DC, Wei CH, Islamaj Doğan R, and Lu Z. PMC text mining subset in BioC: about 3 million full text articles and growing,  Bioinformatics , btz070, 2019.

Further reading

• How Old Should References Be? Based on 3,823,919 Examples
• Statistical Software Popularity in 40,582 Research Papers
• Programming Languages Popularity in 12,086 Research Papers
• Length of a Conclusion Section: Analysis of 47,810 Examples
• How Long Should a Research Paper Be? Data from 61,519 Examples

• Weekly email
• Martin's Blog
• Deals Hunters' Blog
• About the site

How many references do you use?

• All Categories
• 345.3K Banking & Borrowing
• 250.8K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
• 450.7K Spending & Discounts
• 237.3K Work, Benefits & Business
• 611.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
• 174.1K Life & Family
• 250.3K Travel & Transport
• 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
• 16K Discuss & Feedback
• 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

If you've got a Tesco Clubcard, check if you have any vouchers close to expiring, as £14 million-worth are due to run out on Saturday 31 August. Don't want to spend your vouchers yet? We've got a trick to extend their validity.

Online marketplace eBay will stop accepting American Express ('Amex') cards as a direct payment method from today (Saturday 17 August). You'll still be able to use your Amex on eBay by going through PayPal – but be wary of doing this with large purchases, as you may lose valuable Section 75 protection.

Broadband, mobile and pay TV firms will no longer be able to hit customers with inflation-linked price hikes mid-contract from January 2025, regulator Ofcom has confirmed. But, as MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) founder Martin Lewis has warned, the new rules will still allow for above-inflation price rises.

Confused about the 'two-child benefit cap' and what it really means? MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has a quick and simple video briefing to clear up some of the misinformation. It takes you through Child Benefit rules, the two-child limit for Universal Credit and the benefits cap.

Regulation of the buy now, pay later (BNPL) sector WILL go ahead, the new Government has confirmed. It means consumers will finally get much-needed safeguards on BNPL purchases, as well as protection from unsustainable borrowing – something MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) and its founder Martin Lewis have long campaigned for. Though we still don't know when any new rules will take force.

Winter Fuel Payments – a tax-free payment made to all pensioners to help with winter energy bills – are to be restricted to those on benefits and Pension Credit, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced. But MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has urged the Government to include a wider group, and to leave no stone unturned ensuring the 800,000 eligible who miss out on Pension Credit get it.

Demands to repay Carer's Allowance overpayments are having a "shocking" impact on unpaid carers' lives, according to a new report from Carers UK. The charity has called for urgent action to prevent carers from unwittingly building up huge debts – an issue MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) founder Martin Lewis has also raised with the Government.

Can online retailers refuse returns, particularly if they decide you've made too many in the past? MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis answers this question, and talks you through your rights, in a recent episode of the BBC's The Martin Lewis Podcast.

Royal Mail has introduced a 'fake stamp scanner' that enables you to check whether a stamp is legitimate or not. It will also continue to waive its £5 penalty fee charged to anyone who receives a letter with a fake stamp on it for the time being.

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our free weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free.

Get the Reddit app

The subreddit for Trinity College Dublin. "Ireland's highest-ranked university with a 425-year history of teaching and research. Located in a beautiful campus in the heart of Dublin’s c-..........ah it's grand. A group with and for future, current, past students, and other people.

how many references for a 2000 word essay is acceptable I was thinking 25 any advice welcome but I feel 4th years may know the answer more than anybody since they are in their final year iam doing Id nursing not sure if this makes any difference

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

How many references enough for a 6000 word dissertation?

Quick Reply

Related discussions.

• How long did your dissertation take you to do?
• 8000~ word dissertation where word limit is 10000?
• Struggling with literature review for dissertation
• Dissertation
• An issue with my dissertation
• Can I get my dissertation done in 3 weeks? It's 10k words and I've only done 2k
• Dissertation vs Journal Article, which should I choose?
• workload for sociology year 2 at Manchester Metropolitian University/Uni of Salford ?
• How to find the citations?
• Managing workload
• Just got an A* in my EPQ - AMA
• Unnecessary foundation Year
• How long are uni assignments?
• Assignment word count
• As a prospective Master's student, should I do a dissertation in undergrad?
• Can I finish my dissertation in 3 weeks?
• 3 Weeks to write my diss, any pointers?
• Dissertation Structure
• Can I resit my Dissertation?

Last reply 3 days ago

Last reply 4 days ago

Last reply 1 week ago

Last reply 2 weeks ago

Articles for you

Clearing 2024: how to call universities

10 things to make your move to uni easier

Finding a university place in Ucas Clearing 2024: 10 top tips to help you get ready

Top 10 tips for Ucas Clearing 2024