Does Word Count Include References?

Usually not, but it depends entirely on your assignment's rules, and the only reliable answer is whatever your instructor or style guide states directly.

The common convention

Most academic word count limits apply to the body text only: your introduction, main sections, and conclusion. The reference list or bibliography, footnotes, appendices, and sometimes the abstract and title page are commonly excluded, since they're considered supporting material rather than argument or analysis.

Where this varies

• Some courses explicitly include in-text citations, like (Smith, 2023), in the count, even while excluding the full reference list.
• Journals and some universities count footnotes toward the limit if they contain substantive discussion rather than just a citation.
• Appendices are almost always excluded, since they hold supplementary material rather than the argument itself.

How to check your own count correctly

Copy only the text your assignment brief says counts, typically from your introduction through your conclusion, into a word counter, rather than pasting the entire document including references. If the rule is ambiguous, ask your instructor directly rather than guessing, since being over or under a word limit can affect your grade.

Check your own text with the word count calculator.