Is there an easy way to count the number of words in a review before it goes "express" or "regular?" I am planning to draft some reviews in Word or Word Perfect before I publish at this site. I can seem to find a way to get my programs to count for me, although it seems like something they ought to be able to do.

TIA,
Sandra

http://javascriptkit.com/script/script2/countwords.shtml

Recent (at least) versions of Word have word count tool.

Notepad and Wordpad don't have word counters. However, there's a program called TextPad that does, if you like the no frills approach. It's shareware, free with nag screen. Also, if you use Unix/Linux, pico and emacs will do it for you, I'm pretty sure.

As stated above, MS Word will also do it. I don't think the version even has to be all that recent! It's most likely under Tools -> Word Count. (I'm using the Japanese version, so I'm guessing at the English version here.)

If you look closely at your hands, you'll see things called fingers. They can be used for counting.

If you take off your socks, you have toes too! They work great!

I've tried using my fingers to count words, but they tend to stick and getallupmixedtogether.

Thanks for your help!

Hi, in Word go to File, choose Properties, then Statistics.

Neat word count in there.

Lorace

I did that filler thing once...and got a buncha SH's to show for it.

198 to 200 is easy. Just add a copyright thing or a "Thanks for reading". 100 to 200, now that's pretty hard.

Word count is a nice thing to know...maybe she wants to enter a Lean N Mean write off...anyways, if anyone is putting filler in their reviews, it shows to all but rubberstampers so nothing to worry about!

Will updating an express review and adding enough words change it to a review? Don't you have to delete and try again? Is that wrong? Of course it's better if you think of something more you can say to make it longer as opposed to just tossing in a few words to pad it.

Certainly easier all around to get it over 200 before you post it.

I think it would be nice if the system would tell you the word count. Or perhaps show a message if you've written 190 or 195 words. 'You're one sentence away from a review rather than an express review. Care to revise?'

As it's devised now, it seems to favor Epinions over the reviewer. I'm sure more than one new reviewer or returning reviewer has been puzzled by the Express Review thing and the lack of IS from it. The fact that it's an Express Review and will earn no IS is not at all readily evident.

This assuming Epinions would rather see Express Reviews that they don't need to pay for.

It's a rare review that I have read that has been 201 words and been very helpful to me. I know some people are very good at getting everything in without the fluff (I try, I try. I am a writer. Every review is a little novel), but usually very short reviews are lacking info, IMO.

There are always exceptions to that of course, but if a review is so close to being an express review that you're not sure, I think a bit more research or information should be added (if needed) to make the review more complete.

Then again, what do I know, I can write 5000 words about a speck of dust...

Patty

Patty, I noticed your new picture and think it's excellent. [Insert tiger growl here.]

I'm one of those who had no idea that Epinions actually paid for reviews. I wrote three or four reviews, then noticed that a few pennies were somehow listed on my profile page and each review was credited with a portion of those pennies. After rattling around some, it finally dawned on me that the reviews actually earned money... I really had no idea!

I suspect that there are plenty of people writing express reviews who have no inkling that longer "regular" reviews earn money.

--Bob

It can be difficult to know how many words you've written until you're involved in a regular activity where you're counting them. I know in my online classes, one professor wanted 500 words while another wanted 300 words. While still others didn't care how many words it was if you answered the question. While I prefer the latter method, some people just don't have a good concept of what enough information is unless you set them a minimum word count.

Unfortunately, while professors and teachers can make a judgement call if you haven't quite used enough words, but you've said all you need to say, Epinions has a hard and fast limit. Computers, what do they know?

Does a longer review make a better review? I know that if I'm looking at product reviews to research a product, I'll choose a shorter one if it looks well-written. I don't want to waste my time wading through specs or personal rambling when a shorter review can tell me what I want to know.

Do I care about BTUs and dimensions and pixels and wattage? Maybe, but I can usually find that elsewhere on my own, hopefully even on the product page.

Do I care that you bought this fluffy towel for your Aunt Milly who lives in Oakland with her two children and then nine months later the cat hacked up on it? Perhaps it makes for interesting reading, but is not very relevant to my purchase decision.