You're going to write an essay and the deadline is coming up, but you're nowhere near the page limit. Many students find themselves in this situation. Fortunately for you, you can lengthen your essay using a few tricks. Increasing font size, adding a long heading, and manipulating line spacing are just a few strategies you can use to make your essay appear longer. However, keep in mind that deviating from the teacher's guidelines could result in a lower grade.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Change the font
Step 1. Choose a slightly larger font
If your teacher isn't clear about the fonts you can use, choose one of the larger fonts like Arial, Courier New, Bangla Sangam MN, or Cambria. If your teacher limits the font to Times New Roman, choose a similar but larger font like Bookman Old Style.
Don't choose a very large font like Arial Black or Lucida Handwriting. The teacher will notice that you are trying to make your essay look longer by choosing a larger font
Step 2. Change the font size
Your teacher will most likely require you to use a font size 12. To make your essay look longer, increase the font size to 12, 1; 12, 3 or 12, 5. See which modification makes the biggest difference without being too noticeable.
Step 3. Increase the size of the periods and commas
Hold Control + B on the keyboard. This is the Find and Replace function. Select all size 12 semicolons. Replace them with size 14 semicolons.
Method 2 of 4: Manipulate spacing and margins
Step 1. Increase the line spacing
If the teacher requires single or double spacing, increase it by 0, 1. Click on “Format”, then “Paragraph”. Under "Leading," choose "Multiple." Write 2, 1 or 1, 1 in the box under "In."
Step 2. Reduce the right margin by a quarter
If the teacher requires the margins to be 2.5 cm (1 inch), reduce it to 1.9 cm (0.75 inches). Click "Format," then "Document Layout." In the box next to "Right," write 0, 75. Changing the right margin by a quarter (or less) usually does not produce any visible changes.
- If the reduction is too noticeable, then try 0, 85 or 0, 9 instead.
- Because all documents are justified, avoid reducing the left margin. Changing the left margin will produce a noticeable change that the teacher will detect.
Step 3. Increase the bottom margin by a quarter
Click "Format," then "Document Layout." In the box next to "Bottom," write 1, 25. If this increase is too noticeable, then try 1, 15, or 1, 2. Manipulating the bottom margin is a useful strategy to make your essay look longer., without being too obvious.
Step 4. Expand the spacing between characters
Increasing the distance between words is another way to increase the length of your essay. Select the text you want to expand. Click on "Source," then "Advanced." Next to "Spacing", choose "Expanded." Then write 1, 5 in the box next to "In."
Method 3 of 4: Change the header and footer
Step 1. Lengthen the header
Extend the header including your name, the date, the course title and number, the teacher's name, and your email or ID number. Including more information than this will make the heading too long. It also applies double spacing to the heading.
Step 2. Put the title of the essay on a separate line below the heading
Center the title and make it bold. Also increase the font size to 14. Make sure the spacing between the title and heading, as well as between the title and the first paragraph, is doubled.
Step 3. Add a footer with page numbers
Click "Insert," then "Page Numbers." Under "Position," select "Bottom (footer)." This will add a footer with page numbers at the bottom, increasing the length of the essay.
Method 4 of 4: Extend the content
Step 1. Write the numbers less than 10 in letters
Write in letters one and two, for example, instead of using digits. This will not only extend the essay, but will also make it look more professional, as this is a requirement in formal writing.
Step 2. For English, spell out the contractions
Instead of using “it’s”, write “it is”. Instead of using “can’t”, write “cannot”. Spell out contractions where possible to increase the length of the trial. It will also make it look more formal.
Step 3. Minimize the pronouns
When possible, use specific nouns instead of pronouns. Instead of using "they" write "Angela, Mark and Tony." However, use pronouns when writing full nouns becomes too verbose. Verbosity can detract from the readability and quality of the essay.
Step 4. Include supporting material
Adding quotes, anecdotes from personal experiences, and paraphrasing research are strategies you can use to lengthen your essay. However, make sure that the supporting material is relevant and reinforces the ideas that you are going to raise.
Additionally, if you are going to cite or paraphrase research or literary works, be sure to cite them correctly. Citations can also provide additional length to an essay
Step 5. Make sure each paragraph has a topic and a concluding sentence
Introduce the paragraph with a topic sentence. This sentence should make your point. Provide supporting evidence. Then conclude the paragraph by summarizing the ideas you have raised or by stating your opinion again.
Step 6. Be as descriptive as possible
Instead of saying, "The paint was red," say, "The magnificent artwork was filled with vibrant, warm colors, such as red, brown, and mahogany." In addition to lengthening your essay, you could give the impression that you are truly passionate about the subject.
However, avoid being descriptive when unnecessary as this could cause the essay to appear ornate or sound verbose
Step 7. Extend your conclusion
Conclusions do not have to be limited to one paragraph. Begin your conclusion with a paragraph that simply summarizes the essay. Add a second paragraph that states a final idea about your thesis and how it can be applied to contexts beyond the essay.
Advice
- Copy and paste your essay into a new document. Make these changes to the new document. Then it compares the document with the changes in the original. Remove any modifications that seem obvious.
- Use longer synonyms instead of shorter ones.
- Spell abbreviations; for example, write "United States" instead of using the abbreviation.