How Long Is a Short Essay: How to Write a Short Essay

As a student, you have probably been in a position where you do not know how to write a specific essay given by your professor. Further, it can be pretty hectic if the deadline is fast approaching and you have not yet figured out how long the short essay needs to be.

You’re unsure how many paragraphs the short essay should have, how to write, and how many sentences this essay type has. Luckily we’ve done some research and compiled everything you need to know. 

Here is how long a short essay is, plus other tips to help you create a good piece.

How Long Is a Short Essay

Generally, a short essay is a piece of writing typically between 300 and 500 words long, although it can go to 750 words. The length of the paper is dependent on the requirements of the assignment and its purpose.

This means it will be two pages if double-spaced and one page if single-spaced, but all in Times Romans of 12pts font

Despite being short, there are no strict rules for the exact length. However, it should be written in simple language and contain only one main idea or argument developed in detail. It should also include several examples that support or illustrate the main idea and some key references and citations if needed.

Also see: Is it wrong to pay someone to write your essay? 

In addition, it can also be as long as 1,000 words, but it’s unlikely that you’ll be asked to write an essay that long unless you are writing for a class in creative writing. For most college-level courses, you will be required to write shorter articles rather than longer ones. The length of an essay depends on your instructor’s preferences and what they expect from their students.

Overall, your instructor determines the length of your essay. They will ask you to stick with the 500 standard or go lower or exceed it.

How to Write a Short Essay

Short essays are brief, and their lengths are one of the challenges you will face because you have to balance each point, so you do not exceed the word count. However, here are some of the best tips on how to write a short essay;

1. Research

Researching helps you gather the necessary information about your topic. You can use books, the internet, interviews, newspapers, or journals to get the information and data you need.

2. Brainstorm

brainstorming helps you to refine your information. This is where you look at each piece of information and decide which to use because the essay cannot accommodate everything due to its length.

3. Outline

This step involves deciding how to arrange your essay. Generally, you will have an introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

4. Write

The writing process involves developing the points into longer information. Depending on the length, each point can go into a separate paragraph so that readers aren’t confused.

The introduction will be a general overview of the piece and your thesis. The body includes every point you discuss, while the conclusion comprises a wrap-up of the entire essay.

As you write, ensure you use examples and evidence to support every claim and make your writing authoritative.

5. Editing

This is the last part of the writing process. It entails going over your writing to correct any mistakes. These errors may be grammatical, structure, and flow.

An important tip is to edit your work a day after writing, but if you are pressed for time, you can give yourself a few minutes before going back to edit your work.

Other tips that will help you in writing include;

• In the introduction, be specific, stay on point, and provide minimal contextual detail
• In the body, stay on topic and deal with points in their order of importance
• Remember to cite your sources where need be.

How Many Paragraphs in a Short Essay

The average length for a short essay is five to seven paragraphs long, comprising an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

In an academic setting, a paragraph is typically five to seven sentences long, but there are no hard rules about length. In general, shorter paragraphs are easier to read than longer ones, so keep them relatively short.

A good rule of thumb is that each paragraph should focus on one idea. This means that a reader will get one point in each paragraph. Following this procedure helps avoid confusing the readers.

How Many Sentences in a Short Essay

A short essay can have varying sentences, but typically it will have three to eight sentences per paragraph, with the entire paragraphs being five to seven. 

However, the number of sentences depends on many factors, including the essay’s purpose and paragraph’s length.

The best way to determine how many sentences to include in your essay is to read other pieces written by experts or published online by reputable sources. This will give you an idea of how long an effective paragraph should be and how many paragraphs are necessary for each topic.