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12 Mammoth tools to make you smarter everyday

Reduce Word Count Generator

Cut your word count without reducing the content. This tool is very easy to use:

• Paste the text.
• Mind that there is a 15,000-character limit.
• Choose text reduction options.
• Click the button.
• Copy the text to the clipboard.

⭐️ Word Count Reducer: the Benefits

• ✒️ What Is Cut-Down-Word-Count Generator?
• ✂️ How to Cut Down Words?
• 👍 Word Cutter Do's & Don'ts

🖇️ References

✒️ reduce word count generator: what is it.

Cut-Down-Word-Count Generator is a free online tool that summarizes texts and reduces sentence and word count. It cuts out unnecessary words , phrases, and sentences but doesn't change the sense of a text. This is a helpful instrument for students, journalists, and other people who work with loads of written information.

Besides reducing your writing, you can also use the tool to summarize books, short novels, and articles on any topic. Artificial intelligence finds keywords and decides which sentences and words are the most essential.

The tool is also fully compatible with Grammarly – you can edit the text on our page if you have an extension.

✂️ How to Cut Down Words in My Essay?

Automatic tools are great when you need to work with extensive text . However, consider manual summarizing for more flexibility.

Here's how to reduce your word count manually:

• Find and highlight the key messages . If you do it thoroughly, you will preserve the initial sense of a text.
• Cut out adjectives and adverbs . Many of them are just filler words that serve only the aesthetic features of a text. That is why you won't lose the main points if you delete them.
• Look for synonyms and synonymic collocations . To avoid plagiarism in academic papers, use synonyms when referring to another author's thoughts. And you will still need to give them a reference.
• Change structures . Simplifying sentences is another way to reduce the word count. Just rewrite lengthy and overcomplicated grammar.
• One paragraph – one idea . Each section should focus only on one idea or answer one question. Keep your paragraphs at 200-300 and sentences at 15-25 words.

Words and Phrases to Avoid

You will also need to work on vocabulary . In this part, we will explain how to avoid excessive wording and bring your essay to academic standards.

👍 Word Cutter for Essays: Do's and Don'ts

This list of practical recommendations will help you use the word remover to its max.

• Don't paste long texts . The word limit allows us to summarize extensive passages, but we don't recommend it. Instead of cutting the whole text, work with each part separately.
• Don't simply copy and paste the results into your essay . You will likely need to modify the reduced text to create a smooth final version.
• Divide texts into logical parts . The AI will identify the main points quicker and have fewer error risks. It will also make it easier for you to navigate and spot mistakes.
• Check the results . It will be easier for you to manually correct inaccuracies at the very first stage. The tool is fast, but the human brain is more capable of understanding writing subtleties.
• Remove plagiarism . This is not a paraphrasing tool , so you must work on plagiarism. If it is just for personal use, you can leave the text as it is. Otherwise, you will need to quote or paraphrase the text to avoid plagiarized content.
• Work on word choice . Some texts you use might not be suitable for academic writing or your instructor's requirements. Devote some time to put the vocabulary in order.

📝 Word Reducing Example

Check out this example of a text summarized by our word reducer.

Original text

In the current study, several limitations of the research are necessary to mention. While random sampling will ensure representativeness and a low level of bias, there is a risk of limited outcomes in quantitative analysis. Since the questionnaires use structured and close-ended questions, there is a possibility of limited outcomes, which means that the results cannot always represent the actual occurrence in generalized forms.

Since respondents have limited response options that the researcher designed, the outcomes thus ultimately depend on the perspective taken by a scholar when creating the questions. Another significant limitation of the study is the limited availability of secondary data that can be applied to the research context. While the subject matter is widespread, there has been little research on implementing a sports education instructional program at educational facilities. Finally, data may not be robust enough to make conclusions regarding study findings.

Full text: Jeddah University: Sports Health Education Instructional Program - 4403 Words | Free Paper Example

Reduced version:

Since the questionnaires use structured and close-ended questions, there is a possibility of limited outcomes, which means that the results cannot always represent the actual occurrence in generalized forms. Another significant limitation of the study is the limited availability of secondary data that can be applied to the research context. While the subject matter is widespread, there has been little research on implementing a sports education instructional program at educational facilities.

• 10 Tips for Cutting Your Word Count | The University of Adelaide
• Top Words to Avoid in Academic Writing | Useful Advices & Tricks
• Summarizing: How to effectively summarize the work of others | SFU Library
• The Writing Center | When to Summarize, Paraphrase, and...

Dumb Down Paraphrasing Tool

Simplify any text with this dumb down paraphrasing tool in 3 steps:

• Enter the text you want to reword.
• Choose the percentage of rework you're comfortable with.
• Click on "Paraphrase" and receive your new text.

Words to rephrase

Words to change

Students often have to deal with tons of text. You should read long books and study lecture notes every day, producing data-backed writing for almost every lesson. Is it necessary to study all those materials in full? Luckily, you have our free dumb down paraphrasing tool that can reduce your workload and simplify the reading task for you:

• 😰 Why Are Scholarly Articles So Hard?
• 🤔 Why Use the Tool?

🔗 References

😰 why are scholarly articles so hard to read.

Reading tons of scholarly articles is a hard and boring task, especially if you specialize in some exact or technical sciences. Some scholarly sources' complexity gets too high, so students may find it impossible to embrace the content. A recent provocative experiment of three MIT students shows that scholarly materials' complexity often gets ridiculous; they compiled an academic text via a free paper generator and published it in a conference journal without causing any suspicions.

This example and other observations of the scholarly material available online show that texts have grown too complex because:

• The authors don't intend to interest a broad audience, publishing their works for the sake of publishing.
• Complicated articles may escape criticism, as reputable researchers may skip them.
• Unethical scholars imitate the " academese " style of writing only to seem smart instead of delivering excellent research results.

As a result, a student gets into a vicious cycle by learning from complicated texts and reproducing that language instead of doing something deeply valuable.

📃 How to Quickly Read an Academic Text?

Young researchers and students are often spammed with poor-quality, overly complex, and not too academic content online.

So, how can a regular student deal with the challenge and weed out low-quality texts or make sense of complicated vocabulary?

Here are some handy tips for developing a step-by-step journal comprehension technique .

🤔 Why Use the Dumb Down Paraphrasing Tool?

What does it mean to study at a modern college or university? Regardless of the department, you are sure to get tons of assigned readings and even more written tasks.

Your professors will want you to study several books throughout the semester and read additional articles and posts while preparing for essay, research paper, and test writing. All these tasks are highly time-consuming and can bring you down to chronic stress , social isolation, and disenchantment with studies.

So, if you feel overwhelmed with the amount of reading you face on a regular basis, it's time to use our reworder.

Other instances when you will find it handy include:

• You will get high-quality texts with a thorough rewording of the original content. No nonsense phrases and mechanic wording.
• You are using the tool that was specifically created for academic texts and essays, so it will keep your vocabulary and syntax professionally looking.
• You can pick some appropriate synonyms manually to improve the outcomes of rewording.
• You can customize the share of the text that will be reworded (20%, 40%, 60%, etc.).
• You will enjoy using the tool: it is easy and highly intuitive, even for beginners.
• You are saving money: the tool is 100% free to use.

Thank you for reading this article! Note that you can also use our free essay reducer and title generator at different stages of work on your assignment.

❓ Dumb Down Paraphraser FAQ

❓ why is paraphrasing important.

Rewording original texts is a helpful skill you should hone as a student. You will often need to rephrase some content from your scholarly sources and include it into your own writing or keep the meaning of a sentence or paragraph but say it in other words. So, this skill (or our dumb down text generator) can help you cope with rewording tasks of any volume.

❓ What is a paraphrasing tool?

Paraphrasing tools work as automated, smart software rewording your original content in a way that preserves the sense of your text but delivers it in other words or shortens the content through summarizing. Ideally, a paraphrasing tool may reword and condense texts in one go.

❓ Which is the best free paraphrasing tool?

Our paraphrasing tool is the best in the market because of the great mix of benefits and unique features it provides. It's free to use and delivers texts that make sense, simplifying your study process and giving you more time for effective studies. You can choose a degree of rewording intensity within your original text and customize the word count of the resulting content.

❓ What is the difference between quoting and paraphrasing?

When you quote original sources, you provide either a direct quote in quotation marks or an indirect quote with specific figures and details left intact. Paraphrasing involves the preservation of content only; you don't use the original reading's words, figures, or sentence structures.

• How to Identify a Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed Journal Article
• Understanding Difficulties and Resulting Confusion in Learning
• How to Read a Scholarly Article - Evaluating Information
• Controllable Text Simplification with Explicit Paraphrasing

Essay Extender for Students

Have you ever struggled to reach the specific word count while writing an essay? Our online essay extender can help you get the desired word count with just a few simple steps. All you have to do is:

• Copy and paste your essay.
• Choose how many words you need in your paper.
• Click the "Extend" button.

💎 5 Key Advantages of the Essay Extender

🙋 when to use the ai essay extender, 📜 essay extender free examples, 🖇️ essay word extender tips, 🔗 references.

Our essay word extender offers a range of benefits that can enhance your writing experience. Here are some of them:

With its user-friendly interface, our online essay extender can assist you in various ways. Check out these ideas on how you can use the tool.

1. To Increase the Word Count

One of the most common uses of our essay extender is to increase an essay's word count. You add words to the entire text or a specific part, for example, introduction, conclusion, or body paragraphs. This gives you more control over where you want to expand an essay and helps you tailor the extension to the academic requirements .

Our tool adds words without compromising the quality of their writing. Since it uses advanced AI algorithms, it extends the text while maintaining the coherence and flow of the original content.

2. To Add a New Part

AI essay extender can also help you add a new part to your essay. For example, if you have already written the introduction and body paragraphs but are struggling with the conclusion, our tool can generate it.

Similarly, if you need to add a new body paragraph to support your argument , our essay extender can generate a paragraph based on your prompt. This feature is particularly useful when you are short on time and need to complete your essay quickly.

3. To Get New Ideas

Sometimes, you only need a fresh perspective to improve your writing. Our essay extender can generate unique ideas by developing a body paragraph on any topic. This feature is helpful for those who are stuck with their writing and need some inspiration to continue. You can use this generated paragraph as a starting point and further develop it according to your ideas and arguments.

Wanna see how essay extender generator works in practice? Let's try it together. Imagine you're writing an argumentative essay on "Should all internships be paid?" We'll use our tool to add some words to a body paragraph and then develop an effective introduction.

All internships should be paid for the simple fact that interns are providing valuable work and skills to the company. It is unfair to expect young workers, who are often already struggling with student debt, to work for free. Interns are not just shadowing or observing; they actively contribute to the company's operations and success. By not compensating them, companies are perpetuating a cycle of unpaid labor and exploiting the enthusiasm and eagerness of young workers. Furthermore, paying interns shows that their time and contributions are valued, allowing them to gain practical experience without financial strain.

All internships should be paid for the simple fact that interns are providing valuable work and skills to the company. It is unfair to expect young workers, who are often already struggling with student debt, to work for free. Interns are not just shadowing or observing; they actively contribute to the company's operations and success. For example, a student who is completing an unpaid internship at a marketing firm may be responsible for creating social media content, conducting market research, and assisting with client meetings. These tasks require time, effort, and skills, and the intern should be compensated for their contributions. By not compensating them, companies are perpetuating a cycle of unpaid labor and exploiting the enthusiasm and eagerness of young workers. Moreover, unpaid internships often come with hidden costs that can be a significant burden for students. For instance, a student interning in a different city may have to cover transportation, housing, and other expenses on top of working for free. Furthermore, paying interns shows that their time and contributions are valued, allowing them to gain practical experience without financial strain. Companies should recognize the contributions interns bring to their organization and compensate them accordingly for their hard work.

Internships have become a common way for students to gain practical experience and valuable skills in their chosen field. However, the issue of whether these internships should be paid or not has sparked a debate. While some argue that unpaid internships provide valuable learning opportunities, others believe that all internships should be paid to ensure fair treatment of young workers. In this essay, we will explore why all internships should be paid, including the value that interns bring to organizations and the hidden costs of unpaid internships.

Check out these helpful tips to work on your academic writing skills and extend an essay manually.

• Expand your arguments . Instead of simply stating your point, provide more detailed examples to support your ideas.
• Use transitional phrases . Transition phrases such as "in addition," "furthermore," and "moreover" can help you connect your ideas and add more depth to your essay.
• Include relevant statistics and data . Adding statistics and data from reliable sources can boost the credibility of your essay and help you expand your arguments.
• Incorporate quotes . Including quotes from experts or authoritative individuals adds depth and weight to your essay.
• Provide background information . If you feel that certain concepts need more explanation, you can provide background information to help the reader better understand your points.

Remember, when expanding on your arguments, it is essential to do so smartly. This means providing detailed explanations and relevant examples that add length to your essay and strengthen your points.

❓ Essay Extender FAQ

Updated: Apr 12th, 2024

• How to Increase or Decrease Your Paper’s Word Count | Grammarly
• How to Increase Your Essay Word Count - Word Counter Blog
• Transitions - The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• What Are Filler Words? (Examples and Tips To Avoid Them) | Indeed.com
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On this page, you can find a free essay extender for students. With the help of this tool, you can increase the word count of any text – paste it into the related field and add the necessary details. The essay extender can add particular paragraphs or double your words in two clicks! Don’t miss the helpful tips and examples of text expansion.

Dumb-down-a-Sentence Generator + Paraphrasing Guide & Examples

Looking for a good paraphrasing tool? Check out our dumb-down sentence generator! It'll help you quickly improve your essay or any other academic paper.

Need help to paraphrase a text? Our dumb-down paraphrasing tool is what you've been looking for! Follow the 3 steps below:

Do you ever read a text several times and still can’t get the main idea? You might think there’s something wrong with you, but it’s not you – it’s the author. Some pieces aren’t meant to be clear from the first reading.

We made a free Dumb-down-a-Sentence generator to save you time working with complex papers. It’s an online tool for paraphrasing text that uses simple terms and sentence structures. Continue reading to learn more about our magical tool and see some examples!

• 💡 When to Use Our Tool?
• 📝 Dumb-down-a-Sentence Guide

🔗 References

💡 website that dumbs down text in practice.

Our Dumb-it-down generator comes in helpful in many situations. For example, you can use it when:

📝 How to Dumb-down-a-Sentence?

Dumb down words generator offers excellent help to students, tutors, and professionals working with texts. However, you must know how paraphrasing works to ensure the best results possible. This section will cover the main rewording rules and the most common mistakes.

Paraphrasing Do’s

Paraphrasing don’ts, ✅ dumb-down-a-sentence generator examples.

Consider these three examples of texts paraphrased by a Dumb-down words generator.

Imagine you’re writing an essay and want to use an abstract from another paper. You can use our Dumb-down-a-sentence generator to make the paraphrasing process easier and create a fully original text.

Original text:

A Brand’s success is determined by the customer’s perception. When creating a brand, the company has to compare its understanding of different product characteristics to those of customers. For example, how they see a product’s quality, sustainability, aesthetics, and other features. If these two perceptions correspond, the brand will likely succeed.

Paraphrased text:

“How customers perceive a company and its products seriously affects its success. Companies that want to build a brand must learn what customers believe good quality is. If a company is aware of customer preferences and expectations, it will likely achieve success.”

If you are studying for a test and don’t understand the term even after reading five dictionaries, try our free Dumb-down-words generator.

Original definition:

“Psoriasis is a noncontagious inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurring reddish patches covered with silvery scales. Psoriasis is considered mild if it affects less than 5% of the body’s surface; moderate if 5-30% of the skin is involved; and severe if the disease affects more than 30% of the body surface.”

From: The Free Dictionary by Farlex .

Simplified definition:

“Psoriasis is a skin disease that cannot be transmitted from one person to another, characterized by periodic redness and peeling of the skin. There are three types of psoriasis: mild (covers less than 5% of the body skin), moderate (5-30%), and severe (more than 30%).”

One more example of how you can use our Dumb-down-a-sentence generator is thesis statement paraphrasing. A thesis statement is a sentence or couple that contains the main idea of your writing. In academic texts, the thesis statement appears in the introduction and needs to be reworded in the conclusion. You can always paraphrase your thesis statement with our tool.

Thesis statement example:

High school graduates should be required to take a gap year before entering college in order to get more mature.

Paraphrased thesis statement:

After graduating from high school, it should be obligatory for students to take a year off before college to gain more life experience.

❓ Dumb-It-down Generator FAQ

❓ how to dumb down a sentence.

If you want to paraphrase a sentence and make it easier to understand, you must first identify the keywords. The keywords stay the same, while you can replace the rest with synonyms from the thesaurus. You might also want to break down a complex sentence into two or combine short ones.

❓ How Do I Reduce Words Online?

To paraphrase any text, you can use the online free Dumb-down-a-sentence generator. The tool will make a new passage that will contain the main idea but be original. The generator comes in handy when you need to paraphrase sources for your literature review or avoid repetitions in your writing.

❓ How to Rephrase a Thesis Statement?

A thesis statement is the central idea of your writing presented in the introduction. It’s essential to reword your thesis when you write a conclusion to remind readers of the main point. You can either do it yourself or use the free Dumb-down-words generator.

❓ How Is a Paraphrase Similar to a Summary?

When paraphrasing the passage, you use your own words to express something another person wrote. The main idea remains the same, but you use synonyms and different parts of speech. In comparison, a summary is a brief overview of an entire passage. The goal is to narrow the text down to key points.

Updated: Apr 19th, 2024

• Quoting and Paraphrasing; The Writing Center; UW–Madison
• Paragraphs & Topic Sentences: Writing Guides: Writing Tutorial Services: Indiana University Bloomington
• Paragraphs; The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Flow: Ensure Sentences Are in Logical Order | Grammarly

Free online proofreading and essay editor

A reliable proofreading tool and essay editor for any writer or student, a complete environment.

Typely is more than just a proofreading tool. It's a complete writing environment.

Thousands of checks

More than a thousand checks are being performed and we've only scratched the surface.

Inspired by the greatest writers

Gain access to humanity’s collective understanding about the craft of writing.

A proofreading tool that does not bark at every tree

Typely is precise. Existing tools for proofreading raise so many false alarms that their advice cannot be trusted. Instead, the writer must carefully consider whether to accept or reject each change.

We aim for a tool so precise that it becomes possible to unquestioningly adopt its recommendations and still come out ahead — with stronger, tighter prose. Better to be quiet and authoritative than loud and unreliable.

Relax, focus, write your next masterpiece...

Writing presumes more than simply laying out words on a paper. Typely helps you get in the mood and keeps you focused, immersed and ready to write your story.

Whether you need a distraction-free environment, some chill relaxing sounds or a pomodoro timer to manage your time we got you covered.

Got questions? We have answers.

No. Typely is completely free and we plan on keeping it that way. We are considering some advanced features however that might be available under a premium plan.

The only limit we have applied thus far is on the number of characters you can submit and that is being set at a maximum of 50,000.

In theory yes but that will require a lot of work and professionals dedicated for this job. We are considering a way of letting the community participate somehow.

Typely does not do grammar checking because it's hard and almost impossible to get right. The aim for Typely is to be precise and reliable.

The #1 AI Essay Expander

Sarah Matlack

Oct 26th, 2023

Unlock Your Potential with Mindgrasp: The Ultimate Essay Expander AI

Essays often feel like a mountain to climb, especially when you’re juggling studies, work, and personal life. But what if you could have a trusty guide to make the climb easier? Meet Mindgrasp, your go-to essay expander AI that streamlines the writing process. Imagine taking your basic essay outline and having Mindgrasp expand it into a well-crafted, detailed piece. It’s like magic, but backed by cutting-edge AI! 

Here’s how it works: Submit your essay draft, notes, or even bullet points. Mindgrasp scans all the info, understands the context, and starts building. It can expand essays by generating summaries, detailed notes, and even study guides. If you’re a student, this tool goes the extra mile by creating flashcards to help you remember key points. Professionals, you’re not left out—Mindgrasp tailors its features to cater to your industry-specific needs as well. So, whether you’re looking to ace that history paper or draft a winning business proposal, Mindgrasp has got your back.

Why choose Mindgrasp? It’s not just an essay expander; it’s a comprehensive tool designed to make your life simpler. It can handle multiple formats like lecture slides, YouTube videos, and research papers. That means you can pull in data from varied sources to make your essay robust and well-rounded. Plus, it offers a question-answer feature that clarifies any queries specific to your essay’s content. So if you’re stuck on a point or two, Mindgrasp will guide you through.  

Transform your essay writing experience with Mindgrasp. Say goodbye to stress and hello to efficiency. Let this essay expander AI be your smart companion in achieving top-notch essays, every time.

Expand Your Knowledge and Essay with Mindgrasp: The Ultimate Essay Expander Tool That Answers Your Questions

Ever found yourself stuck in the middle of an essay, not sure how to move forward? We’ve all been there, staring at the screen, thinking, “If only someone could answer this question for me.” That’s where Mindgrasp comes in as your go-to essay expander tool. Beyond just expanding your essay, Mindgrasp has a unique feature that allows you to ask any question about your essay topic. The AI then dives into the data you’ve uploaded, whether it’s a book, a lecture slide, or even a YouTube video, to provide you with a detailed answer.  

So, how does it work? Say you’re writing an essay on climate change, and you’re unsure about the impact of greenhouse gases. All you have to do is ask. Mindgrasp scans the resources you’ve uploaded, finds the relevant information, and gives you a clear answer. This feature is particularly great for those looking to build a strong argument or dive deeper into a topic. You get to understand the nuances better, making your essay much more compelling.

Think of Mindgrasp as your expand essay generator that does more than just stretch your words. It equips you with the knowledge and confidence to write a better essay. Students can enrich their academic papers, and professionals can create more robust reports. No more late-night stress or frantic Googling. With Mindgrasp, you’re just a question away from a more in-depth and comprehensive essay. Say goodbye to writer’s block and hello to clarity and depth!

Elevate Your Writing with Mindgrasp: The AI Essay Expander That Makes Your Essay Coherent and Scholarly

Whether you’re a student aiming for that A+ or a professional striving for success, writing plays a key role. But what if you could make your essay not just good, but great? That’s where Mindgrasp, the revolutionary AI essay expander, comes into play. Designed to cater to both students and working professionals, Mindgrasp is more than just an expanding essay tool. It’s your one-stop solution for creating coherent and scholarly essays that impress and inform.  

For students, Mindgrasp can take your rough draft or even a list of ideas and expand it into a detailed and well-structured essay. You can upload any form of study material—textbooks, lecture slides, or videos—to give the AI context. And for those tough academic standards, Mindgrasp provides scholarly insights, turning your paper into a well-researched masterpiece .    

Professionals, you’re not left out either. Mindgrasp adapts its features to meet industry standards, helping you create reports, articles, or proposals that stand out. The tool understands the nuances of professional writing and delivers results that resonate with your target audience.

No more agonizing over how to make your essay coherent and scholarly. Mindgrasp takes the guesswork out of the process, making writing less stressful and more enjoyable. It’s the AI essay expander that combines technology and expertise to elevate your writing to the next level. So why settle for less when you can aim for the best? With Mindgrasp, excellence is just a click away.

Conclusion: Unleash the Power of Mindgrasp, Your All-in-One Essay Expander AI and Expanding Essay Tool

In summary, Mindgrasp isn’t just another essay expander tool—it’s a game-changer for both students and professionals. Designed to expand essays into coherent and scholarly masterpieces, it’s the ultimate AI essay expander. Whether you’re starting with a rough draft or a list of bullet points, Mindgrasp takes your content and elevates it, providing you with detailed notes, summaries, and even flashcards for students.

Stuck on a tricky question? Mindgrasp’s unique question-answer feature dives into your uploaded resources to provide the insights you need. This expand essay generator is not just about making your work longer; it’s about making it better. Students will find it invaluable for academic success, while professionals can harness its features to produce standout reports and proposals.

So, if you’re looking to take your writing to the next level, Mindgrasp is your go-to platform. It combines cutting-edge technology with user-friendly features to make essay writing stress-free and efficient. Why settle for good when you can have great? With Mindgrasp, excellence is truly at your fingertips.

Ready to transform your writing game? Whether you’re a student aiming for top grades or a professional looking to impress, Mindgrasp is the tool for you. With features like essay expansion and in-depth answers to your questions, achieving excellence has never been easier. Sign up for Mindgrasp today and elevate your writing to the next level!

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How To Make An Essay Longer

To make an essay longer, focus on quality: elaborate on arguments, add evidence, consider counterarguments, deepen analysis, and clarify points. Use examples, expand introductions and conclusions, and enhance transitions for better flow and comprehension. ‍

Struggling with an essay that just won't stretch to the required length? You're not alone.Studyfy is your ally in this common academic predicament.

Most students have experienced looking at their word count and thinking about how to reach the maximum limit without using filler content. This guide tackles that problem head-on with practical solutions and insights.

We’ll introduce you to plenty of useful techniques so you can increase your word count effortlessly and without compromising your essay’s quality.

How To Make Your Essay Longer With In-Depth Research

One of the first approaches you can use to make your essay longer is to research your points. Remember these pointers:

• Conduct meticulous and thorough research on your essay’s topic to find new and overlooked information and insights.
• Make sure you use insights that strengthen your argument further, and not just information to use as filler and is irrelevant. 

Dig a little deeper, and you’ll surely find something you might have overlooked and can add to your paper. 

Ways To Make Your Essay Longer With Elaboration

Another way to make your essay longer is to elaborate more. This means you should explore the points you argue in greater detail. Keep these tips in mind:

• Break down your arguments : Detail each of your arguments and break them down into sub-points. For example, if you’re writing about sustainable energies, you can elaborate on the different types of sustainable energy sources that exist.
• The power of descriptive language : By using descriptive language, you can lengthen your essay because you’re painting a more vivid picture of your topic. You’re adding more detail and nuance. 
• Use real-world examples : These can help add substance, and they will strengthen the validity of your argument.
• Add background information : When adding new arguments to a topic, you can easily provide background information on whatever it is you want to add. This will help make your essay longer but can also add context, which will help the reader understand your point better.
• Use anecdotes : If done right and added in the right places, sharing personal stories can make your essay better. 

Using Counter Arguments In Your Essay

You can make an essay longer by using counterarguments. This strategy not only elongates your word count, it has the potential to increase your essay’s quality and persuasiveness.

Consider the following: 

• Find popular counter-views: Find common counterarguments against your thesis statement. If you know them, you’ll be better equipped to deconstruct and counter them to a larger paper's word count.
• Show the strength of your view : Properly, you can introduce the strength of your perspective through the counterargument. For example, use strong evidence to oppose the view and then show why your stance deserves to be considered.

Using Quotations and Analysis

If you’re looking for other ways how to make a paper longer, you can use quotes. Quotations and further analysis is a great strategy to add more content to your essay. So, how exactly can you achieve this? Check these pointers out: 

• Choose relevant quotes : Of course, you’ll have to select quotations and transition words that are related to your topic. You want quotes that capture the core ideas of your argument. If you’re writing about the environment, you’d want to quote an expert environmentalist and so on.
• Give analysis on your quotes : When you’ve presented a quotation, try providing analysis on it. Discuss its meaning and implications, and demonstrate why it backs up your claims. 

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A Blueprint For A Longer Essay

Another way to tackle how to lengthen an essay's word count is to make a detailed outline before writing so you can plan the number of words you’ll be writing from the start. This will motivate and reassure you that you’re hitting the word count.

Seek Writing Help

Finding writing assistance from professionals can be an easy and effective strategy to make your essay longer. For example, you can send a “ do my essay ” request on Studyfy to get in touch with a professional writer at any time. Here are some tips to remember when seeking help. 

• Look for credibility : Be sure you’re getting writing help from reputable people. Take a look at their customer feedback and reputation to make sure they deliver what they promise. 
• Be clear with what you need : Make sure they know that you want a longer essay. Be clear with your instructions.
• Guidance, not plagiarism : Use professional help for assistance, professional insights, and inspiration. You should use their work as a reference and foundation to build your writing and reach that desired word count.
• Make use of expert feedback : Make sure you use the feedback that is given to you and practice it. 

If you don’t have much time or energy, turning to writing professionals can be a great deal of help at desperate times of trying to fill out the minimum page count. 

Using Complex Sentence Structures and Richer Vocabulary to Up Your Required Word Count

Another strategy you can use if you’re keen on knowing how to make your essays longer is enriching your essay with vocabulary and complex sentence structures. What does this mean? Check out these tips: 

• Employ varied language and use synonyms : You can avoid repeating your words by using synonyms to convey similar phrases and meanings. This will add length and keep your audience engaged. With that, try utilizing transition words, transitional phrases and relevant quotations to reach supporting evidence.
• Use complex sentences : By using complex sentences and clauses in your writing, you can add more nuance to your writing and you can convey more insights. Vary your sentences from short to more detailed and lengthy. Balance this out with easy readability. Make sure that your essay is still easy to understand, regardless of a more nuanced writing style.

Taking Advantage of Examples and Case Studies when Essay Writing

If you want more words to make your essay longer, then using examples and case studies and integrating them into your essay is a great strategy to reach your word count goal.

These can strengthen your argument since they provide tangible evidence. They don’t solely make your essay longer. Here’s what you need to remember: 

• Select relevant examples and case studies : You should, of course, use examples that back up your arguments. Make sure they are recent examples as well. Imagine yourself writing on technology. If you’re using an example, you should use one from recent years.
• Go into detail when demonstrating case studies : When you use a case study, you should go into detail and include the context, process, and outcomes. You will add length to your essay, but you will also simultaneously make it more nuanced and strengthen your points.

Using Visual Elements

If done effectively, you can make your writing more engaging. Still confused? Don’t forget you can pay for essay services on Studyfy right now for an extra hand. So, what can you use?

You can use graphs, charts, and even image s to strengthen your essay and make it longer. For example, when you’re finishing up a scientific essay, you can use graphs to showcase statistics and data.

Writing Detailed Intros and Conclusions

Since your introduction and conclusion are decisive elements in your essay, you can make do by increasing their length without compromising their strength and quality. Do keep these tips in mind: 

• For the introduction : Provide more context so that you can present your thesis in a stronger light. Write hints about what you’ll discuss in your body text.
• For the conclusion : To make your conclusion longer, you can elaborate on the arguments you’ve developed over the body. You should present a “developed” and concluding version of those arguments. Reflect on what you’ve written without introducing new information. You can create a detailed and persuasive call to action to invite readers to explore the topic more. 

Development

Make sure your sections are well organized, and every argument is fully developed. If they’re not, this might explain why you’re not reaching your word count limit. Need extra help? Don’t forget to take advantage of Studyfy’s custom writing service right now. Elaborate a point completely. Be meticulous and diligent with the development of your points.

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Can you teach me how to make my essay longer without sacrificing quality? 

Make sure that your points strengthen your arguments. Elaborate carefully. If you need help, use our college admission essay writing service for expert writing help.

Does this guide include everything I need to know?

Yes. Use our table of contents to jump to the techniques you feel keen on using. You'll find everything you need to know on how to make paper longer. We offer key points, supporting evidence and more examples to help you achieve the desired essay length.

How do I make my essay longer and keep it coherent?

You can make an essay longer and maintain its focus by going back to your thesis statement and main arguments when adding new material. Make sure they strengthen your arguments. 

What should I avoid doing?

When finding ways how to make your paper longer, avoid using filler content, and don't repeat words and sentences.

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• Writing Tips

How to Make an Essay Longer

• 7-minute read
• 10th May 2023

So you have an essay due the next day. You’ve been holed up in your dorm all day writing it, and now you’ve finished the conclusion. You shake your fist in celebratory fashion as you punctuate the paper’s last sentence. However, your jaw drops in horror when you focus on the word count. The essay rubric states that you must write at least 1,500 words, but you’ve written only 1,000 ! How can this be? You worked so hard to do what the assignment asked you. We know the feeling, and we’re sure every college student experiences it at least once.

So with time running out, you can do the following:

●  Submit the essay and hope the professor doesn’t notice

●  Add some gibberish sentences to get close enough to the required word count

We don’t recommend these options. Making an essay longer seems daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. That’s why we’re providing this post on expanding your essay while keeping it relevant to the topic. We’ll share our helpful tips, and by the end of the post, you’ll know what to do next time your essay falls short of the word count.

1. Add Content to the Essay

Adding more details is a great starting point for increasing the word count. Review your essay and see whether you should have addressed additional points about the topic. Could you include a few more arguments?  

You’ll likely have to review your sources to find additional claims. We understand that you might not want to do this, especially if the clock reads midnight and your class starts in nine hours. However, adding more content not only increases the word count; it also makes your essay more credible. 

If you need to add content, make sure it’s relevant to the topic. Consider the following example:

Personal details about the source’s author are irrelevant. Submitting such details will only earn you the wrath of your professor’s red ink. Let’s try an alternative:

Expanding on the citation with personal insight about screen time adds punch while keeping the discussion relevant. Additional details must move your essay forward the way dialogue and narrative do for a work of fiction.  

2. Add Transitional Sentences and Phrases

Your essay might be short of words because it lacks transitional phrases, so you should add some to the mix. In fact, every academic paper should include a healthy blend of transitional sentences and transitional words/phrases . Not sure what we mean by that? You know words and phrases such as however , moreover , and in addition . 

As with details, transitional phrases help to move the essay forward, so make sure to use them correctly. Let’s take an example from an essay about the late Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic:

As you can see, the writer uses transitional phrases correctly, adding value and words to the essay. When you use them correctly, transitional sentences and phrases improve the flow of your writing , enhancing readability. Professors expect coherent essays that flow smoothly, so transitional sentences and phrases are mandatory, regardless of word count. 

That being said, it can be easy to overuse linking words, particularly if you’re a non-native writer. Check out this interesting article from Fabio Cerpeloni, who argues that linking words can impact the readability of your text . 

3. Spell Out Words and Numbers

If you have contractions in your essay, such as can’t , won’t , and couldn’t , write them out in full. You shouldn’t use contractions at all in academic writing because they’re considered informal. Although using full versions of words seems to be a miniscule measure, doing so can go a long way to increasing your word count. And as a rule, you can also spell out numbers one through eleven. Again, doing this will help expand your essay.

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To save time switching out your contractions, make sure you’re familiar with Microsoft Word’s find and replace tool .  

4. Add More Examples

Using at least two examples, you should aim to support every argument you present. If you have only one example for an argument, add a couple more. Provide citations to support your claims; otherwise, your professor will question your knowledge. As with details, examples will strengthen your essay. It’s a win–win situation!

If the essay has enough citations but still needs more words, you could try paraphrasing claims from sources. Just be sure to paraphrase effectively . You wouldn’t want to fall into the trap of plagiarism!

5. Review the Introduction and Conclusion

Now that you’ve written the essay, go back to the introduction and the conclusion. You might be able to expand on them and provide extra details. Remember that the introduction serves as a lead-in to the essay. In other words, it captures your readers’ attention and makes them want to keep reading. If your introduction appears weak, add details that will engage the reader properly.

And for the conclusion, provide a takeaway for the reader and offer a call to action. For example, what are the most important things to remember about your essay? The conclusion may lack punch, so add some details to improve it.

6. Expand Your Research on the Topic

The amount of research you’ve done could affect the word count. One way to check this is by reviewing your reference list. It should have at least five sources, so if yours has fewer, you need to do more research. Again, it’s not something you’d like to do in the middle of the night; however, sacrifices must be made if your essay needs more research. We guarantee your professor will notice if you haven’t done enough research. Here’s an extra tip: adding details will be much easier if you’re fully knowledgeable about the topic. Trust us on this!

While making an essay longer may seem daunting, doing so is easier if you’ve adequately researched the topic. The essay likely needs more ideas or examples, so go ahead and add them. Additional details will lend value, improve flow, and make your essay more credible. The most important thing to remember is that any details you add must be relevant. Simply adding fluff will weaken your essay and cost you marks. So never submit an essay with a low word count; your professor will notice! And after all, expanding on an essay is part of mastering essay writing skills .

We recommend not waiting until the last minute to check that your essay meets the required word count. Adding details or doing additional research the night before will only spell trouble. We understand the difficulty of making time when multiple papers are due in the same week. However, college life will test your time management skills like nothing else! Use your time wisely!

1.  Why do essays fall short of the required word count?

This is often due to a lack of details and transitional sentences. Review your essay to see whether it’s missing important examples that can strengthen your claims.

2.  Can I simply add “fluff” to increase the word count?

Anything you add to the essay must be relevant and must add value. Your professor is no fool, after all!

3. I hear proofreading is essential before submitting my essay. Can anyone help me with this?

We suggest our proofreading experts at Proofed! They can check your writing for grammar and punctuation errors and ensure perfect spelling and concision. Consider submitting a 500-word document for free today!

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Dumb Down Text And Readability For Dumb Readers?

Can you dumb down text so your writing is suitable for an 11-year-old to read and understand?

If your writing isn’t scoring a reading grade down at that level, then perhaps you might want to read on.

There’s a fine line between dumbing down and opening up your writing to a wider online readership.

But the necessity to write for an 11-year-old comes from a surprising source.

In This Article

You need to dumb down text to succeed on Linkedin

Statistics gathered from analyzing the most successful 3,000 articles published on LinkedIn reveal a startling truth about reading ease scores.

In this article, Why You Need To Start Publishing On LinkedIn , it states in one of its conclusions:

The Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease test analyses text to determine how difficult the language is to comprehend as written on a scale of 1 – 100.

A score of 30 is considered best understood by university graduates.

Posts on Linkedin with a Flesch-Kincaid Readability Score of 80 – 89 perform best, and requiring the education of an 11-year-old child.

If this grade level standard was being recommended for children’s or young adult books, I could understand.

But this is being suggested to dumb down text for 2,000-word professional articles published on LinkedIn.

It really makes one wonder.

If the LinkedIn audience requires such a low level of writing style, what reading level would be recommended for Instagram or Facebook?

What are the readability scores?

Here is a quick graphic to help you understand the different reading grade levels according to Flesch reading ease.

Readability formulas are not easy to understand.

It is a formula based on the number of syllables per word, the number of words per sentence, and the count of complex sentences.

You can see how simple your writing needs to be to score between 80-89 on the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level by testing your writing.

Measuring your readability

Many free sites offer the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease test.

I used read-able.com  for the following analysis on my most recent blog post.

You can see below how well my blog post writing scored on a grade reading level.

As you can see, my grade level score is quite reasonable at 74.6.

However, it is well short of the mark if I want to aim for a score of 80 to 89.

Clearly, I have some dumbing-down work to do on my blog posts before I can target the 11-year-old reader demographic.

However, my writing level might be acceptable for young high school readers.

Readability for fiction

Next, I tested the first chapter of my current book, which is still a work in progress.

You can see that I failed by scoring quite poorly with this text. Luckily, I am not considering publishing this story on LinkedIn.

You might think that these readability tests are a little absurd.

But it did make me wonder about ebooks and, in particular, their popularity with specific demographics .

As a writer, do you take account of your potential reading demographic when you write a book? Do you check your writing grade level?

If you are writing vampire fantasy, for example, it would probably attract teen readers. Maybe it would be a good idea to check your text’s readability grade.

Perhaps it might be a good idea for you to opt for a lower-grade word choice. Should you reduce your sentence length to make it much easier to read?

Would a score of between 60 and 70 be appropriate for your target readers?

If you are publishing self-help books for professional people, should you heed the advice about LinkedIn articles and make them ever so easy to read?

Should you write your career development book or article so that an 11-year-old professional can understand it?

I struggle to believe, in all honesty, that it is such a great idea to dumb down text to this level.

I just can’t bring myself to agree with this idea to dumb down your writing to the lowest possible common denominator for professional writing.

Better ways to access and control your reading grade

But the reading level is an important factor in any form of writing. You need to know your target audience and write accordingly.

The article I mentioned earlier takes it to a ridiculous level.

However, it does raise a valid point about the ease of reading being worthy of consideration when you write.

There are many ways you can measure your writing grade, but there is not much value in a number. You need access to tools and suggestions to help you write at your desired level.

I am lucky to have access to three tools that help me write to a certain reading level.

My first tool is a reading grade recommendation from my SEO management tool.

It calculates an optimum level from my choice of subject and keywords. It also gives me a real-time analysis of my formality level as I write.

As you can see, the recommendation for this article is a reading grade of 63.4 in a somewhat formal tone.

If you are a Prowritingaid user, you can access your readability analysis from the main menu.

It gives you an overall score as well as quick links to problem areas in your text.

For writers who use Grammarly, it also gives you a complete overview of your entire text.

There is no reason for you to use all the tools I have noted above.

But, they do give you an indication of how you can use online tools to analyze your writing.

Then, you can try to find the best reading level for your target reader.

How to dumb down text

You can try using a paraphrasing or AI writing tool, but there is no automatic dumb down a sentence generator that I could find.

The best way to simplify your writing is to manually edit your text. You can shorten your sentences and replace words of more than two syllables.

Look for complex sentences that use commas and split them into individual sentences. Avoid using conditional phrases and adverbs at the start of a sentence.

You should rewrite any passive sentences into the active form.

Another tip is to use the simple present and past simple tenses as much as you can.

One of the easiest tools to use to lower the reading level of a text is the free Hemingway editor.

It gives you a readability grade and highlights areas you can check and improve.

With the tips on the right, rewrite any highlighted hard or very hard-to-read sentences. You can also check for phrases that have simpler alternatives.

You should always write for your reader, no matter if you are writing books, articles, or blog posts.

There are many factors to consider when you write, and reading ease is one that is quite important.

It is very easy to check your grade and adjust it to your target audience.

It only takes a few minutes to check your level, and it could make all the difference to the quality of your writing.

As a general rule of thumb, you should be aiming at between 60 and 70 for articles and blog posts .

For fiction aimed at adult readers, 50 to 60 might be appropriate.

But if you are writing for younger readers or children, you should pay careful attention to your reading level and adjust it accordingly.

Related reading: How To Simplify Your Writing But Still Sound Intelligent

About The Author

Derek Haines

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3 thoughts on “dumb down text and readability for dumb readers”.

If your intent is to reach the masses, Dumbing Down writing is key. I’ve been convinced and have been looking for ways to regress my writing style without resorting to slang or ambiguous abbreviations. The issue does not lie with the ability to read at a high level, but rather the ability to digest information quickly and effortlessly. Stumbling over 4 syllable words is not the way to gain readership.

Side note, Harry Potter was written at a 5th-6th grade level. Don’t give too much credit to adults reading YA.

I’m not convinced by the idea that we should write down to our readers. The best writers introduce readers to new words, rather than assuming they have to be spoon-fed with only what they know. I read books as a child that had words in them that I didn’t know. I usually just swept past them and assumed I’d understand from what else was going on. And in general I did. It’s interesting that one of the most popular ‘children’s’ series of books to come out in recent years, the Harry Potter series, don’t in the least condescend to their readers. Which is why adults enjoy them too, I suspect.

Beyond the age of 11 it is very difficult to decide reading ages a most people do not read at a higher level after that age, although, of course, university students and people exposed to literary works will develop a larger vocabulary. I believe tabloid papers are supposed to write at a level 11year olds can understand.

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Universities Struggle as Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations Grow

Dozens were arrested Monday at N.Y.U. and Yale, but officials there and at campuses across the country are running out of options to corral protests that are expected to last the rest of the school year.

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By Alan Blinder

At New York University, the police swept in to arrest protesting students on Monday night, ending a standoff with the school’s administration.

At Yale, the police placed protesters’ wrists into zip ties on Monday morning and escorted them onto campus shuttles to receive summonses for trespassing.

Columbia kept its classroom doors closed on Monday, moving lectures online and urging students to stay home.

Harvard Yard was shut to the public. Nearby, at campuses like Tufts and Emerson, administrators weighed how to handle encampments that looked much like the one that the police dismantled at Columbia last week — which protesters quickly resurrected. And on the West Coast, a new encampment bubbled at the University of California, Berkeley.

Less than a week after the arrests of more than 100 protesters at Columbia, administrators at some of the country’s most influential universities were struggling, and largely failing, to calm campuses torn by the conflict in Gaza and Israel.

During the turmoil on Monday, which coincided with the start of Passover, protesters called on their universities to become less financially tied to Israel and its arms suppliers. Many Jewish students agonized anew over some protests and chants that veered into antisemitism, and feared again for their safety. Some faculty members denounced clampdowns on peaceful protests and warned that academia’s mission to promote open debate felt imperiled. Alumni and donors raged.

And from Congress, there were calls for the resignation of Columbia’s president, Nemat Shafik, from some of the same lawmakers Dr. Shafik tried to pacify last week with words and tactics that inflamed her own campus.

The menu of options for administrators handling protests seems to be quickly dwindling. It is all but certain that the demonstrations, in some form or another, will last on some campuses until the end of the academic year, and even then, graduation ceremonies may be bitterly contested gatherings.

For now, with the most significant protests confined to a handful of campuses, the administrators’ approaches sometimes seem to shift from hour to hour.

“I know that there is much debate about whether or not we should use the police on campus, and I am happy to engage in those discussions,” Dr. Shafik said in a message to students and employees early Monday, four days after officers dressed in riot gear helped clear part of Columbia’s campus.

“But I do know that better adherence to our rules and effective enforcement mechanisms would obviate the need for relying on anyone else to keep our community safe,” she added. “We should be able to do this ourselves.”

Protesters have demonstrated with varying intensity since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. But this particular round of unrest began to gather greater force last Wednesday, after Columbia students erected an encampment, just as Dr. Shafik was preparing to testify before Congress.

At that hearing in Washington, before a Republican-led House committee, she vowed to punish unauthorized protests on the private university’s campus more aggressively, and the next day, she asked the New York Police Department to clear the encampment. In addition to the more than 100 people arrested, Columbia suspended many students. Many Columbia professors, students and alumni voiced fears that the university was stamping out free debate, a cornerstone of the American college experience.

The harsher approach helped lead to more protests outside Columbia’s gates, where Jewish students reported being targeted with antisemitic jeers and described feeling unsafe as they traveled to and from their campus.

The spiraling uproar in Upper Manhattan helped fuel protests on some other campuses.

“We’re all a united front,” said Malak Afaneh, a law student protesting at University of California, Berkeley. “This was inspired by the students at Columbia who, in my opinion, are the heart of the student movement whose bravery and solidarity with Palestine really inspired us all.”

The events at Columbia also rippled to Yale, where students gathered at Beinecke Plaza in New Haven, Conn., for days to demand that the university divest from arms manufacturers.

Yale’s president, Peter Salovey, said Monday that university leaders had spent “many hours” in talks with the protesters, with an offer that included an audience with the trustee who oversees Yale’s Corporation Committee on Investor Responsibility. But university officials had decided late Sunday that the talks were proving unsuccessful, and Dr. Salovey said, they were troubled by reports “that the campus environment had become increasingly difficult.”

The authorities arrested 60 people on Monday morning, including 47 students, Dr. Salovey said. The university said the decision to make arrests was made with “the safety and security of the entire Yale community in mind and to allow access to university facilities by all members of our community.”

In the hours after the arrests, though, hundreds of protesters blocked a crucial intersection in New Haven.

“We demand that Yale divests!” went one chant.

“Free Palestine!” went another.

Far from being cowed by the police, protesters suggested that the response at Beinecke Plaza had emboldened them.

“It’s pretty appalling that the reaction to students exercising their freedom of speech and engaging in peaceful protest on campus grounds — which is supposed to be our community, our campus — the way that Yale responds is by sending in the cops and having 50 students arrested,” said Chisato Kimura, a law student at Yale.

The scene was less contentious in Massachusetts, where Harvard officials had moved to limit the possibility of protests by closing Harvard Yard, the 25-acre core of the campus in Cambridge, through Friday. Students were warned that they could face university discipline if they, for instance, erected unauthorized tents or blocked building entrances.

On Monday, Harvard’s Palestine Solidarity Committee said on social media that the university had suspended it. National Students for Justice in Palestine, a loose confederation of campus groups, said it believed the decision was “clearly intended to prevent students from replicating the solidarity encampments” emerging across the United States. Harvard said in a statement that it was “committed to applying all policies in a content-neutral manner.”

Elsewhere in the Boston area, protesters had set up encampments at Emerson College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Tufts University. But those protests, for now, appeared more modest than the ones at Yale and in New York, where demonstrators constructed an encampment outside N.Y.U.’s Stern School of Business.

N.Y.U. officials tolerated the demonstration for hours but signaled Monday night that their patience was wearing thin. Police officers gathered near the protest site as demonstrators ignored a 4 p.m. deadline to vacate it. As nightfall approached, sirens blared and officers, donning helmets and bearing zip ties, mustered. Prisoner transport vans waited nearby.

“Students, students, hold your ground!” protesters roared. “N.Y.U., back down!”

Soon enough, police officers marched on the demonstration.

“Today’s events did not need to lead to this outcome,” said John Beckman, a university spokesman, in a statement . But, he said, some protesters, who may not have been from N.Y.U., breached barriers and refused to leave. Because of safety concerns, the university said it asked for assistance from the police.

At Columbia, Dr. Shafik ordered Monday’s classes moved online “to de-escalate the rancor.”

She did not immediately detail how the university would proceed in the coming days, beyond saying that Columbia officials would be “continuing discussions with the student protesters and identifying actions we can take as a community to enable us to peacefully complete the term.”

Some students and faculty members said support for Dr. Shafik was eroding, with the university senate preparing for the possibility of a vote this week to censure the president. Supporters of the censure complained that Dr. Shafik was sacrificing academic freedom to appease critics.

But Dr. Shafik was castigated on Monday by the very people she was accused of appeasing when at least 10 members of the U.S. House of Representatives demanded her resignation.

“Over the past few days, anarchy has engulfed Columbia University,” Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York and one of Dr. Shafik’s chief interrogators last week, wrote with other lawmakers. “As the leader of this institution, one of your chief objectives, morally and under law, is to ensure students have a safe learning environment. By every measure, you have failed this obligation.”

A university spokesperson said that Dr. Shafik was focused on easing the strife and that she was “working across campus with members of the faculty, administration, and board of trustees, and with state, city, and community leaders, and appreciates their support.”

Amid the acrimony, and with scores of green, blue and yellow tents filling the Columbia encampment, parts of the campus sometimes took on an eerie, surreal quiet on a splendid spring day.

The unease was never all that far away, though, even with many Jewish students away from campus for Passover.

“When Jewish students are forced to watch others burning Israeli flags, calling for bombing of Tel Aviv, calling for Oct. 7 to happen over and over again, it creates an unacceptable degree of fear that cannot be tolerated,” Representative Daniel Goldman, Democrat of New York, said outside Columbia’s Robert K. Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life.

By then, in another symbol of the crisis enveloping Columbia, Mr. Kraft, an alumnus and owner of the New England Patriots, had launched his own broadside and suggested he would pause his giving.

“I am no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff,” he wrote in a statement, “and I am not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken.”

Reporting was contributed by Kaja Andric , Olivia Bensimon , Troy Closson , Maria Cramer , Liset Cruz , Jacey Fortin , Amanda Holpuch , Eliza Fawcett , Sarah Maslin Nir , Sarah Mervosh , Coral Murphy Marcos , Sharon Otterman , Wesley Parnell , Jeremy W. Peters , Karla Marie Sanford , Stephanie Saul and Derrick Bryson Taylor .

Alan Blinder is a national correspondent for The Times, covering education. More about Alan Blinder

I was accepted into my dream colleges: Duke, Columbia, and Yale. I flipped a coin to decide which one was right for me.

• I was accepted into Duke, Columbia, and Yale, so I had to choose which one was right for me.
• Serious deliberation removed Columbia; it took a coin flip and following my gut to make up my mind.
• I'm a student at Yale, and I now realize my choice didn't really matter all that much.

College application season is finally over, but the stress isn't gone completely.

For many students, April is still a stressful time; you may still be debating which school to go attend. Sometimes, the college decision isn't so clear-cut. For example, what do you do if you apply to multiple dream schools expecting to only get into one, and you're lucky enough to get into multiple?

That was the case for me this time last year. As a kid, my dream school was Columbia, and for most of high school, it was Yale . At the last minute, Duke crept near the top spot. In the end, I was blessed enough to get into all three, and while it took some time, here's what helped me decide.

Make sure to learn as much as possible about each school

Doing your homework before decision season is crucial. Visit colleges early to get a feel and plan what you could see yourself doing. Of course, you will change your mind over time, but getting a sense of your playing field is important.

Many schools offer fly-in programs to admits, and while they can make for a hectic schedule in April, attending these can give you a great sense of what the school is like. While Duke was initially below Yale on my list, attending their Black Student Alliance Invitational brought them way up.

At these programs, you get to see the schools, sit in on classes, check out clubs, and meet students. I met people at BSAI that I instantly connected and still do my best to keep up with.

Revisit what made you want to go to each school in the first place

Ok, so you've done your research, gone to the fly-ins, and are now trying to decide. First, ground yourself and check on the factors that are most important to you. While getting into great colleges can feel like the stars have aligned, it's worthwhile to remind yourself of what led you to apply to each school in the first place and what you anticipated valuing before decisions came back.

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For me, this meant looking very closely at financial aid and location. Being from a somewhat well-off family, I received substantial aid from Yale, Duke, and Columbia, but none offered me a full ride. All three schools were also situated in very different environments and were different sizes.

Both of these factors eliminated Columbia from my list. The aid package there was less substantial, and while I have loved New York for short periods, I couldn't imagine living there, much less making the most of it.

However, after considering these hard factors, I was left with two equally good options. Duke and Yale gave me two different but incredibly enticing visions of my future. I couldn't possibly choose myself; I was torn.

So, I flipped a coin.

Trust me, the coin flip works

I know it sounds stupid, but a coin flip is the best method for figuring out what school to go with if you've done everything you could but can't decide. You shouldn't follow through on what the coin flip says, but you should act like you will. Your reaction to the coin flip will tell you where you want to go.

In my case, it landed on Duke, and I felt unsettled. I planned on going to North Carolina after undergrad school anyway because my dream is to go to Duke Law on a Mordecai scholarship, so I wondered if Duke was right for my undergrad years, too. Yale was my dream school, and Duke's emerging quad system was different from Yale's residential college system, which I loved.

All these factors made me realize that I wanted to go to Yale. I committed before even going to Yale's fly-in program, Bulldog Days.

After you pick, don't dwell on it

Do I think about what would have happened if I had chosen Duke? Of course. But in the end, it doesn't matter. Going to college is already an incredible privilege, and picking between multiple top-tier schools is an abundance of riches. There is no wrong answer.

In the end, it's important to have confidence in yourself. I would still be Miles at Columbia or Duke. Sure, the environments would have molded me into a different version of myself, but in the end, I would still be Miles. That's what matters.

Watch: What new Citadel military college "knobs" go through on day one at the controversial school

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