As an expert in academic writing and referencing styles, I can provide you with a detailed explanation regarding the inclusion of text references in the word count of an academic document. It's important to note that different institutions and academic journals may have their own specific guidelines, but I will outline the general practices according to the two most common referencing styles: Harvard and Chicago.
Step 1: English Explanation
When it comes to word count in academic writing, the rules can vary slightly depending on the referencing style used. Here's a breakdown of how text references are typically treated in the Harvard and Chicago styles:

### Harvard Style Referencing
- Text References (Citations): In Harvard style, the in-text citations, which are the author-date references that refer to the bibliography, are generally not included in the word count. These are the short references within the body of the text that direct the reader to the full citation in the bibliography.
- Bibliography: The bibliography itself, which lists all the full citations, is also typically not included in the word count. It's considered supplementary material that aids in the verification of the information presented in the main text.
- Footnotes/Endnotes: Footnotes and endnotes are used to provide additional information or commentary that doesn't fit into the main body of the text. Any text within footnotes or endnotes that is not a reference or citation is usually included in the word count.

### Chicago Style Referencing
- Text References (Citations): Similar to Harvard style, in-text citations in Chicago style are typically not included in the word count. The citation numbers or notes that refer to the full bibliographic information are considered part of the text's apparatus and not the main content.
- Bibliography/Notes: In the Chicago style, the notes section, which may include full citations and additional commentary, follows the main text. If these notes contain references or citations, they are not included in the word count. However, any other information within these notes is included.
- Footnotes/Endnotes: As with Harvard style, any content within footnotes or endnotes that is not a reference or citation will be included in the word count.

### General Considerations
- Appendices: Material in appendices is often not included in the word count unless specified otherwise by the institution or publisher.
- Tables and Figures: Captions for tables and figures are typically included in the word count, but the content of tables and figures (the data itself) is usually not included.
- Abstracts: Abstracts are sometimes included in the word count and sometimes not, depending on the guidelines.

It's crucial to always check the specific guidelines provided by your educational institution or the journal to which you are submitting your work, as there can be variations in these rules.

Step 2: Divider
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The word count DOES NOT include the bibliography or citations/references in the text (Harvard Style referencing) or in footnotes or endnotes (Chicago Style referencing). ANY OTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED IN A FOOTNOTE OR ENDNOTE OTHER THAN A REFERENCE OR CITATION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE WORD COUNT.read more >>