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What Does 120 Eighty-Character Lines Mean?
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davidbrown
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The concept of "120 eighty-character lines of text" is a specific formatting guideline often used for essay submissions, particularly in college applications. This requirement sets both a maximum line count and a character limit per line, effectively standardizing essay length and presentation across all applicants.

Formatting Guideline Definition

This formatting guideline specifies that an essay should contain no more than 120 lines, with each line limited to 80 characters including spaces and punctuation. The total maximum character count is 9,600 (120 x 80), which typically translates to approximately 1,500-2,000 words
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This structure originated from old computer terminals and punch cards with 80-character width limitations
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For online submissions, systems often enforce these limits automatically, while paper submissions require careful formatting by the writer to meet the requirements
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Character and Word Count

The 120 eighty-character line format typically equates to approximately 1,500-2,000 words, depending on average word length
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This guideline provides a standardized structure for essays, allowing for fair comparison between applicants. Some key points about the character and word count:
  • Spaces, punctuation, and blank lines between paragraphs all count toward the limits
  • For online submissions, systems usually enforce these limits automatically
  • Paper submissions require careful formatting by the writer to meet requirements
  • The goal is to ensure consistency in essay length and presentation across all applicants
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Historical Context

The 80-character line width standard has its roots in early computing technology. It originated from IBM punch cards, which had 80 columns for data entry
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This limitation was carried over to early computer terminals and personal computers, with many devices adopting 80x24 or 80x25 character display modes
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The persistence of this standard in modern times is partly due to its historical significance and partly because it aligns with readability research suggesting optimal line lengths of 50-75 characters for comfortable reading
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While some argue that larger modern displays make this limit obsolete, others maintain that it promotes code readability and encourages concise writing
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Practical Formatting Tips

To achieve the 120 eighty-character line format, writers can employ several practical strategies. Using a monospaced font like Courier with appropriate margins helps visualize the 80-character line width in standard word processors
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For online submissions, many systems automatically enforce these limits, while paper submissions require careful manual formatting. Writers should be concise and pay close attention to line breaks and paragraph spacing, as blank lines count towards the total line limit
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