# The size of Cecil's... "column"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-cecils-column/379872>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [November 10, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-cecils-column/379872 "2006-11-10T15:16:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-cecils-column/379872/1 "2006-11-10T15:16:36Z")

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So I guess it’s true what they say about guys: the length of our “columns” increases with age.

(That gives me some hope… 😉 )

No, but seriously: has the length of the Straight Dope increased with time?

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-cecils-column/379872/2 "2006-11-10T16:14:08Z")

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A count of the [very first column](http://www.straightdope.com/faq/firstcolumn.html) shows only 648 words, so you may be on to something. In recent years, I think the word count has remained nearly constant at around 800 words. Sometimes, of course, Cecil answers more than one question in a week, so some individual answers are considerably shorter than that. Often the columns that have been published in the books are online as separate questions and answers. The shortest I know of is 15 words, of which Cecil’s actual answer is but one word long. But you can bet it wasn’t the only question that week: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_003b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_003b.html)

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**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-cecils-column/379872/3 "2006-11-29T19:12:29Z")

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The Marilyn Vos Savant column, on the other hand, has shrunk considerably, and is now usually pushed into the back margins.

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**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-cecils-column/379872/4 "2006-11-29T19:31:37Z")

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[QUOTE=bibliophage]  
The shortest I know of is 15 words, of which Cecil’s actual answer is but one word long. But you can bet it wasn’t the only question that week: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_003b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_003b.html)  
[/QUOTE]

I recalled the question and the answer before even opening that link. I don’t know whether to be proud or ashamed.