<p>this might seem kind of small, but would it be better if i didnt use contractions (didn't --> did not) since they are kind of informal? if i got rid of contractions, there would probably be 5-10 extra words and i cant really seem to afford those in my essays... im having a hard time already trying to stay within the word limit for most of them ><</p>
<p>You are correct that contractions should not be used in any sort of professional writing. In your case, it is understandable that you need to minimize the number of words. However, try to avoid using them in the opening and closing sentences, as those tend to be the sentences requiring the most impact.</p>
<p>It totally depends on the context of the essay and how the essay flows. I used contractions throughout mine, but it doesn't sound informal (or no one's told me, at least). Unless someone says something to you about it, don't worry about it. </p>
<p>Also, try to stay in the ballpark when it comes to word limit. 600 words is fine for a 500 word essay, but if you can't express yourself in 800 words or less, chances are you haven't been taught how to be concise. It works the other way, too - if you can't write more than 300 words, you probably haven't been taught how to express yourself fully.</p>