[Teresa Edgerton]

Ian, I think you are right. Editors have told me that someone in the production department always has to do a word count according to a special formula for the layout.

So while I don't think anyone actually frowns on an exact word count at the top of the first page, it's basically irrelevant. Until the book goes into production, an approximation is all they need, and whatever you tell them, they'll round it off anyway.