Change Excerpt Length in WordPress

WordPress themes display post excerpts on the posts page (the blogs section) or the latest posts section. It shows a certain number of words taken from the beginning of the post. The excerpt is the shorter version of your post, which shows up in the posts or blog section in WordPress. Choosing the right excerpt length is essential for a nice-looking posts section on the home page or the blog’s archive page. In this article, we will lead you to a trouble-free guide on changing the excerpt length in WordPress.

What is an Excerpt in WordPress?

The excerpt shown in WordPress is the small snippet of your blog post that shows up in the blogs section. The number of words depends primarily on the theme you are using. It’s essential to have an engaging excerpt so that users will click on the link to read the full article or blog post. In some cases, we must customize the excerpt length as we may not need all the words to display from the passage, set in the default WordPress theme.

What is the Default Length of excerpts in WordPress?

The default length of excerpt in WordPress is “55 words”. When you display a post on WordPress, it shows five primary elements,

The Featured Image of the Post
Post Title
Post Meta Information that includes the Author name, Date, category, and tags
An excerpt of the post
Read More Button

The post excerpt contains 55 words taken from the content unless you have a custom excerpt for that particular post(s). However, you may not require all these 55 words in some cases. Do you want to change the excerpt length and display a customized number of comments for every post sitewide?

Ways to Change Excerpt Length in WordPress

WordPress is packed with features that make managing your website more accessible. One feature is its built-in options for changing the excerpt length of posts. If you’re not familiar with excerpts, they are short previews of blog posts that appear in blog archive pages. There are many ways to do this, and here are some of the most popular ways to edit the length-

No Coding Required

Using the WordPress Customizer- If you are a non-technical person who doesn’t know how to add or edit HTML codes, we have an easier solution for you.

i) Log in to your WordPress dashboard and click on customize under the appearance tab.
ii) This is the path to the excerpt function in the customizer,

iii) Login to wp-admin>>Appearance>>Customize>>Blog Posts>>Archive Layout

According to your requirement, you can edit the default 55 words to a more suitable word count according to your requirement. When designing the home page or archive page layout, the default 55 words are way too long. So many developers trim them to about 20 and 30 words at maximum. This helps in designing an even row layout (of the same height). The downside of this method is that the path is not universal, and it differs for different themes. For example, while using the Kadence Theme, and your path to the custom excerpt length will be similar as shown above. This may not be the case if you are using a different theme. So, you have to locate the function in your WordPress customizer.

Using a Custom Excerpt for the Post

Whenever you create a new post, you can add a custom excerpt displayed wherever the post is listed, either in the latest posts section or blogs archive page. Here, you can choose the words you want it to display. There varying functions in different editors-

In the Gutenberg block editor, you will find this excerpt function under the featured image section on the right-hand side. You can write the custom excerpt with the desired length of words and characters.
In Classic editor, you have to do an extra step where you go the screen options and enable excerpt (this function is disabled by default). Then scroll down to find the excerpt area.

For Example, if you write an excerpt of 30 words, then for that post, the excerpt length will be 30 words. If there is no custom excerpt available for a post, WordPress shows the first 55 words from the beginning of the post.

Using the Read More Element

In WordPress, you can choose to display the read more button under the post excerpt and users may click on this to read the full article. But you can use the “add more” function to customize the length of the excerpt. The “add more” function divides the content from the rest of the post content, and the content above the add more function is considered the custom excerpt for that particular page or post.

In the Gutenberg Block Editor, you can select the “more” element and put it under any paragraph in the article, and WordPress will display all the words above the read more button as the excerpt.
In the Classic Editor, you can insert the “Read More “tag under any paragraph, and WordPress will automatically display all words above this element as the excerpt.

Using a Plugin

Easiest thing to do if you don’t find the excerpt length in your WordPress customizer is, installing a plugin called “Advance Excerpts”. You can install this free plugin and control all the settings like the length of the excerpt, read more text, read more links, and many other functions. There are more settings available in the plugin to customize the passages further.

Coding Required

If you are a developer or technically sound, you can change excerpt length by adding some codes to the theme editor. Here are some of the ways you can do it.

Using the WP Trim Excerpt Function

you can use the wp trim excerpt function to modify the length of the excerpt. You have to edit the function.php in the theme editor. The essential WP Trim excerpt function is-

wp_trim_excerpt( string $text = '', WP_Post|object|int $post = null )

If you want to customize the excerpt length, you have to add a filter and use a hook in the function. For Example, if you want to display only 30 words in the excerpt then the code will be-function

mytheme_custom_excerpt_length( $length ) {
   return 30;
}
add_filter( 'excerpt_length', 'mytheme_custom_excerpt_length', 999 );

The only downside of using this function is that it makes a sitewide change. However, this is not an ideal function if you want to display a different length on a specific layout.

Using a Custom Function

You can use a custom function in the function.php and edit the length of the excerpt, The code that needs to be added is as below,

Function new_excerpt_length($length) {
global $post ;
If ($post-> all posts?)
Return 30 ;
else
return 20 ;
}

Using a Custom excerpt length Function

You can add a custom counting code inside the loop, The code that needs to add is,

function custom_excerpt_length($ length)
{
Static $instance = 0 ;
return ( in_the_loop) ( && 0== $ instance ++) ? 30=20
}

You can edit the current post function in the wp-query role to customize the excerpt length using the Current Post Function. The code required will be-

Function new_excerpt_length ($length) 
{
Global $wp_query;
If (0 == $wp_query-. current_post)
Return 30;
Else
Return 20;
}

You can tweak this code to stop this function from interfering with other queries with similar functions.

How do I set up an auto excerpt in WordPress?

The auto excerpt is by default enabled in some themes, but you can always change it according to your requirement. The easiest way to control this is to go to the WordPress customizer and edit.

How do I turn off excerpts in WordPress?

You can turn off the excerpts from showing in blog pages and archives by disabling the “Show Excerpt” function under the Post archive section.

How do I show excerpts of posts in WordPress?

If the post excerpt is not enabled, you can go to WordPress customizer and enable the “show excerpt” function.

How do I create a custom excerpt in WordPress?

You can create a custom excerpt for each page and post. In the Gutenberg block editor, you can find the add custom excerpt box just under the featured image section on the right-hand side of the screen. In the classic editor, you have to enable the excerpt function from the screen options and edit the excerpt box.

How do I add read more to excerpt in WordPress?

You can add the read more functions in Gutenberg and the classic WordPress editor. The read more function in Gutenberg Block editor is under the name “more” and “Read more” in the classic editor.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has been helpful! You can take many different approaches to change the excerpt length in WordPress. You may have to try a couple of these methods before finding one that works best for your website.

WordPress featured image not showing

A WordPress featured image is a visual indication of the content written on the website. It acts as a cue to the visitors and attracts them towards the webpage. However, this featured image does not show while uploading or sharing the post in some instances. Don’t worry! This guide will help you fix the featured image issues on WordPress like a cakewalk.

What is a WordPress featured image?

Ever wondered why it is essential to have a featured image on WordPress? When you publish an item, visual content serves the key pointers you want to convey effectively. Although there is a default option of the featured image on WordPress, you’re also free to upload an image from your gallery. This image constitutes the media portfolio of the blog posts, and there is no need to upload it every time you share the content. So, whenever you share the blog post on any social media, this featured image efficiently redirects the viewers to your website.

What will happen if there is an issue with the featured image on WordPress?

Featured images cater for the blog post on any website and not just a WordPress file. It adds charm to the page and makes the blog more understandable. If your blog post fails to appeal, there will be less traffic and engagement on your website. There are quite a few problems associated with the featured images not showing on your websites, like plugin issues and problems related to the theme selection. Here are some common issues caused by them-

Sometimes, the image is visible on the website, but it doesn’t show on any social media platforms like Facebook.
The major problem is that the featured image is not showing on either mobile and desktop or both of them simultaneously.

Luckily, there are some steps to resolve these minor issues on WordPress.

Please note the issue, whether it is visible on the website or not on social media and vice-versa. In some cases, there is difficulty in uploading the image.
Some WordPress related issues like plugins or coding errors may cause conflicts in the featured image, as mentioned above.
Installing a good plugin will help save time and resolve the issue of the WordPress image not showing.

Following this, we have discussed how you can resolve these issues in detail.

How to fix the visibility issue of the featured image while uploading?

New bloggers tend to make minor mistakes while uploading the featured image while publishing, which is understandable. What matters is how keen you’re to rectify it because, as discussed earlier, visual content is equally important. It is super easy to upload images on WordPress. You can follow these brief steps to successfully upload the featured image on your posts, pages and sidebars-

You can upload images to WordPress posts or pages by adding the image block to the content editor. You can also add the image by typing ‘image’ in the paragraph, and the editor will start showing blocks in response.
WordPress will add an image block editor.
You will see three options- upload, media library and insert URL
Select either of these options according to your wish and upload the featured image
A live preview of the image will display in the content editor bar.
You can add alt text, image size, etc. Settings from the panel and enhance your image.

Following these simple steps will solve the minor problem of the featured image while uploading.

What if you confuse a cover image with a featured image on WordPress?

Many users confuse the cover image with the featured image while publishing content on WordPress. A cover image and a featured image are similar in several ways. Both of them fulfil the purpose of adding big photos at the beginning of the post, yet, there are some significant differences.

A cover image is a large photo with a particular width length that can be added anywhere on the post and not just in the beginning. It is a part of the content and not separated like the featured image.
A featured image is a primary image that you cannot use elsewhere in the post on a WordPress page. It represents the entire subject of your content.

To clear the confusion, let us explain how you can locate both of these features on WordPress-

You can insert the cover image by clicking on the ‘add block’ option in the editor section represented by a ‘+’. A cover block is then visible in the content editor, from where you can upload the images from your library.
A featured image has its section. One can locate it on the right-hand side panel at the top of the page.

What to do if the featured image faces issues with the properties?

Let’s assume that you uploaded an image on the WordPress website, but the properties of the image, like dimension, alignment and visuality, are not correct? In this case, you can keep these points in mind to resolve the issue-

Dimension- It is vital to select the correct image for your post. After this, you may rectify the glitch of the image showing too stretchy or blurry by choosing the proper dimension of the picture.
Edit the photo- One of the quickest ways to resolve an issue related to the featured image is editing the featured images inside the WordPress available in the ‘edit image’ option. You can crop, rotate left or right, flip vertical and horizontal in the inbuilt editing option.

As you can see, it is entirely convenient to edit the image if its properties don’t match the estimated standards.

How to fix the hypertext issue stopping the featured images from showing in posts?

Hypertext or HTTP error is common when the featured image doesn’t show on posts and pages. Try modifying the size and memory limitation of the featured images in such instances. You can decipher it by ‘error 404’ while clicking on the image.

Modifying the size- Do not load your hosting server by uploading huge files. It may cause some unavoidable issues in viewing the blog. Either upload the image according to the default resolution or decrease the file size and reload the page.
Exceeding or upgrading the memory limit- If the image size is on point, but you still see the error, then it is caused due to memory limitation of WordPress. In this case, you can manually edit your site’s configuration and change the PHP limit. Otherwise, you can opt for an up-gradation by contacting your hosting provider.

WordPress has simplified the editing process with a comparatively less time-taking approach.

What if the featured image appears twice?

Beginners often make the mistake of uploading featured images inside the content. In this case, the featured image appears duplicate in the content and makes the editor appear amateur. If you’ve uploaded the picture twice, nothing to worry about. Following steps will help you make the changes-

Go to your WordPress blog and open the post where the duplicate featured image appears
Click on the duplicate image. A pop-up bar will appear with a three dots option in the end. Click there.
The drop-down menu contains the ‘remove block’ option. Select it and proceed to update the post.
It will delete the duplicate image.

What to do if the featured image on WordPress is not showing on search engines?

Often, you may have noticed that a featured image is not showing when you share the link of your blog on Facebook. Wondering why? Usually, the trouble arises when social media hasn’t crawled the site. An SEO plugin is a go-to solution for your query. Many plugins even allow you to preview the post before sharing. An open graph code is required to check if the site is enabled for every search engine. Yoast SEO and All in one SEO are popular plugins that facilitate an open graph code for search engines. This way, you can effortlessly share your WordPress post on social media and garner more engagement with featured images!

What to do if the featured image is not showing in WordPress posts?

Some setting is required if the featured image, also known as a thumbnail, isn’t showing up in mobile or desktop versions. You can make the necessary changes manually or via a plugin installed. Make the settings manually by-

Go to the block setting and click on the first option- ‘thumbs on modules/blocks.’
A list of image properties will appear. Enable all the properties
Save the changes. Refresh the mobile version
The featured image will be visible

Long story short!

It feels frustrating to see the featured image not showing on WordPress when you invest your time and energy in website creation and quality content. Even though WordPress is an exciting platform that offers manual modification without any cumbersome coding for rectification. Yet, some significant situations require help. We hope this guide did its bit in helping you with your troubles related to featured images on WordPress.

WordPress vs Static HTML

Are you confused between creating a WordPress or Static HTML website for your business? WordPress and static HTML have their share of pros and cons, and choosing the best one is debate-worthy. Therefore, we have laid a detailed comparison between both of these websites ahead to help you decipher your ideal requirement.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a general data-driven content management system often loved by newcomers. Because of its content management system, the interface you witness is user-friendly. This user interface is understandable to beginners as well. WordPress will be your first preference if you want to create a website without heavy coding in less time. It constitutes the highest percentage of websites on the internet for the content management system.

WordPress allows manual editing of images
You can manage how your site looks without any supervision
Useful for bloggers who require continuous engagement and rectify the changes without any help

There are two types of WordPress discussed further. You will learn their distinctive factors in the next section.

What are WordPress.org and WordPress.com?

Both of them are a part of WordPress with some specific points. Not to confuse wordpress.org with wordpress.com, here are is what you need to know about them-

org- also known as the ‘original WordPress’ is open-source software that is 100% free for everyone. It is a self-hosted platform that only requires a domain name and web hosting at the time of creation.
com is a hosting service coined by the founder of WordPress. Because of this, people confuse it with WordPress.org. However, there are some standard payment plans to purchase this hosting, starting from free to VIP hosting.

What are the benefits of WordPress?

If you’re not at all acquainted with CSS/HTML coding but still aspire to create a website with minimal investment, WordPress is the one-stop-destination for you. From free, open-source software to easy-to-use tools, it has many benefits. We’ve covered almost every valuable use of WordPress below- Coding-free software: As discussed above, you can create your website with WordPress with minimal to no coding. So, it eliminates the task of cumbersome coding. You don’t have to be a pro programmer to create a website. Its graphic user interface helps change the appearance of your website, create new content and manage search engine optimization. Free templates- there are dozens of free professional templates available on the WordPress website. These themes are prepared by professionals and give a stunning look to your website. Contrary to this, a static HTML website demands more time consumption making it a lengthy process. Easily add new functionality- You can easily add new functions to your website with the help of plug-ins. Your desired function is just a click away with it’s help. If we debate about static HTML vs WordPress, the latter requires more time as it seeks approval before adding any new functionality to the website. Ownership benefits- Yes, you read that right! WordPress allows free website creation and gives complete control of your domain and content posted. There are no limitations in your website’s amount of traffic or sales, making it the most significant advantage of using WordPress.

What are the cons associated with WordPress?

By now, you know that WordPress is a go-to stop for beginners for seamlessly creating a business website. However, this content management software comes with an ample amount of cons. You can ignore most of them, but the major ones are listed below so that you can have a better understanding of this system-

It takes a while to load a WordPress website.
It takes some time for beginners to be familiar with the WordPress software. There is a lot of learning in the beginning, and luckily there is plenty of help available on the internet for the same.
WordPress needs to be dealt with proper maintenance; the plug-ins and themes should be up to date. There is no automatic updating feature available on the site.
com hosting places ads on a free website, and you don’t get any money from it. It comes with a definite space of some gigabytes. Once the limit is exhausted, you will have to purchase an upgrade.

These are some significant disadvantages of the WordPress management system.

What is a static HTML website?

HTML or hypertext markup language displays web pages. Many websites across the internet use static HTML websites by creating web pages by markup and scripting languages. Unlike WordPress, creating a static HTML website is not free. If you don’t know java scripts and programming, you will have to hire a website developer for the task. They will build your website with the help of HTML, CSS and Javascript. It is known as a static website because they store the content in static files. On the other hand, WordPress is a data-driven software using the database to store content. But is static HTML better than WordPress? Let’s find out with a glance at its pros and cons mentioned further!

What are the advantages of static HTML?

Let us briefly summarize the pros of a static HTML website- Minimum to no maintenance- You must be wondering that WordPress is better than static HTML because it’s free. If this is what you think, then you might be wrong. Static HTML website is a one-time investment, and once the website is created, maintenance time is minimized. You can back up your website once in a while, and the work is done. Unlike WordPress, it does not require a plug-in or theme updates. Running on less costly servers- Yes, static websites don’t need PHP installation. However, good hosting companies offer PHP support. They can run on cheaper servers without any trouble.

What are the disadvantages of static HTML?

While static HTML is fine for some websites, one will witness some issues in the long run. You might face problems during content creation and functionality. Following are the cons related with static HTML-

Adding new functionality in a static website is pretty complicated. This is so because new coding and programming are required, which isn’t possible without a web developer. In most cases, they will suggest you to shift to WordPress.
To change the website’s appearance, you will have to rewrite the CSS script.
In contrast to WordPress, static HTML is not for beginners because of coding and programming. This makes it difficult for beginners to understand the website. You will require a developer even for smaller tasks like updating old content, uploading images, etc.
The overall cost of an HTML website is higher as compared to WordPress. This is so because you will have to keep hiring the developer for smaller to complex tasks.

These points, however, make it challenging to stay consistent on the static website.

WordPress vs Static HTML – what to choose?

Now that we’ve discussed the advantages and disadvantages of both WordPress and static HTML, we can proceed towards analyzing which one is better for you. Here are some essential takeaways-

HTML is not a bad option; you have to ensure you will never require an update or editing in the old posts. In this case, we would strongly suggest you go for HTML.
If you want the changes, hiring a web designer is the only option if you don’t know how to code. However, it would lead to higher costs and monthly payments to the developers for editing.
WordPress, however, gives freedom of manually editing the content minus the efforts of finding a developer to do your tasks. This way, you get financial freedom and a better understanding of WordPress. The learning curve is high in this case.
If you want to make more money and grow your business, WordPress is the solution for you. It doesn’t load as fast as static HTML, but you can create multiple pages at a time and add content without any external help on your website.
Customer engagement is higher in the case of WordPress by helping your viewers with a separate blog section. This way, they will be updated with new blog posts. A plethora of help regarding online management is just a click away on the internet.
You can save the money you would be given to developers for static HTML and nourish your business.

Final thoughts!

WordPress vs Static HTML is a topic of a long debate, and the opinion differs from person to person. The difference lies between time management and cost-efficiency. Proper research is advisable before choosing either of these. If your budget permits, go for static HTML, and if you’re new, start with WordPress. One should also know about content management systems before opting for this business. Don’t seek an opinion on this topic on the internet and decide for yourself. WordPress and HTML are equally crucial in website creation so take a note of their pros and cons. This article mentioned everything you need to keep in mind before opting for either of these websites. We hope it helps in choosing the right fit for your business!