# Is there a way to force people to write exact characters for a single line?
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [May 2, 2026, 6:02am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056 "2026-05-02T06:02:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@hipp0](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hipp0)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2026, 6:02am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056/1 "2026-05-02T06:02:35Z")
I have the character limit set to 128 characters. Since at 128 characters the timeline bar aligns perfectly at 100% or more zoom.
You can get around this first line width by just posting multiple lines.
I want to keep things clean so I am wanting to force this.
I tried keeping the formatting with CSS but nothing I tried worked to get it to look the way I wanted.
This is the best solution.
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### Author:  [@NateDhaliwal](https://meta.discourse.org/u/NateDhaliwal)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2026, 6:44am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056/2 "2026-05-02T06:44:19Z")
Hmm… have you seen this plugin?
> [@Discourse Characters Required](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-characters-required/77195):
>
> discourse2Summary Discourse Characters Required adds a count of characters required in the composer.hammer_and_wrenchRepository Link [https://github.com/discourse/discourse-characters-required](https://github.com/discourse/discourse-characters-required)open_bookInstall Guide [How to install plugins in Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/t/install-plugins-in-discourse/19157)Features If installed, users will see an indicator of how many characters are required before their post can be made: Last edited by @JammyDodger 2024-06-03T22:00:39Z (UTC) play_button Check document
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### Author:  [@hipp0](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hipp0)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2026, 6:50am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056/3 "2026-05-02T06:50:13Z")
That is definitely helpful.
I still think people will write
like this and circumvent that.
But I will add it as I think it will lead to better quality first lines.
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### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2026, 6:54am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056/4 "2026-05-02T06:54:44Z")
I don’t think that plugin works to force users to write exactly 128 characters into the first paragraph of their post.
Maybe a [form template](https://meta.discourse.org/t/creating-form-templates/397564) with a field at the top that is configured to require at least 128 characters and no more than 128 characters could work. But the template only works on first posts and isn’t enforced on edits.
Choosing words to exactly meet a character requirement might be a really frustrating experience.
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### Author:  [@hipp0](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hipp0)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2026, 6:57am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056/5 "2026-05-02T06:57:08Z")
Yeah doesn’t need to be exact just more.
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### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2026, 10:57am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056/6 "2026-05-02T10:57:08Z")
Please don’t use a plugin for this, unnecessary:
> [@Composer Character Count](https://meta.discourse.org/t/composer-character-count/358733):
>
> information_sourceSummary A Theme Component to simultaneously display count the number of characters typed in the composer as well as the required number to post. Tracks Post body and Topic Title separately.hammer_and_wrenchRepository Link [GitHub - merefield/discourse-tc-character-count: A Theme Component to simultaneously count the number of characters typed in the composer as well as the required number to post!](https://github.com/merefield/discourse-tc-character-count)open_bookInstall Guide [Installing a theme or theme compo…](https://meta.discourse.org/t/install-a-theme-or-theme-component/63682)
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### Author:  [@NateDhaliwal](https://meta.discourse.org/u/NateDhaliwal)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2026, 11:51am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056/7 "2026-05-02T11:51:38Z")
Looking at the code of the plugin, it seems completely redundant as a plugin since there’s no backend logic?? I’m surprised it hasn’t been converted…
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### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056/8 "2026-05-02T13:45:37Z")
It was. That’s what my theme component was derived from (albeit updated) - hence the credit.
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### Author:  [@hipp0](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hipp0)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056/10 "2026-05-02T23:50:58Z")
Thanks works well, nice that I can change the color of the counter also.
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### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2026, 11:51pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-force-people-to-write-exact-characters-for-a-single-line/402056/11 "2026-06-01T23:51:19Z")
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