diff --git a/forms/qae_form_builder/question.rb b/forms/qae_form_builder/question.rb
index 39d748719..0a92bb2aa 100644
--- a/forms/qae_form_builder/question.rb
+++ b/forms/qae_form_builder/question.rb
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def skip_base_validation?
 
     def limit_with_buffer(limit)
       if limit > 15
-        (limit + limit * 0.1).to_i + 1
+        (limit + limit * 0.1).to_i
       else
         limit
       end
diff --git a/forms/qae_form_builder/textarea_question.rb b/forms/qae_form_builder/textarea_question.rb
index 30c57e766..f04397747 100644
--- a/forms/qae_form_builder/textarea_question.rb
+++ b/forms/qae_form_builder/textarea_question.rb
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ def errors
 
       limit = question.delegate_obj.words_max
 
-      if limit && limit_with_buffer(limit) && length && length > (limit_with_buffer(limit) - 1)
+      if limit && limit_with_buffer(limit) && length && length > (limit_with_buffer(limit))
         result[question.hash_key] ||= ""
         error = if limit_with_buffer(limit) > 15
-          " Question #{question.ref} has a word limit of #{limit}. Your answer has to be #{limit_with_buffer(limit) - 1} words or less (as we allow 10% leeway)."
+          " Question #{question.ref} has a word limit of #{limit}. Your answer has to be #{limit_with_buffer(limit)} words or less (as we allow 10% leeway)."
         else
-          " Question #{question.ref} has a word limit of #{limit}. Your answer has to be #{limit_with_buffer(limit) - 1} word or less."
+          " Question #{question.ref} has a word limit of #{limit}. Your answer has to be #{limit_with_buffer(limit)} words or less."
         end
         result[question.hash_key] << error
       end