diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 9c0ab36..7e64c4d 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Package: quarto-wordcount
 Title: Counts Words in Quarto Documents
-Version: 1.2.0
+Version: 1.3.0
 License: MIT + file LICENSE
 Encoding: UTF-8
 Imports: 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f7c98e7..8da06f6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -113,15 +113,33 @@ format:
 ### Terminal output
 
 The word count will appear in the terminal output when rendering the
-document. It shows multiple values: (1) the total count, (2) the count
-for the document sans references, and (3) the count for the reference
-list alone.
+document. It shows multiple values:
+
+- **Overall totals**: (1) the total count of everything, including the
+  body, notes, references, and appendix sections, and (2) the count for
+  just the body and notes.
+
+  The journals I typically work with count the body + notes + references
+  towards the total word count. When shrinking manuscripts to fit word
+  limits, I find it helpful to split the references count off from the
+  body + notes so I can more easily see where edits might be most
+  efficient (e.g. re-word sentences vs. remove references)
+
+- **Individual section totals**: counts for the (1) text body, (2)
+  notes, (3) references, and (4) appendix
 
 ``` text
-133 total words
------------------------------
-76 words in text body
-57 words in reference section
+Overall totals:
+--------------------------------
+• 451 total words
+• 378 words in body and notes
+
+Section totals:
+--------------------------------
+• 315 words in text body
+• 63 words in notes
+• 53 words in reference section
+• 20 words in appendix section
 ```
 
 ### Shortcodes
@@ -154,7 +172,7 @@ You can use shortcodes in your YAML metadata too:
 
 ``` yaml
 title: Something
-subtitle: "{{< words-total >}} words"
+subtitle: "{{< words-sum body-note-ref >}} words"
 ```
 
 ### Appendices
@@ -192,14 +210,6 @@ More words here
 :::
 ```
 
-That will create this word count:
-
-    5 in the main text + references, with 4 in the appendix
-    -------------------------------------------------------
-    5 words in text body
-    0 words in reference section
-    4 words in appendix section
-
 ## Example
 
 You can see a minimal sample document at [`template.qmd`](template.qmd).
diff --git a/README.qmd b/README.qmd
index 5308743..8861fcd 100644
--- a/README.qmd
+++ b/README.qmd
@@ -71,13 +71,26 @@ format:
 
 ### Terminal output
 
-The word count will appear in the terminal output when rendering the document. It shows multiple values: (1) the total count, (2) the count for the document sans references, and (3) the count for the reference list alone.
+The word count will appear in the terminal output when rendering the document. It shows multiple values: 
+
+- **Overall totals**: (1) the total count of everything, including the body, notes, references, and appendix sections, and (2) the count for just the body and notes. 
+
+  The journals I typically work with count the body + notes + references towards the total word count. When shrinking manuscripts to fit word limits, I find it helpful to split the references count off from the body + notes so I can more easily see where edits might be most efficient (e.g. re-word sentences vs. remove references)
+
+- **Individual section totals**: counts for the (1) text body, (2) notes, (3) references, and (4) appendix
 
 ```text
-133 total words
------------------------------
-76 words in text body
-57 words in reference section
+Overall totals:
+--------------------------------
+• 451 total words
+• 378 words in body and notes
+
+Section totals:
+--------------------------------
+• 315 words in text body
+• 63 words in notes
+• 53 words in reference section
+• 20 words in appendix section
 ```
 
 ### Shortcodes
@@ -127,16 +140,6 @@ More words here
 :::
 ````
 
-That will create this word count:
-
-```
-5 in the main text + references, with 4 in the appendix
--------------------------------------------------------
-5 words in text body
-0 words in reference section
-4 words in appendix section
-```
-
 
 ## Example
 
diff --git a/_extensions/wordcount/_extension.yml b/_extensions/wordcount/_extension.yml
index 9bdf618..a987279 100644
--- a/_extensions/wordcount/_extension.yml
+++ b/_extensions/wordcount/_extension.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ authors:
     orcid: 0000-0003-1866-860X
   - name: Justin Landis
     orcid: 0000-0001-5501-4934
-version: 1.2.0
+version: 1.3.0
 quarto-required: ">=1.3.0"
 contributes:
   shortcodes: