diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d3cfb62..9a6337e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 >     wordcount-banner: true
 > params:
 >   wordcount: |
->     <strong>-1 total words</strong>:  in the body •  in the references •  in the notes
+>     <strong>{{< words-sum body-note-ref >}} total words</strong>: {{< words-body >}} in the body • {{< words-ref >}} in the references • {{< words-note >}} in the notes
 > ---
 >
 > ::: {.content-visible when-meta="wordcount-banner"}
diff --git a/README.qmd b/README.qmd
index bae18f1..6b37e1e 100644
--- a/README.qmd
+++ b/README.qmd
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ format:
     wordcount-banner: true
 params:
   wordcount: |
-    <strong>{{< words-sum body-note-ref >}} total words</strong>: {{< words-body >}} in the body • {{< words-ref >}} in the references • {{< words-note >}} in the notes
+    <strong>{{{< words-sum body-note-ref >}}} total words</strong>: {{{< words-body >}}} in the body • {{{< words-ref >}}} in the references • {{{< words-note >}}} in the notes
 ---
 
 ::: {.content-visible when-meta="wordcount-banner"}