An awesome way to lengthen papers

[Ohgod]

Is this a US thing? Because certainly here in the UK there are 2 reasons this 'tip' is pointless:

1) Paper lengths are given in words, not pages (since this is clearly more sensible)
2) Papers have maximujm lengths, not minimums - the people reading it have better things to do than read pages of drivel padded out with more drivel. Standard statement - 'I read essays, I don't weigh them'.

Is this just a cultural thing?