Purdue SOP Question

[lolopixie]

Okay, so the English grad department page indicates requirements for the SOP are:

1. Supply a personal statement of purpose; this statement should describe your intellectual interests and professional goals and explain why you think Purdue is a good place to pursue them.
   

So I assumed there was no word limit. However, the general grad school application SOP indicates:

A statement of purpose is required for all degree-seeking applicants. Please submit a statement of approximately 300-500 words concerning your purpose for undertaking or continuing graduate study, your reasons for wanting to study at Purdue, and your professional plans, career goals, and research interests. You also may explain any irregularities or special circumstances applicable to your background and elaborate on your special abilities, awards, achievements, scholarly publications, and/or professional history.

Does this mean the SOP should only be 500 words? That is a total drag if I have to reformat this to 500 words. I'm emailing the department now, but I don't know. I was so happy to have a great 964 word SOP for them!