At the end of the chapter, the source emphasizes another refinement: two expressions may differ in length while not carrying precisely the same original meaning. One cannot determine ījāz or iṭnāb by counting words before establishing what content is being compared.
«يَصُدُّ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا إِذَا عَزَّ سُؤْدُدُهُ»
He turns away from worldly attraction when his eminence grows.
The poetic line presents a definite character trait economically. Comparisons with a longer line require asking whether both express the same complete sense or whether the longer form carries another independent shade of meaning.