Hi, Jackie, I usually always - can you say this?! - give 50 claps, seldom only 40. The number of claps doesn't effect your earnings... reading time does. Claps are encouraging and supportive. 1 clap is pretty demoralising. There is a limit to the amount you can give within 24 hours. It's quite high and I don't think anyone knows what the limit is ;)...but I've reached it two or three times... you just have to wait a few hours... then off you go again :)