def check_blanks(plaintext: list, ciphertext: list) -> int:
    """Check if the ciphertext can fit in plaintext.

    Compare the number of blank lines in **plaintext** to the number of lines
    in **ciphertext**. If they aren't a match, returns the number of extra
    blank lines needed.

    Args:
        plaintext (list): Paragraphs of a fake message in a list of strings
            (likely from :func:`get_text`).
        ciphertext (list): Paragraphs of an encrypted message in a list of
            strings (likely from :func:`get_text`).

    Returns:
        Integer representing the number of needed blank lines to fit
        **ciphertext** in **plaintext**. ``0`` would mean that **ciphertext**
        can fit in **plaintext**.

    """
    blanks_needed = len(ciphertext) - plaintext.count('')
    if blanks_needed <= 0:
        return 0
    return blanks_needed