How to Write an Abstract

Abstracts are part of your APA papers (when requested). But, what is it?

An abstract is a summary of your paper in 150–250 words. It describes the research problem, methods, results, and conclusions of your research. For published papers, it also includes a list of keywords.

Write the abstract after finishing your paper, and place it on a separate page after the title page.

The formatting of the abstract page is the same as the rest of an APA-style paper: 

• Double-space your text.
• Set page margins at 1 inch (2.54 cm).
• Write the word “Abstract” at the top of the page, centered and in a bold font.
• Don’t indent the first line.
• Keep your abstract under 250 words.

• • Label the section as “Keywords:” with italics.
  • Indent the first line at 0.5 inches, but leave subsequent lines as is.
  • Write your keywords on the same line as the label.
  • Use lower-case letters.
  • Use commas, but not conjunctions.

It should look like this:

How to Write an APA Abstract

Simply answer the following questions and put them together, then voila! You have an abstract for your paper.

• What is the problem? Outline the objective, research questions, and/or hypotheses.
• What has been done? Explain your research methods.
• What did you discover? Summarize the key findings and conclusions.
• What do the findings mean? Summarize the discussion and recommendations.

Tips for Writing an Abstract

It can be a real challenge to condense your whole work into just a couple of hundred words, but the abstract will be the first (and sometimes only) part that people read, so it’s important to get it right. These strategies can help you get started.

Read other abstracts

The best way to learn the conventions of writing an abstract in your discipline is to read other people’s. You probably already read many journal article abstracts while conducting your literature review—try using them as a framework for structure and style.

You can also find many dissertation abstract examples in thesis and dissertation databases.

Write clearly and concisely

A good abstract is short but impactful, so make sure every word counts. Each sentence should clearly communicate one main point.