How to Write an APA Abstract: Format, Length, and Example

An APA abstract is a brief but complete summary of a paper’s purpose, method, main results, and conclusion. It appears on a separate page after the title page and is usually limited to 250 words. Most student papers do not need an abstract unless the instructor or institution specifically requests one.

Although readers encounter the abstract first, you should write it after finishing the paper. This allows you to summarize the research accurately without introducing new arguments or results. A strong abstract helps readers understand what the paper examines, what was found, and why the findings matter.

APA abstract format

Place the abstract on page 2, immediately after the APA title page. Type the section label Abstract in bold and center it on the first line. Begin the abstract on the next double-spaced line as one flush-left paragraph without a first-line indent.

The abstract uses the same APA font as the rest of the document. Approved options include 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, 11-point Georgia, 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, and 10-point Computer Modern. Do not reduce the type size or spacing to keep an overlong abstract on one page.

How long should an APA abstract be?

APA guidance limits an abstract to 250 words unless the instructor or journal specifies another length. Some assignments request a shorter range, such as 150–200 words. Follow the stated limit instead of treating 250 words as a target you must reach.

Count only the abstract paragraph unless the assignment says that keywords are part of the total. Journal submission systems may calculate the word count differently, so check their author instructions. The goal is to provide a concise, comprehensive summary rather than fill the available space.

If an abstract is too long, remove broad background statements, secondary findings, examples, citations, and procedural details that are not essential. Retain the research problem, basic method, most important result, and conclusion. Each sentence should contribute information that helps readers evaluate the paper.

What should an APA abstract include?

The content of an APA abstract depends on the paper type. An empirical study normally summarizes the research question, participants or data, method, results, and implications. A literature review or theoretical paper instead identifies the topic, scope, main argument, and conclusion.

A research abstract usually answers five questions:

1. What problem or question did the study address?
2. Who or what was examined?
3. What method was used?
4. What were the most important results?
5. What do those results mean?

Give the results rather than saying that results “are discussed.” Readers should not have to open the paper to discover whether the study found an increase, decrease, relationship, or no meaningful difference. Include numerical results only when they are central to understanding the study.

How to write an APA abstract

1. Finish the main paper

Write the abstract after completing the introduction, method, results, and discussion. Review the finished sections and identify the information that appears throughout the paper. Do not summarize an earlier plan that changed during the research process.

2. Draft the purpose and method

Open with the central problem, objective, or research question. Follow it with the essential features of the method, including the study design, population, sample, or data when relevant. Avoid detailed descriptions of instruments or procedures unless they are central to the paper.

3. State the main findings

Report the result that directly answers the research question. Add one secondary result only when it changes the interpretation of the primary finding. Do not introduce findings that are absent from the body of the paper.

4. Explain the conclusion

Finish by explaining what the results suggest and why they matter. Keep the conclusion proportional to the evidence rather than making an absolute claim from a limited study. A brief limitation or future research direction may be included when it adds meaningful context.

5. Edit for independence and clarity

Define an abbreviation when it first appears unless readers in the field will universally recognize it. Avoid quotations and citations because an abstract should normally be understandable on its own. Read the paragraph separately from the paper to check whether its logic remains clear.

APA abstract example

The following APA abstract example describes a fictional study created only to demonstrate the expected structure. The participant details and findings are illustrative.

Abstract

The first sentence states the purpose, while the second identifies the sample and method. The next two sentences report the principal results. The final sentences interpret the findings and identify a useful next step without making claims beyond the fictional study’s scope.

APA abstract keywords

APA abstract keywords are words or phrases that represent a paper’s central topics. They help databases and researchers discover work related to a particular subject, population, method, or variable. Good keywords use established language that readers in the field are likely to search.

Place the keywords on a new line immediately below the abstract. Indent the line by 0.5 inches and type the label Keywords: in italics, followed by the keywords in regular type. Write the terms in lowercase unless they include a proper noun, and separate them with commas.

Correct:

Keywords: academic motivation, online learning, university students, study habits

Avoid converting the keywords into a bulleted list. Do not place each term on a separate line or italicize the terms themselves. APA does not require the keywords to appear alphabetically.

How many keywords in abstract APA?

APA typically recommends three to five keywords or short phrases. A journal, instructor, or university may specify a different number, and that requirement takes priority. Student papers usually omit keywords when an abstract has not been requested.

Choose terms that collectively describe the study rather than repeating variations of the same idea. One keyword might identify the population, another the main concept, and another the method or setting. Specific phrases are often more useful than single broad words.

How to write keywords in abstract APA 7

Begin by listing the main subjects covered in the title, research question, and conclusion. Compare those terms with the language used in relevant academic databases or authoritative literature. Select the three to five phrases that most accurately separate your paper from unrelated work.

For a paper about sleep habits and university examination performance, suitable terms might be:

Keywords: sleep quality, academic performance, university students, examination stress

Capitalize proper nouns such as “United States” but leave ordinary concepts lowercase. Use complete phrases such as “working memory” rather than separating them into “working” and “memory.” Do not add vague terms such as “research” or “study” unless they have a specific disciplinary meaning.

APA page numbers, headings, and font

The abstract continues the paper’s consecutive APA page numbers, so it normally carries the number 2 in the upper-right corner. A professional paper also has a running head, while a standard student paper does not. Do not restart numbering when the main text begins.

The word Abstract is a fixed section label, not one of the topic-based APA headings used to organize the body. A standard abstract has no internal headings and appears as one continuous paragraph. Structured abstracts with labels such as Objective, Method, Results, and Conclusions should be used only when a journal or instructor requires them.

Keep the approved APA font, 1-inch margins, and double spacing used throughout the paper. Unlike a normal body paragraph, the abstract has no first-line indent. The keywords line is an exception because it begins with a 0.5-inch paragraph indent.

Should an APA abstract include citations?

Citations are usually unnecessary because the abstract summarizes your own paper. Avoid turning it into a condensed literature review or using quotations that require readers to locate another source. Include a citation only when an outside work is essential to understanding the paper’s purpose.

When a citation is unavoidable, use standard author–date APA format and include a matching reference entry. The APA Citation Generator can help arrange the citation and reference, but verify the author, date, title, and source against the original work. Consider whether the citation can be moved to the introduction without reducing the abstract’s clarity.

Common APA abstract mistakes

• Adding an abstract when the assignment does not require one
• Exceeding the assigned or journal word limit
• Indenting the abstract’s first line
• Writing multiple paragraphs without instructions for a structured abstract
• Providing background without reporting the results
• Introducing claims that do not appear in the paper
• Using unexplained abbreviations
• Adding unnecessary citations or quotations
• Formatting keywords as bullets
• Italicizing every keyword
• Changing the font or line spacing to fit more words

APA abstract checklist

Before submitting your paper, confirm that the abstract:

• Appears on a separate page after the title page
• Has the correct page number in the upper-right corner
• Uses the centered, bold label Abstract
• Contains one double-spaced paragraph without a first-line indent
• Stays within the required word limit
• Summarizes the purpose, method, findings, and conclusion
• Reports only information found in the paper
• Uses the same margins and font as the main text
• Includes three to five properly formatted keywords when required
• Contains no unnecessary citations, quotations, or abbreviations

A strong APA abstract gives readers an accurate overview without making them search for the paper’s central result. Write it last, keep it within 250 words or the assigned limit, and check the content separately from the page formatting. Finish by reviewing the APA abstract keywords to ensure they describe the paper precisely and follow the required layout.