APA Abstract | Example & Format

An abstract is a short paragraph that summarizes the entire contents of a research study or journal article. It’s not the same as an introduction, which begins an essay or article and prepares readers for the body paragraphs.

In an academic database or print journal, readers skim the abstract first to decide if they should read the article. For example, when you’re exploring scholarly sources to use in an essay, abstracts help you make informed decisions about which articles might be relevant.

APA does not require abstracts for school assignments, but instructors occasionally assign them. They’re mostly necessary when you’re writing a dissertation or submitting an article to an APA publication. The guidelines below will help you read and write abstracts more strategically.

APA abstract example

The following example of an abstract for a student paper includes APA style page numbering and the abstract formatting requirements outlined below.

APA abstract formatting instructions

When an abstract is required for a class assignment, it should be on Page 2 of the document (the page after your title page). For dissertations or longer projects, the abstract is part of your front matter, and it goes right after your title page and author’s note (but before the table of contents).

Formatting the abstract page for school assignments involves these steps:

• Set up 1-inch margins and double spacing for the document and page numbering in the top right corner.
• Write “Abstract” at the top of the page in bold font, and center this heading.
• Begin the abstract content on the next line.
  • Do not indent.
  • Keep to a maximum of 250 words.
• On the line after the paragraph, list the keywords (if your instructor requires them).
  • Indent this line ½ inch.
  • Write the label “Keywords:” in italics.
  • List the keywords in lowercase letters.
  • Separate keywords with commas.

How to write an APA abstract

An abstract is a summary of what your paper includes from start to finish. The sentences in the abstract refer directly to your essay (“this essay” or “this research study”) which is usually unnecessary in the essay or article itself.

Abstracts also often include first-person pronouns and past tense verbs, especially when you’re describing what you did to collect and analyze the evidence.

Most abstracts for student papers follow these steps:

• In 1–2 sentences, summarize what you mainly researched and wrote about. What was your overall topic and purpose?
• In a few more sentences, explain how you collected the data. What type of data did you collect or review?
• Describe what you found out in the end. What were the results of your study or research?

The final draft of your abstract should be no longer than 250 words (150 words is usually sufficient).

Abstract keywords

APA does not require keywords for school assignments, but some instructors may request them. When keywords are required, APA recommends that you list three to five.

The keywords should match the terms readers are likely to search in an academic database. The purpose is to increase the likelihood that the article will show up in database users’ search results.

Consider words and phrases that describe your topic or that come up frequently in your paper. In the following example of a professional abstract, the keywords match the most important terms from the title and the article.

Journal article keywords example

Frequently asked questions about APA abstracts

What is a journal article?

A journal article is a type of scholarly source that is common in academic writing. Journals are periodicals, which means that they are published multiple times per year (like magazines).  Each journal is focused on a specific aspect of a larger academic field. For example, within the broader field of nursing, there are scholarly journals about nursing education, intensive care nursing, cardiovascular nursing, and many other subcategories.  Each issue of a journal includes multiple articles by different authors. Journal articles often focus on original research experiments.  If you quote, paraphrase, or summarize journal articles in your writing, follow the format for APA style journal article citations, MLA citations, or whichever citation format you’re using.  You can also use QuillBot’s free Citation Generator to create journal article citations.

What’s the difference between an abstract and an introduction?

An abstract is a standalone document that’s separate from an essay or journal article. It summarizes the entire content of the essay or article so that readers can decide if they should read the full text. An APA abstract should be a maximum of 250 words.

An introduction prepares readers for the body paragraphs of an essay or article. Rather than summarizing all of the essay or article’s contents, an introduction hooks the reader, provides essential background information, and states the thesis.

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you create abstracts that are polished, professional, and error-free.

How long is an abstract?

An abstract is usually 150–250 words long. It’s a paragraph on a separate page before an essay or article. The maximum length for an APA abstract is 250 words. To write an abstract that is the right length, summarize your main topic and key arguments or findings in a few sentences.

When you’re writing abstracts, QuillBot’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help you write concisely and choose the best words.