APA Abstract
Updated July 2026
An APA abstract is a single paragraph that summarizes your whole paper — purpose, method, results, and conclusions — in about 150–250 words. Professional papers require one; student papers only when the instructor asks.
Formatting the abstract page
- Own page — page 2, right after the title page.
- Label — the word Abstract, bold and centered, at the top.
- One paragraph, not indented (the only paragraph in the paper that isn't), double-spaced.
- Length — typically 150–250 words; check your assignment or journal for a hard cap.
What goes in it
Compress the paper into a few sentences: the problem or purpose, the method (participants, design), the key results, and the conclusion or implications. It's written last, even though it appears first, because you can't summarize a paper you haven't finished. No citations, no abbreviations you haven't spelled out, no information that isn't in the paper.
The keywords line
One line below the abstract, indented like a normal paragraph: the word Keywords: in italics, followed by three to five lowercase terms separated by commas. These help databases index your paper, so choose the words a searcher would actually use — your topic, method, and population.
Where it fits
Order: title page → abstract → body → references. For the body and heading rules, see APA Format.
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Go Premium — $5/monthFrequently asked questions
- How long should an APA abstract be?
- Usually 150–250 words in a single paragraph. Journals and instructors sometimes set a firm limit — check yours.
- Is the abstract paragraph indented?
- No — the abstract is the one paragraph in an APA paper with no first-line indent. The keywords line below it is indented.
- Do student papers need an abstract?
- Only if the instructor requires one. Professional (publication) papers always include an abstract.
- What are APA keywords?
- Three to five lowercase index terms on a line beginning with italicized 'Keywords:' below the abstract, chosen so databases and searchers can find your paper.