APA abstract format refers to the formatting and content conventions used for abstracts in manuscripts following the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
An abstract is a concise summary that allows readers to understand the purpose and major findings of a paper without reading the entire manuscript.
For empirical research, it typically covers:
The abstract should be understandable on its own. Readers should not need to consult the body of the paper to understand its central message.
Under APA 7 abstract conventions, the abstract usually begins on a separate page after the title page.
The word Abstract appears as a centered, bold heading.
The abstract itself is generally written as a single paragraph without first-line indentation unless a structured format is being used.
APA guidance emphasizes concise and accurate presentation. For many academic manuscripts, abstracts are approximately 150 to 250 words, although authors should always follow the requirements of the journal, university, instructor, or publication venue.
Keywords may appear beneath the abstract.
When they are included, the label Keywords: is typically italicized, followed by terms that represent the major concepts of the paper.
Exact requirements can vary by manuscript type. Student papers, dissertations, journal submissions, and professional manuscripts may follow different institutional or publication-specific rules even when APA style is used.
Good abstract writing is not simply a matter of shortening the introduction.
An effective abstract recreates the logic of the entire paper in miniature.
1. Begin With the Research Problem. The opening sentence should make clear what question, problem, or topic the research addresses.
Avoid spending too much of the limited word count on general background.
2. State the Objective. Readers should quickly understand what the study was designed to investigate.
A clear objective creates context for the methods and findings that follow.
3. Summarize the Methods. Include only methodological information needed to interpret the findings.
Depending on the study, this might include the sample, design, intervention, data source, or analytical approach.
4. Report the Main Results. The abstract should communicate the most important findings rather than saying only that "results are discussed."
Where appropriate, specific results provide more information than vague statements about significance.
5. End With the Main Interpretation. The final portion should explain what the findings mean without making claims broader than the evidence supports.
One common error is introducing information in the abstract that does not appear in the paper.
Other problems include excessive background, undefined abbreviations, vague statements, unsupported conclusions, and failure to report the study's primary result.
Researchers evaluating whether a manuscript is ready for submission may also benefit from considering broader submission readiness, not only abstract formatting.
Most APA-style abstracts are written as a single paragraph.
A structured abstract, by contrast, organizes information under labeled sections.
Possible headings include:
Objective:
Method:
Results:
Conclusions:
Structured abstracts are particularly common in medical, clinical, and other research environments where publications want readers to locate specific information quickly.
APA style can accommodate structured abstracts when required by the publication or context.
The important distinction is that APA formatting does not mean every abstract must use labeled sections. The target journal's author instructions should determine whether a conventional or structured format is expected.