How to Write an Abstract: 4 Tips for Writing an Abstract

An abstract is a concise introduction and summary of a research paper. Abstracts are most commonly used in academic writing. The purpose of an abstract is to help readers understand the main points of a larger work.

There are two general types of abstracts.

• Descriptive abstracts: Descriptive abstracts include a short synopsis of the scope of a paper and provide background information on it without revealing the results of a specific research project. Descriptive abstracts are fairly short—typically around 100 words in length within a single paragraph. This type of abstract is primarily used in the humanities and social sciences.
• Informative abstracts: Informative abstracts are more comprehensive than descriptive abstracts. Informative abstracts summarize all of the main points of a scientific paper, including its methodology, purpose, results, and conclusions.

An informative abstract introduces and summarizes the contents of a full text. Typically, this type of abstract follows a specific structure.

1. 1. Introduction and purpose: This section introduces background information and establishes the researcher’s motivations.
2. 2. Research problem: Next, an abstract typically presents the primary problem that the rest of the paper addresses.
3. 3. Methodology: Abstracts provide a brief explanation of the research methods and approach to the research problem, including the scope of research, variables, and key sources of data.
4. 4. Results: Depending on the type of abstract, abstracts may include a brief breakdown of the results of the research.
5. 5. Conclusion: Finally, informative abstracts include a section detailing the conclusions and main takeaways based on the results of the research.

Write an abstract following these general guidelines.

1. 1. Write your abstract last. Although abstracts are placed at the beginning of research papers, you must complete your entire paper before summarizing your findings.
2. 2. Highlight the key points. Introduce your main argument and central research question. Identify your research methods and summarize your main findings. Remember to keep your abstracts high-level without getting bogged down in too much detail.
3. 3. Accurately arrange your abstract. Abstracts exist on their own separate page. This page follows the title page and precedes the table of contents. Format your abstract correctly with the word “Abstract” centered at the top of the page.

Before writing your abstract, consider these tips.

1. 1. Keep it brief. A good abstract is a concise summary, often within a word count range of 100 to 250 words.
2. 2. Avoid plagiarism. Focus your abstract on your new research and findings. Although your abstract may include background information involving previous research, avoid plagiarizing any other sources by citing them properly.
   
3. 3. Pay attention to formatting. Prior to writing your abstract, check the style guide appropriate for your field. Many fields use APA style. Reference the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association as needed. These manuals include guidelines on formatting essentials like spacing and indentations.
4. 4. Use appropriate voice and tense. Use the active voice and avoid the passive voice when writing abstracts. Depending on your field of study, determine the correct verb tense. Most abstracts use either the present or past tense.

To learn more about how abstracts work, consider some of these general examples.

1. 1. Research papers: Whether for a dissertation, college essay, or journal article, abstracts are an important part of research papers.
   
2. 2. Literature reviews: Literature reviews survey previous scholarly research on a specific topic. Literature reviews use abstracts to summarize findings from various studies.
3. 3. Case studies: Case studies investigate a subject matter by exploring specific examples related to a broader research topic. Abstracts are an essential part of how case studies contextualize and interpret information for the reader.

Become a better writer with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Salman Rushdie, Neil Gaiman, Walter Mosley, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, and more.