Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
An APA abstract is a concise but comprehensive summary of a scientific paper.
It is typically a paragraph long, or about 150 to 250 words.
However, you should always check with your instructor for specific requirements.
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
What Is APA Format?
APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association.
It is used in writing for psychology and other social sciences.
What Is an Abstract in APA Format?
The abstract is a critical component of an APA-formatted paper.
This brief overview summarizes what your paper contains.
It should succinctly and accurately represent what your paper is about and what the reader can expect to find.
Think of an abstract as a highly condensed summary of your entire paper.
The purpose of your abstract is to provide a brief yet thorough overview of your paper.
An abstract must also be objective and accurate.The abstract’s purpose is to report rather than provide commentary.
It should accurately reflect what your paper is about.
Only include information that is also included in the body of your paper.
The abstract is vital to your paper, so it should not be overlooked or treated as an afterthought.
Spend time writing this section carefully to ensure maximum readability and clarity.
For example, an abstract summarizing an experimental paper will differ from that of a meta-analysis orcase study.
Because keywords help people find your paper, it is essential to choose the right ones.
The APA suggests including between three and five keywords.
you’re able to identify keywords by thinking about what your paper is about.
Careful attention to detail can ensure that your abstract does a good job representing the contents of your paper.
If possible, take your paper to your school’s writing lab for assistance.
American Psychological Association.APA Style Journal Article Reporting Standards: Quantitative Meta-Analysis Article Reporting Standards.
2019;13(Suppl 1):S12-S17.
doi:10.4103/sja.SJA_685_18
American Psychological Association.Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association(7th ed.).
American Psychological Association; 2019.
