How to Write an Abstract
Quick answer: An abstract is a concise summary (usually 150–300 words) of your whole dissertation or paper. In a few sentences it states the purpose and research question, the method, the key findings, and the conclusion. Write it last, once the full work is complete.
What an abstract includes
- Purpose — the aim and research question.
- Method — how you investigated it.
- Results — your key findings.
- Conclusion — what it means and why it matters.
Write it last
Although it appears first, the abstract should be written last — only then can you summarise your actual findings and conclusion accurately.
Keep it self-contained
- No citations, quotes or abbreviations that aren’t defined.
- No new information not in the main work.
- One paragraph, past tense for what you did and found.
- Stick to the word limit (commonly 150–300 words).
Example shape
This study examined ... [purpose]. Using ... [method], data were collected from ... The findings showed that ... [results]. The study concludes that ... [conclusion], with implications for ...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an abstract be?
Typically 150–300 words — check your university’s limit, as some cap it at 250.
Should I write the abstract first or last?
Last. You can only summarise your findings and conclusion accurately once the work is finished.
Can an abstract have citations?
Generally no — an abstract should be self-contained, without references, quotes or undefined abbreviations.
What tense should an abstract use?
Mostly past tense for what you did and found; present tense is acceptable for stating conclusions or implications.
What’s the difference between an abstract and an introduction?
An abstract summarises the entire study including results; an introduction sets up the topic and question but doesn’t reveal findings.